The Versa's strongest cards are value and safety. Mechanically, it isn't particularly advanced but still would tie Hyundai's Accent and Kia's
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The Alfa beat BMW's fourth place 3-Series (E90) in terms of points. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)
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Rio for most powerful in the subcompact segment by offering a small 110-hp 1.5-litre inline-four. But its CVT (continuously variable) gearbox, which should enhance performance while reducing fuel economy over conventional automatic transmissions, is a bonus.
Standard brakes are disc and drum, while the rear suspension is a space-saving semi-independent torsion beam. The Clio III and Versa excel, however, in safety due to an ultra-rigid structure, and what's more feature class-leading
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| An honourable mention also must go to Alfa's Brera, a fastback coupe version of the 159 that was voted Design of the Year by the judging panel. (Photo: Alfa Romeo) |
interior room. Head and legroom of the Versa are said to surpass Nissan's largest car, the Infiniti Q45, all at a price that's set to undercut the current Sentra.
Equally, if not more importantly is the runner up - the vehicle that lost by five points; the slimmest margin since 2001 when Alfa Romeo's 147 hatchback snatched the title from Ford's midsize Mondeo by just one point - Volkswagen's revolutionary Passat. While the midsize segment has waned globally due to the rise of sport utility vehicles and multi-purpose vehicles (crossovers), Volkswagen has shown that it can still produce an appealing family sedan.
