2012 Nissan Versa 1.6 S Sedan – Best Deals & Discounts
MSRP: $10,990
It’s the all new, second generation Versa sedan. It has been around since 2004, and is known as the Nissan Tilda everywhere except the US and Canada. It is Nissan’s entry-level compact. “Entry-level compact” used to mean “cut corners and put it out as cheap as possible,” but the market has suddenly become competitive in the last year or so. While there are still a few entry-level compact cars that industry vets call “penalty boxes” for their lack of safety features and amenities, much of the industry is stepping up to the plate big time with little cars.
The 2012 Nissan Versa 1.6 S is the lowest of three trim levels, which makes it “entry-level entry-level.” It has a 1.6 liter, inline 4-cylinder engine that produces 109 horsepower. It has 15-inch steel wheels, front-wheel drive, and a 5-speed manual transmission. It is rated at 27 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. Someone actually tested its zero to sixty time and got 9.4 seconds.
The Versa 1.6 S is sparsely adorned, like most lowest trim entry-level cars, but it is much better than the norm was even two years ago. It has a tilt-only steering wheel, front bucket seats with driver height adjustment, air conditioning, a rear defogger, and a trip computer. The audio system has 2 speakers, AM/FM radio, a CD player, and an audio jack.
The Versa also comes with side front airbags, side curtain airbags, stability control, traction control, and antilock brakes. There are no available test scores yet, but it is rumored to be a lot safer than the previous generation.
Conclusions and driver feedback:
The interior has undergone a bit of improvement. The materials are better now, and the design, while plain, isn’t a detriment. The controls are well-placed and easy to use and understand.
The best thing about this car is the amount of space it has in the cabin. This compact has the most cabin and trunk space in its class. The front and rear seats both have enough head, leg, and shoulder room for even taller adult passengers. The trunk has 14.8 cubic feet of space, which is larger than some midsize cars have.
The engine is small, but so is the Versa, and it has enough power for decent acceleration, smooth highway cruising, and a little bit of extra “zip” that you wouldn’t expect. The steering and suspension are smack in the middle between performance and comfort. The fact that the Versa is small and light gives it an agility that would belie its suspension, though. It navigates easily in and out of traffic and on tight, curvy roads.
Amazingly, for an inexpensive car, the ride is quite comfortable. It isn’t as cushy as a big family sedan, but you don’t get jolted around under normal conditions, either. The seats are even comfortable for commutes, though you might need some extra support for longer trips.
All in all, this car is one of the biggest surprises of the year. Nissan, for all of its efforts in the upper lines, is still known for making bland cars that go from point A to point B with a minimum of drama, but even less excitement or engagement of the driver. This car still fits, but it does show just a hint of attitude that the Versa previously lacked.
Also, the fact that you can get a radio, CD player, and air conditioning on the base trim of an entry-level economy car is a major bonus, as is the fact that this car appears to be a lot safer than previous models. When you put it all together, the Versa is a great buy.
The verdict: if you are looking for an inexpensive, small economy car that won’t lead you astray, this is a great place to start.
Options, other trims, and miscellaneous caveats.
We reviewed the base trim, the 1.6 S, because we like to let people on a shoestring budget know exactly what they can expect for as little money as possible. The 1.6 S is not lacking in essentials, so we feel it is a great entry-level bargain. If you like, you can upgrade to the S Cruise Control Package. This gets you cruise control, two extra speakers in the rear, and a trunk light.
The next trim level is the 1.6 SV, which starts at $14,560. For your extra $3,570, the 1.6 SV gets the same options as the S, but adds the Cruise Control package, full-power accessories, cruise control, better gauges, better upholstery, and keyless entry. You also get a continuously variable transmission (CVT). If you add the SV convenience package, you can get an iPod interface and Bluetooth.
The highest trim is the 1.6 SL, which starts at $15,560. It includes all of the conveniences and features from the SV, plus the convenience package, a 60/40 split-folding rear seat, 15-inch alloy wheels, and foglights.
The Versa also comes as a hatchback, but it is last year’s model with a 2012 badge. It has a 1.8 liter, 4-cylinder engine that produces 122 horsepower. The first trim, the Versa S, has a 6-speed manual transmission, and gets 24 mpg in the city, and 32 mpg on the highway. The second trim, the Versa SL, has the same engine mated to a CVT, which produces 28 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway.
Last year’s hatchback models got scores of “good,” which are the highest, for front and side impacts from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, but bombed on the US Government tests, getting 3 stars out of five for front-impact protection, and 2 stars for side-impact protection. While we side with the IIHS due to their direct financial stake in the accuracy of their ratings, we still don’t like last year’s model compared to this year’s.
We recommend waiting for the hatchback to have a second generation, too.
Related posts:
- New 2011 Nissan Versa Sedan – Discount new car Fontana, CA
- Cheap Used 2010 Nissan Versa 1.8 S Sedan’s For Sale & Reviews
- Cheapest New Price 2011 Nissan Versa 1.8 SL Hatchback & Review
- Cheapest Price 2011 Nissan Versa 1.6 Base Review & Specs
- Cheapest Prices On 2012 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V & Review
