Tuesday, 24th of June, 2014
Friday, 6th of June, 2014
Nissan Versa
Good For: Less is more. Since the starting price of the Nissan Versa is $11,990, on paper it's the least expensive new car you can buy in the United States. It's also just as economic to operate, achieving effectively the same fuel efficiency as a Toyota Prius. This is possible due to its very light weight - around 2400 pounds! Light cars are also very fun to toss around. I was initially dreading having only 109 horsepower to work with, but in a car this light it is adequate. Interestingly, the Versa is not even that small of a car, considering the weight and price. It can seat 4 people surprisingly well due to a long wheelbase and tall body. It is classified as a subcompact, mostly due to how narrow it is. But in practice, it is just as roomy as many cars considered "mid-sized" these days.
Compromises: None.
Overall reaction - 2 Thumbs Up: The Nissan Versa is a fantastic economy car. Nothing else in this price range offers this much car, all while retaining the light weight handling dynamics of a subcompact. The SV trim I drove is a more mainstream equipment level, as the base trim appears to be stripped of even power locks and windows. But even with the nicer Versa trims, $15k still buys more car and more fun than everyone else's take on an economy car. The metal interior accents and chrome handles helped eliminate my preconceived notion that the Versa is a cheap car designed primarily for third world markets. After driving the Versa, I may end up holding this prejudice against the other subcompacts in the market instead.