It's worth mentioning that there is no need to shortchange the driver of legroom in order to supply the rear-seat passenger with adequate real estate. Even with the driver's seat set at maximum leg extension, ample room exists for long-legged rear seat creatures.
Same engine, three transmission choices
The front-wheel drive Versa is equipped with a 1.8-litre DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder powerplant that musters up a total of 122 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm and 127 pound-feet of torque @ 4,800 rpm. Depending on preference and trim level, this little workhorse is married to either a 6-speed manual gearbox, a 4-speed autobox or a continuously variable transmission referred to by Nissan as the Xtronic CVT.
My tester was equipped with the CVT, which by a small margin enables the greatest driving distance among the three from a tank of fuel.
The CVT-equipped Versa is EnerGuide-rated at 7.5 and 6.0 litres of regular fuel per 100K of city and highway driving respectively. The 4-speed automatic transmission increases consumption to 8.5 and 6.2 litres respectively. The 6-speed manual gearbox splits the difference at 7.9 and 6.3 litres.
Life behind a Versa wheel
I've driven plenty of econo-boxes in the name of journalism. Mostly I disdain them, until of course, I factor-in fuel economy. Within a couple of blocks, I realized that many of the characteristics that underpin my acknowledged contempt were simply not evident in the Versa.
In fact, its delightful level of operational refinement pleasantly surprised me. The engine is much quieter and more civilized within normal operating parameters than most other 4-bangers in this segment. Only when it's asked to present all its ponies for inspection does it make an audible statement typical with 4-cylinder mills.
At 122 horsepower though, the Versa is not a powerful car by any stretch of an overactive imagination yet it easily keeps Nissan's replacement for the Micra in-company with the pack. I found the CVT gratifying; it functioned flawlessly and unobtrusively.
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| It's not only cargo that finds plenty of accommodation in the Versa, humans are granted a wealth of space as well. |
Same engine, three transmission choices
The front-wheel drive Versa is equipped with a 1.8-litre DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder powerplant that musters up a total of 122 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm and 127 pound-feet of torque @ 4,800 rpm. Depending on preference and trim level, this little workhorse is married to either a 6-speed manual gearbox, a 4-speed autobox or a continuously variable transmission referred to by Nissan as the Xtronic CVT.
My tester was equipped with the CVT, which by a small margin enables the greatest driving distance among the three from a tank of fuel.
The CVT-equipped Versa is EnerGuide-rated at 7.5 and 6.0 litres of regular fuel per 100K of city and highway driving respectively. The 4-speed automatic transmission increases consumption to 8.5 and 6.2 litres respectively. The 6-speed manual gearbox splits the difference at 7.9 and 6.3 litres.
Life behind a Versa wheel
I've driven plenty of econo-boxes in the name of journalism. Mostly I disdain them, until of course, I factor-in fuel economy. Within a couple of blocks, I realized that many of the characteristics that underpin my acknowledged contempt were simply not evident in the Versa.
In fact, its delightful level of operational refinement pleasantly surprised me. The engine is much quieter and more civilized within normal operating parameters than most other 4-bangers in this segment. Only when it's asked to present all its ponies for inspection does it make an audible statement typical with 4-cylinder mills.
At 122 horsepower though, the Versa is not a powerful car by any stretch of an overactive imagination yet it easily keeps Nissan's replacement for the Micra in-company with the pack. I found the CVT gratifying; it functioned flawlessly and unobtrusively.
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| The front-wheel drive Versa is equipped with a 1.8-litre DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder powerplant. |