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2007 Nissan Versa Road Test

Literally More Car for the Money

Are you ready to be thoroughly impressed? Take any current generation subcompact for a test drive and youll probably walk away shaking your head in disbelief at just how much car you can get for under $13,000. I remember when the old Micra was around, and like the Toyota Tercel of the era it wasnt all that refined... to be nice. Then some time later the first Toyota Echo arrived and I was surprised at how great a car it was, despite its homely appearance, but the new lot of small city cars is so much better, no matter which manufacturer you choose, that they really make you question the need to spend any more. 

Nissans new Versa is the latest to debut, and to be fair to its smaller rivals, its only a subcompact in price. Its not only larger in dimensions, inside and

Subcompacts have come a long way since the first Micras. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

out, but the latecomer is also the most powerful by a long shot, and delivers the most impressive ride of the bunch.

This last point is somewhat shocking, really. The Versa feels so solidly planted on the road, yet so sophisticatedly subtle in its every movement that youd think you were in a much larger, much more expensive luxury car. And the oddest part of it all is that Nissans arent particularly known for having luxurious rides, but rather firm, sporting suspension systems. The

A French car? It certainly looks like a Renault. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

Versa, on the other hand, manages corners very well for this class, but feels so very French I wanted to name my tester Versailles instead. Yes, the French are the best at suspension systems when it comes to ride quality, as any car enthusiast who was around when Citroen, Peugeot and Renault cars were sold in this part of the world will remember. There was a time that I hitchhiked to my girlfriends house about five hours away, was picked up by a Citroen DS21 wagon and arrived with my back feeling better than when Id left. On another French note, I used to drive

Despite the odd styling, the Versa is all Japanese from its stretched B-segment architecture to its refined interior. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

a Renault 5, or Le Car as it was fondly called in these parts, as did the drummer in my old band. Kenny could get his entire kit in the back and still have room for his sticks, my guitar and other odds and sods, get us to the gig in a flash despite more body roll than currently resides on my forty-something waistline, and have us both comfortable all the way there. Life with French cars was good.

Why the floaty ride down the Seine? Well, I have to admit that my first thought was of the Versas origin. It kind of looks like a French car, doesnt it? Take a look at a

A pretty sophisticated, really impressive performing engine for the subcompact class. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

modern Renault, the award-winning Renault Mégane for instance, and youll appreciate the similarities. Factoring in that Renault owns a controlling interest in Nissan before taking one for a drive, and it becomes easy to believe that the two cars are one in the same, other than a few styling details. This is not true, however, as the Mégane is actually based on Nissans C-architecture, and the new Versa, Tiida in most other markets, is based on a stretched version of Nissans B-platform. I still cant believe that Renaults chassis engineers didnt breathe heavily on the Japanese cars suspension, mind you, as its just too good not to be French influenced.
All

The optional CVT gearbox features a button on the left side of the lever for stepping down a cog. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

this said about the ride and handling, theres more thats good about the Versa. Its 1.8-liter four-cylinder with continuously variable valve timing is zippy for the subcompact class, at 122-horsepower and 127 lb-ft of torque, although its larger size gives it a heavier curb weight than most subcompacts, at 2,723 to 2,738 lbs depending on trim level, up more than 450 lbs over the class average. Still, it feels spirited when taking off even with the optional automatic gearbox. Actually, I cant say anything about the standard six-speed manual, being that Nissan never made one available for testing, other than to say that its the only six-speed in its class, but my guess is that most Americans will opt for the automatic,

Impressive fuel economy is par for the course in the subcompact class, but this interior is truly spectacular. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

and if they upgrade from the basic four-speed unit they wont be disappointed.

The optional Xtronic CVT is easily the best continuously variable transmission (CVT) in the compact segment, with smooth, efficient power delivery thats always willing to get up and go when the throttle gets planted to the floorboard. Like most CVTs, the Versas gearbox maintains optimal revs when the need for speed arises, holding near redline for max-power until the desired velocity is met. Just why a Jatco-built CVT is better in one car than it is in another, is anyones guess, but Nissan, having had much experience with this type of gearbox in its much-loved Murano crossover SUV, has done it once again and come up with something truly appealing in the Versa.

Just in case

Audio and cruise control buttons on the steering wheel include switches for connecting through to your phone via Bluetooth. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

you arent fully aware of what a continuously variable transmission or CVT is and were too embarrassed to ask, its pretty well the same type of gearbox as used in a snowmobile or ATV, in that it changes its "gear ratio" - although gears arent really part of the process - infinitely by splitting power from the engine into two shafts with one connected to an epicyclical gear set. The output from the CVT shaft connects to another shaft that in-turn, sends power to a different set of gears in the epicycle. The inert gear - the one that doesnt draw power from the engine or CVT -transfers torque to the transmissions output shaft and then to the front wheels, in the case of the Versa. Does this make sense?

And by the way, as tested with the six-speed manual, although the CVT doesnt negatively affect fuel economy one iota, Nissan claims the

An odd place to find seat adjusters, but when I got used to where they were I found their larger sizes and location quite convenient. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

Versa gets 30 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway, and can travel 460 miles between fill-ups, also due to it having a slightly larger, 13.2 gallon fuel tank than the subcompact average of 10.5 to 12.0 gallons. The four-speed auto actually gets a negligibly better fuel economy rating on the highway, at 38 mpg, but in the city it gets thirstier at 28 mpg.

Another money-saving engine feature is that theres no need to do a tune-up until the odometer reaches 100,000 miles.

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