Orlando Sentinel's view

These are not times where even the wealthy among us – assuming there are still wealthy among us – are looking to spend more money than is absolutely necessary. So it may be the ideal time for a car such as the 2009 Versa 1.6 sedan.

The Versa has been around for a couple of years, produced as Nissan’s answer to the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit entry-level vehicles. Most Versa models, powered by a 1.8-liter, 122-horsepower four-cylinder engine, start somewhere upward of $15,000.

For 2009, Nissan decided a cheaper model would boost sales. Rather than use the 1.8-liter engine, they found a more basic, less powerful 1.6-liter, 107-horsepower four-cylinder, and sought other ways to save costs. The result: At $9,990 (before shipping fees) the Versa 1.6 was the least expensive new car in America.

For about two weeks. Hyundai introduced a bare-bones version of the Accent two-door hatchback, and priced it at $9,970. But the Versa 1.6 is by far the better buy: It has four doors, and – amazingly – more than enough room for four 6-footers, even with a nice-size trunk. But the biggest difference is when you add air conditioning – the Versa with air costs $10,990, while Hyundai requires you to take some additional equipment to get air, raising the cost to just less than $13,000.

We wanted to test a base-model Versa with air conditioning – hey, this is Florida! – and Nissan complied. The test Versa 1.6 has air, a $250 antilock brake option, and $155 worth of floor mats. With shipping, the total list price is $12,090.

It did not, however, have a radio, making it the first test car I’ve driven in years with not even an AM radio, just a big piece of plastic where the radio would have gone had you paid the dealer to install one.

At first, I was untroubled, thinking this was a good Zen-like opportunity to collect my thoughts in peace: I imagined driving along entirely unaware of unfolding world events, of glancing over at passing motorists who appeared to be aghast at some just-broadcast disaster, while I rolled along in ignorance.

That lasted about five miles. I ended up taking along my little 9-volt battery-powered transistor radio, but in the car it would only pick up the AM station that carries Rush Limbaugh, which is how I learned that Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter are responsible for the recession.

In cars such as the Mazda MX-5 Miata or the BMW M3, I’m content to drive along with the radio off, listening to the engine’s exhaust note. Not so with the Versa: It has an industrial sound, sort of like my John Deere.

Otherwise, the spare cockpit wasn’t that bad: I don’t mind wind-up windows, because they don’t break, and power-window mechanisms do. Didn’t mind the manual outside mirrors, because you only have to lean out and adjust them once if you are the Versa’s only driver.

I did mind the fact that the there is only one keyhole for the door, on the driver’s side: If you want to unlock the passenger door, go to the driver’s side, unlock it, get in and reach over to the passenger door. How much would one extra keyhole cost? I’ll pay it, whatever it is.

On the road, the Versa 1.6 has a spongy ride, and the electric-assisted power steering is a little numb. The narrow 14-inch tires squeal when you turn too sharply, and with the amount of body roll, your passengers will likely squeal, too. The engine and five-speed manual transmission get passing grades – power is adequate, but you’ll find few Versa 1.6s at the drag strip.

EPA-rated fuel mileage, 26 mpg city and 34 mpg highway, isn’t bad. Pay an extra $1,000, and you can get a four-speed automatic transmission, which is rated at 26 mpg city, 33 mpg highway.

The Versa 1.6, built with what appears to be reasonable care in Mexico, is not exactly fun to drive, but neither is it a penalty box. I started looking for all the things that are good – the “Blue Onyx” paint, the headlights, the brakes, the cloth upholstery – all are as well done as cars costing a great deal more.

I can live without a lot of the luxuries we’ve become accustomed to. But no radio? Sorry. Zen is overrated.

Sentinel Automotive Editor Steven Cole Smithcan be reached at scsmith@orlandosentinel.com, 407-420-5699, or through his blog at Enginehead.com.

2009 Nissan Versa 1.6

Base price: $9,990.

Price as tested: $12,090

EPA rating: 26 miles per gallon city driving, 34 mpg highway.

Details: Front-engine, front-wheel-drive sedan with a 1.6-liter, 107-horsepower four-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission.