About.com review - 4.5 stars out of 5
Versa started life as a more upscale product than the competition, and I'm both happy and thankful Nissan brought it here “as is” instead of stripping it of personality and features to justify the cost. There’s no question this is my favorite ride of the “B” cars.
Edmund's Full Test
The Versa is an acceptably comfortable cruiser. As a commuter car, you couldn't find a nicer cockpit to stow passengers, but forget about running the canyons quickly. For its price, the list of equipment is hard to beat, and it's put together with higher-quality materials than recent bottom-end Nissans. Except for its rather pedestrian dynamics, it's a substantial banquet of goodness in a category that used to be as rewarding as a crust of bread.
Autobytel Sedan Review
What a weird little car. First, there’s the styling, a mishmash of lines that fails to produce a single flattering angle. Then there’s the interior, which features a busy array of horizontal and vertical cutlines in the many panels that make up the dash, doors and center console. It’s comfortable to drive, the 1.8-liter engine makes good power, and the transmission gets its job done smoothly. But I’d rather Nissan skip the keyless ignition and Bluetooth cell phone integration for tires that don’t track in freeway grooves, or maybe spend a little more time quelling the engine’s drone under acceleration. The final indignity is the Versa’s price; at $18,000 there are larger, quieter and more enjoyable cars available.
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Add in tax and license when you buy a Nissan Versa Sedan and you could be spending $20,000 – or more – for a car that competes with the likes of the Toyota Yaris. But it’s large inside, with durable and comfortable materials. It drives nicely, too, with capable power from the four-cylinder engine, acceptable handling character for a vehicle of its ilk and a cabin that is by and large a comfortable, quiet place to spend a commute. The CVT transmission takes a little getting used to, but for what this car’s purpose is, it’s a smart add-on. Hmmm. About that purpose. As a small car, the main point of the Versa is to be affordable and efficient transportation. Looks to me like it nailed efficient, but what about affordable?
