Our long-term 2007 Nissan Versa SL has left our garage. In its year of service, the Versa struggled mightily to edge past the 16,000 mile mark (and win us over). When it wasn't parked in our garage, the Versa was relegated mostly to city driving, resulting in a final fuel economy average of 26.7 mpg, which is consistent with the EPA's 2008 city estimate of 26 mpg.
Read the Versa's Long-Term Wrap Up
During its year, we praised its feature content, compared it to the Honda Fit (a lot), did plenty of complaining about the wonky shifter, had mixed feelings (good, bad)about the keyless ignition, tried to give it a shot on back roads, and claimed it was better than a Porsche 911 Targa...
Obviously, the Nissan Versa was hardly our collective's cup of tea. As sensible shoes transportation, though, it certainly did the job.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor
txmatt1 says:
09:05 AM, 04/ 4/08
I wouldn't choose the Versa in this class, but $90 total for maintenance costs and no repairs is pretty impressive.
louiswei says:
09:47 AM, 04/ 4/08
Come on, you guys probably threw a going-away party for the Versa. Just say you hated it, it's okay now.
altimadude00 says:
10:27 AM, 04/ 4/08
I think it's good for editors to get a "Common Person's" car once in a while. They would get a big head if they were always testing BMW M3s, Mercedes Benzs, etc. You have to cater to us that are not "enthusiasts" who are not enthusiastic about driving.
Sometimes the most important thing for a car is from getting from point A to point B with as little hassle as possible and knowing that it will do it every time anonymously.
For that purpose, the Versa is suitable.
daytona_500 says:
11:26 AM, 04/ 4/08
I dont understand why the Versa was so unloved, while the Fit's been around for so long even with all its problems. For me at least, the Versa is my pick in the small hatchback segment.
dougtheeng says:
11:34 AM, 04/ 4/08
I enjoyed having the Versa around...it looks like a decent enough little car, and I definitely think that testing cars like this is more relevant to the average person then testing M3's all the time...not that I don't like the M3!!
cx7lover says:
05:01 PM, 04/ 4/08
I'm glad your Versa didn't catch on fire.
firstwagon says:
05:13 PM, 04/ 4/08
"I dont understand why the Versa was so unloved, while the Fit's been around for so long even with all its problems."
I think it really reflects how much fun a car is to drive. The Fit really is a joy to drive. I haven't driven the Versa but the reviews I have read show it as comfortable transpostation. Nice but nothing to get excited about.
daytona_500 says:
05:57 PM, 04/ 4/08
firstwagon that was what I was thinking as well. However I wish the IL editors would see that these cars are just basic transportation and nothing else. They arent mean to be sporty or anything, and if it isnt sporty thats no reason to neglect it.
I dont know, I felt the Versa was just overshadowed by the Fit the whole time it was there.
firstwagon says:
07:36 PM, 04/ 4/08
Why should they see them as basic transportation? Why can't an affordable small car be something special to drive?
I suppose anyone who grew up driving American small cars (i.e. Escort, Sunbird, Omni, Chevette, SL1) might see them as nothing more then transportation but I think small cars are some of the best cars on the road.
Every car should be fun to drive, cars like the Civic, Protege and even the Sentra (some models) have done it for years. I expect it now.
If I test drove the Fit and it was sporty and then drove the Versa and it was bland, I would never consider the Versa.
Every car built today is reliable and practical. Why not ask for more?
Doesn't cost more to make it fun.
altimadude00 says:
08:38 PM, 04/ 4/08
Firstwagon -- "Doesn't cost more to make it fun." In a lot of cases, yes it does. I have to digress a bit to ask if you mean factory models, or base models only? If the latter, read on.
Look at the lengths GM has to go to make a Cobalt sporty. I agree the Protoge was a fun car to drive, but it was arguably under powered. They came out with a Mazdaspeed version (or was it MP3?) but it was added to the base car. Sentra Spec V is also an extra cost add-on.
Cars usually don't come out of the box as full on sport models. The most expensive model is usually the most "fun" model.
autoboy16 says:
10:08 PM, 04/ 4/08
Maybe an 09 Murano with dual sunroof or Infiniti Ex35 to keep a nissan until the GT-R comes back.
-Cj
kevlang says:
08:11 AM, 04/ 5/08
speaking of the fit, please get it out of your long term fleet so i can stop obsessively checking this blog every day. it's getting less and less useful on a daily basis.
tlcruz says:
11:28 AM, 04/ 5/08
firstwagon, i have an 02 sentra se-r and i LOVE to drive it! :)
cx7lover says:
10:56 PM, 04/ 5/08
Please get that worthless fit out of the fleet. It's soiling the good reputation Honda has payed for, the checks will stop coming!
cookie14 says:
07:51 AM, 05/18/08
I'll never understand the reason for comparing the Versa with the Fit. We own both of these cars and they are not alike in any way. The Fit's versatile interior and great gas mileage is a plus but it's noisy suspesion gives a punishing ride. The '09 is promised to address this and other drawbacks like poor driving position.
The Versa (wife's car) by contrast, is a mini Buick. Smooth, quiet and silky ride ( cvt tranny) It's a bigger car folks!!! It's the SL model with every available accessory. Too bad Edmunds didn't test the CVT version against the Fit auto Sport.
SO-- The Fit handles like a squrrel on crack. It's meant to. The Versa is a comfortable highway cruiser and that's what it is meant to be.