Ok, so Nissan's batting a pretty good average so far, but now we come to the all important ride and drive. This is the area which often lets the sub-compacts down.
A 1.8 liter 16v DOHC engine producing 122 hp doesn't sound particularly performance inspiring, yet the Versa is surprisingly peppy once it gets going.
My tester was fitted with Nissan's XTRONIC CVT transmission which further aids performance and fuel economy (Transport Canada ratings: City 7.9L/100km - Hwy 6.1L/100km). This unit works extremely well, although there is a certain price to pay as the vehicle can become a little noisy under hard acceleration.
On the whole, the ride quality of the Versa is quite good. Obviously any vehicle weighing a mere 1225kgs is going to feel the odd breeze or two on the Hwy, but it certainly couldn't be called excessive.
The Versa carries power-assisted disc brakes up front and drums on the rear. This setup appears to work just fine, and the car remains stable even under harsh braking maneuvers.
All in all, the road manners of the Versa are quite respectable. The ride is firm but friendly and the comfort level of the interior suggests that this could be a nice little car for a long road trip. That's not something which I usually recommend for people in a sub-compact.
To me, that's the big thing about this little car. It has all the benefits of its compact size; it's good on fuel, easy to park etc. Yet, it offers the comfort level of a much larger vehicle. In many ways, it is a fresh approach to this segment of the market and shows that Nissan is continuing to think outside the box.
The Versa might not transform the whole sub-compact game, but it is certainly going to make the other teams think about their strategies. Now, that has to be a good thing for all small car fans.
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| 2007 Nissan Versa (Photo: Kevin Corrigan, Auto123.com) |
My tester was fitted with Nissan's XTRONIC CVT transmission which further aids performance and fuel economy (Transport Canada ratings: City 7.9L/100km - Hwy 6.1L/100km). This unit works extremely well, although there is a certain price to pay as the vehicle can become a little noisy under hard acceleration.
On the whole, the ride quality of the Versa is quite good. Obviously any vehicle weighing a mere 1225kgs is going to feel the odd breeze or two on the Hwy, but it certainly couldn't be called excessive.
The Versa carries power-assisted disc brakes up front and drums on the rear. This setup appears to work just fine, and the car remains stable even under harsh braking maneuvers.
 |
| 2007 Nissan Versa (Photo: Kevin Corrigan, Auto123.com) |
To me, that's the big thing about this little car. It has all the benefits of its compact size; it's good on fuel, easy to park etc. Yet, it offers the comfort level of a much larger vehicle. In many ways, it is a fresh approach to this segment of the market and shows that Nissan is continuing to think outside the box.
The Versa might not transform the whole sub-compact game, but it is certainly going to make the other teams think about their strategies. Now, that has to be a good thing for all small car fans.
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