4th place: 2011 Nissan Versa 1.8 SL – 76.2%
As with the Kia, the Versa is starting to show its age. However, it remains unbeaten in regards to passenger space. Rear-seat occupants won’t believe how much breathing room they will have back there, which is a big advantage if you frequently transport four adults.
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| Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com |
The car also boasts a high level of refinement, and drives like a bigger car. The wide doors ease entry and exit, while the CVT transmission keeps engine revs low, better than the standard 6-speed manual can do.
The Versa’s styling didn’t win anyone over, maybe because we see so many on the road. The interior design also doesn’t look very modern compared to the more adventurous design in some newer rivals. We were surprised, however, to find woodgrain trim in our test car; it doesn’t look bad at all, but seems a little out of place in a subcompact.
The big little Nissan also isn’t as fun to drive as the newcomers; its steering isn’t as sharp and its suspension is softer, but the trade-off is a more comfortable ride. Some testers didn’t like the flat seats, though.
The Versa has one of the biggest and most powerful engines in the subcompact category, with 1.8 litres of displacement and 122 horsepower, but the car finished mid-pack in acceleration times and fuel economy.
There’s nothing wrong with the Versa; in addition, its two trim levels and various option packages mean there’s a version that’s affordable for everyone. It’s just that’s there are more exciting choices in this group.
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| Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com |
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