2007 Nissan Versa Reviewed

The Versa is Nissan’s entry-level economy car, but in the modern age that doesn’t mean what it used to. No one who lived through the ultra-cheap economy cars of the 1970s and 1980s would call the Versa a bottom feeder.

The Versa comes with a 6-speed manual transmission, 122 horsepower 1.8-Liter engine, air conditioning, tilt wheel, power everything (optional), and a nice CD player. And somehow, Nissan manages to get this car out the door for $14,915. That’s an amazing value.

For a car that’s supposed to be small, the engineers have given the Versa a lot of space inside. The doors are large and tall – which goes with the tall roofline of the vehicle. The Versa has a reasonably long wheelbase for its class, and the effect is to enhance headroom and legroom while keeping the overall size of the car relatively small.

Inside, the Versa is comfortable and well-made. The air conditioning blows cold, and the stereo sounds good. The seats are basic, but comfortable, and the seating position makes use of the tall cabin design to sit you up a little higher. The windshield is mostly flat and raked back, as is the style in this class of car right now. You also get an adequate trunk with the Versa.

The engine is peppy, and the 6-speed box allows you to keep the engine in the power as much of the time as possible. The car is also available with a 4-speed automatic. The suspension, wheels, and tires aren’t very sporty, and you pay for that headroom with a slightly top-heavy feeling in cornering, but overall I was impressed with how well the Versa behaved on the road. Did I mention that it costs less than $15,000?

Fuel economy on the Versa was refreshingly thrifty. I got every drop of the advertised 35 on the highway and 28 in town. With fuel prices likely to spike again at any time, the Versa is a good choice to replace that older SUV you’ve been feeding.

About the only criticism I can lay on the Versa is that it’s not an attractive car. Compared to the current offerings from Mazda, Honda, or even Toyota, the Versa is blocky and clumsy-looking, and it doesn’t even come close to the “so ugly it’s cute” territory occupied by Scion xB. No one in the world is going to think you look cool in a Versa. Not ever.

In spite of that, or maybe because of it, the Versa is an excellent choice for a first car for teens and kids heading off to college. It’s affordable, economical, and it’s new-car safe. Unlike some popular imports, your kid will never be tempted to hot rod this car, and it will reliably get them where they want to go. So if you’re looking at economy cars, check out the Versa to see how far this segment has come.

--Jeff Zurschmeide