Nissan Versa
Life is about making tradeoffs, and the Nissan Versa is a case in point. If you're a car buyer who values comfort and luxury features, then the Versa is not for you. On the other hand, if you're willing to sacrifice leather seats and an in-dash navigation system for a low purchase price, a three-year warranty and low running costs, read on.
There are four models in the Versa range, 1.6 Base, 1.6, 1.8S and 1.8SL. The two lower models are available in sedan form only and come with a 1.6 liter, four-cylinder engine that pumps an anemic 107hp through the five speed manual transmission. (An automatic is an option on the 1.6.) The 1.6 Base also has six airbags, active head restraints, and the federally mandated Tire Pressure Monitoring System, but very little else. Windows are hand-cranked, wheels are basic 14-inch steel rims and there's no air conditioning. There again, it lists at under $10,000, so you could argue that's a good deal for the money.
Moving up to the 1.6 model, a bump in the price of $1,000, gets you air conditioning. From there it's a steep jump up to $13,100 for the 1.8S. This has a four-cylinder 1.8 liter engine that puts out 122 hp through either a six-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. The same engine powers the top-of-the-line 1.8SL, but in that case it's mated to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). The CVT uses metal belts to transfer the drive from engine to wheels; not everyone cares for it's distinctive sound and feel but it does help fuel economy.
Speaking of fuel economy, the various combinations of engine and transmission make this rather complicated. The manual 1.6 gets 26/34 city/highway, while the automatic version achieves 26/33. The 1.8 engine is reported to deliver 26/31 with manual transmission, 24/32 with automatic, and 28/34 with the CVT.
The 1.8 variants are better equipped than their lesser 1.6 siblings. The S gets 15-inch steel wheels, dual powered door mirrors, and an AM/FM/CD audio system while the SL adds alloy wheels, remote keyless entry, power windows, cruise and a security system. It's also worth noting that the 1.8's are available in either hatchback or sedan body style. The hatch costs a few dollars extra, ($16,530 for the hatch versus $16,100 for the 1.8SL sedan,) but the added versatility might make that a price worth paying.
So far then, the Versa sounds much like any other compact car, but there is one area in which it excels: interior space. The Versa offers over 94 cubic feet of interior volume; not exactly cavernous, but more than any of it's competitors. You'd have no worries about running four adults down to the store, although you might not want to take them on a longer road trip.
What's the bottom line? If you like comfort and features you might do better to look for a good three or four year old car. But if you're on a tight budget and a new car warranty is more important to you than luxurious trim, then the Versa is definitely worth a look.
