I've come to think of the Versa the way I think of an appliance, like, say, the washing machine in my apartment building. I certainly appreciate my building's washing machine; it serves a valuable function, and my clothes wouldn't be clean without it. Still, I don't exactly get lost in daydreams of its next spin cycle.
So it is with the Versa, which was a practical but unstimulating companion this weekend...
I enjoyed its sharp, responsive steering; this, teamed with its Gary Coleman-esque dimensions, helped make it remarkably easy to park. But -- sharp steering aside -- the Versa continued to sneer at my efforts to inject some fun into the driving experience. It cruelly slapped down my attempts to claim the gold in stoplight derbies with a lack of low-end torque that made it a loser every time. In general, getting up to speed with the Versa was a raucous and less-than-pleasant experience, since its engine gripes noisily when pushed.
However, I was able to parallel park in a tight space with ease as I returned a DVD to the video store. The Versa's seats were comfortable, and its reasonably cushy interior never once reminded me that I was in an economy hatchback. Fuel economy was another plus. The Versa averaged just under 28 miles per gallon in its weekend travels -- right in step with its revised EPA estimates.
Buyers seem to be loving this practicality. Sales continue to rise for the Versa -- 9,039 Versas were sold in May, up by 4,000 units from the month before.
Warren Clarke, Automotive Content Editor @ 8,388 miles
However, I was able to parallel park in a tight space with ease as I returned a DVD to the video store. The Versa's seats were comfortable, and its reasonably cushy interior never once reminded me that I was in an economy hatchback. Fuel economy was another plus. The Versa averaged just under 28 miles per gallon in its weekend travels -- right in step with its revised EPA estimates.
Buyers seem to be loving this practicality. Sales continue to rise for the Versa -- 9,039 Versas were sold in May, up by 4,000 units from the month before.
Warren Clarke, Automotive Content Editor @ 8,388 miles
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