The Garage Blog

The Garage: Your daily dose of automotive news, reviews and motorsports coverage

  • About
  • Archives
  • Contact
    • A word about guest posts

Review: 2012 Nissan Versa

August 9, 2012 by Tom Williams 2 Comments

Bank. Money. If you have ever tuned into Food Network’s ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’ in the US, this is how host Guy Fieri describes a successful recipe he’s sampled. It’s good, and as a restaurateur himself, he knows it’s profitable. Rewind the clock back to April of 2011, where yours truly, along with our Founding Editor Gary Grant stood for the global reveal of the all-new 2012 Nissan Versa sedan. It’s no secret the automotive press has been excited about the new interest in sub-compacts, but the sort of plain Jane image of the Versa has left us a little cold. And Nissan is fine with that. Why? The Versa is the best-selling car in its class, that’s why.

Even with a light show and pounding techno beats from the 2011 New York International Auto Show as the Versa was shown to us, it was tough to muster up any excitement. Now off the stage and in the real world, it was time to sample, and live with the Versa for a week. The Versa comes off as sort of narrow and top-heavy, and the skinny, high sidewall tires do nothing to add here. Thankfully our test car was the top-spec SL, which at least added chrome trim, body colored side-view mirrors, fog lights and 15″ alloys. Finished in a subdued Sandstone metallic, our Versa may have looked slightly oddly proportioned, but did not look at all out of place on Main Street in the wealthy town of  Litchfield, CT among the chic shops and restaurants.

If the exterior of the Versa is a tad less graceful than the competition, there is a reason. The interior. Inside, the Versa offers an incredible amount of space. Other subcompacts like the Mazda2 and Ford Fiesta have nothing on the Versa for interior room, especially in the rear seat. The amount of room in the rear has no peer in this class of car. Up front, there was more than enough room as well. Seats were cushy with little in the way of lateral support. All controls were intuitive to use, and easy to read. Icing on the cake was a positively enormous trunk.

The 2012 Nissan Versa sedan is powered by a 1.6L four cylinder rated at 109hp. Only the base model is offered with a five-speed manual, while all other trim levels come with a Continuously Variable Transmission. As an automotive enthusiast, I despise CVTs, but Nissan is fully committed to the CVT, and as awful as they are, I concede that Nissan builds the best of the lot. No, the Versa is not quick, and as we toured the curvy roads of Litchfield County the Versa was struggling a bit. At highway speeds the Versa was completely comfortable, but passing takes some planning. With EPA fuel economy figures of 30/38 MPG city/highway, it is fuel economy that matters most over performance.

Yet even sticking to country back roads with tight corners and elevation changes, the Versa kept its cool. The steering was numb, the suspension soft, but the car never felt sloppy, and while not going slow, my wife and son never complained.

The Nissan Versa is one of the cheapest cars for sale in the US, with a base MSRP of $10,990. Our top-spec SL added the previously described features, as well as Bluetooth, audio steering wheel controls, iPod controls, trip computer, full power accessories, remote keyless entry, and cruise control. Options on our test car included floor and trunk mats, and the Tech Package, which added GPS Navigation, a 5″ color touch screen and XM Satellite Radio. Including destination charges, our Versa came in at a reasonable $17,190USD. That’s a good amount of of kit for what Nissan is charging.

It may not be sexy or most fun to drive in its segment, but Nissan owns the subcompact car segment in America. And to quote the blonde-bleached spiked hair Food Network persona Guy Fieri, that is money.

[nggallery id=491]

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailReview: 2011 Nissan Quest Default ThumbnailReview: Nissan Rogue Default ThumbnailReview: 2012 Toyota Yaris Default ThumbnailReview: 2012 Mazda2 Default ThumbnailReview: 2012 Subaru Impreza

Nissan Keeps New Versa Mellow for ’12

April 27, 2011 by Tom Williams Leave a Comment

When The Garage reviewed the 2011 Nissan Versa 1.8 SL hatchback last year, we were impressed with the level of comfort it delivered, the roomy cabin and copious cargo capacity. While we had no serious complaints, the soft ride, CVT transmission, and handsome, if bland looks didn’t exactly set us on fire. Waiting with The Garage’s Founding Editor, Gary Grant at the 2011 New York Auto Show for the Nissan press conference to begin, and staring at an empty stage, I’m asked: “What do you think they’re going to show?” I pause, and answer “It’s got to be a new Versa.”

Cue the darkening stage lights, pounding electronic music, and…out rolls a dark grey 2012 Nissan Versa Sedan. As the sound of clicking cameras go off around me, I say outloud “What, no hatchback?”  No matter. Out walks the impeccable Chairman of Nissan Americas, Carlos Tavares, and he is beaming next to his new car. Standing before this still bland looking car, with a few hundred auto journos and TV crews from around the world, at first you might think “What is this guy so happy about?” Read on, you’ll see…

[Read more…]

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailMore Safety for 2010 Nissan Versa Default ThumbnailNissan hits the 100 Million mark Default ThumbnailFirst Drive: 2007 Nissan Versa Default ThumbnailA Hyundai Sonata…with Sizzle? Default ThumbnailReview: 2011 Nissan Versa SL

Review: 2011 Nissan Versa SL

March 10, 2011 by Tom Williams 1 Comment

By sheer coincidence, last year was the second time The Garage had a Nissan in its stable for the Christmas holiday. While the popular crossover Murano seemed like a logical choice when some travel and hauling Santa’s loot were factors, friends and family howled at the prospect of me repeating the same feat in Nissan’s smallest, entry level car, the Versa. Turns out the joke was on them, so let’s hope they don’t end up with coal in their stocking next Christmas.

While it was once fair to toss around terms like “bottom feeder” when describing an automaker’s most inexpensive offering, such derogatory terms do not apply when discussing the Versa. The Versa has been around since 2007, with some refreshing in 2010 in four door sedan and hatchback forms. In 2010, the Versa outsold the long-tenured Sentra, making it Nissan’s second best selling car behind the Altima. So, you ask, what make the Versa a hit? Read on.

[Read more…]

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailFirst Drive: 2007 Nissan Versa Default ThumbnailMore Safety for 2010 Nissan Versa Default ThumbnailReview: Nissan cube Krom Default ThumbnailReview: Nissan Murano Default ThumbnailReview: Nissan Altima 3.5 SR

More Safety for 2010 Nissan Versa

September 28, 2009 by Tom Williams Leave a Comment

2010Versa_101

Entering its fourth year in production, the Versa is Nissan’s entry-level car. All Versa’s get a new grill treatment and wheels for 2010. Most of the news involves the top-line 1.8SL model, starting with a low-cost available Navigation and XM Satellite radio package. New standard features on the SL this year include an iPod interface, Vehicle Dynamic Control, and Traction Control. Anti-lock brakes are now standard on the 1.8S, and continue to be standard on the 1.8SL. The Sport Package body kit is now standard on the 1.8SL hatchback, pictured after the jump.

[Read more…]

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailNissan Versa media launch in Nashville Default ThumbnailFirst Drive: 2007 Nissan Versa Default ThumbnailNissan launches Micra C+C for Japanese market Default Thumbnail2009 Nissan Versa: Nissan blows the entry level competition away!

2009 Nissan Versa: Nissan blows the entry level competition away!

November 13, 2008 by Gary Grant 24 Comments

Many, many years ago I remember visiting the Toronto Auto Show with my whacked out step father, who freaked that a certain Germanic pocket rocket was over $8000. That same year, my Mom fell in love with a Skoda of all things, which was somewhere around the 4 grand mark if I recall correctly. That was a very long time ago and the automotive landscape has changed dramatically. For some time now, the cheapest car on the market has hovered in the 14 to 15 thousand dollar mark. That all changed earlier this year when Hyundai offered a specially priced Accent that was actual sub ten grand: for a while. Currently, the entry level Accent stickers at $13,595 here in Canada and $11,070 south of the border. Nissan is raising lowering the bar with the introduction of the 2009 Versa sedan.

$12,498 in Canada, $9,990 is the States.

This is not a sale price, this is MSRP! Beyond the price, the list of available items is unbelievable: power windows, air conditioning, keyless entry, 6 airbags and more. For those looking for an entry level vehicle that gets great fuel economy, Nissan has just become the place to begin their search.

Oh yes, fortunately the parental units never brought home one of those Eastern European abominations!

Full details from Nissan after the break
[Read more…]

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailWhere will you buy your GT-R?

Nissan Versa Safest Small Car

December 22, 2006 by Gary Grant Leave a Comment

nissan-versa-20050930054236958.jpg

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has just released their test results for 8 small cars, and the Nissan Versa was the hands down winner. They warn though that occupants of large cars are still safer than those in little cars.

Read the full press release after the break.
[Read more…]

Related posts:

No related posts.

Advertisment

Find stuff

Recent Posts

  • New Canadian series promises international quality competition
  • INDYCAR Announces Paretta Autosport
  • Carvana Conundrum
  • Honda Loses Some Funk for 2021
  • Review: 2020 Toyota Camry Hybrid

NEW Feature: World’s Fastest Car Review

World’s Fastest Car Review: Volvo Drive Me

May 29, 2014 By Gary Grant 1 Comment

World’s Fastest Car Review: Enviro Dad and the VW Touareg TDI

May 26, 2014 By Gary Grant Leave a Comment

World’s Fastest Car Review: 2014 Mazda5

May 8, 2014 By Gary Grant 1 Comment

Copyright © 2021 · Magazine Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in