This compact sedan offers some appealing qualities for not a lot of dough. High points include a smooth ride, good fuel economy, a large trunk and one of the roomiest rear seats in the segment.
The 2017 Nissan Versa is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder that produces 109 horsepower and 107 pound-feet of torque and it’s paired with a four-speed automatic. EPA estimated fuel economy is 29 mpg combined (26 city/35 highway).
The entry-level S model comes with 15-inch steel wheels, power mirrors, air-conditioning, cloth upholstery, manual locks and windows, a tilt-only steering wheel, Bluetooth phone connectivity, a trip computer, and a four-speaker sound system with a CD player, steering-wheel audio controls and an auxiliary audio input jack.
The S Plus gets a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT), a rear spoiler and cruise control.
The 2017 Nissan Versa comes standard with antilock brakes (front disc, rear drum), traction and stability control, front-seat side airbags and side curtain airbags. In government crash tests, the Versa sedan earned four stars (out of a possible five) for front-crash protection. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety testing, the Versa sedan earned a top rating of Good in the moderate-overlap front-impact, side-impact and roof strength tests.