So here we are in sunny
Florida with Nissan’s cheapest car, in fact I think it’s the cheapest new car
in America – or near as dammit.
Let’s start with the vices –
the styling is most generously described as pedestrian; the shape looks like
they stuck it in a vice and squeezed hard, so the car got narrower and taller;
The CVT auto
is not well-calibrated to the 103hp 1.2L four cylinder engine, and holds gears
too long when accelerating; and the handling is decidedly ‘dodgy’ – probably
because of the high centre of gravity.
On the freeway anything over
the 70mph speed limit finds the Versa wandering in the airflow, plus the
steering on my car pulled to the right and I was constantly correcting.
However, that probably means that the poor old rental car just needed a wheel alignment.
I don't believe the designers spent very much time in the company wind tunnel - the car is very unstable at speed.
So don't take too much notice of the tacked-on spoiler on the trunk lid - I figure it's just affectation that comes with the Special Edition badge.
The little Versa is
definitely no rocket either. It accelerates to 100km/h (60mph), in 9.2secs, and covers
the Standing Quarter Mile in 17 secs, at 130 km/h (80mph).
Also when accelerating up to
highway speeds the engine is noisy as - in fact it screams so hard, the driver
should be cited for being cruel, and unreasonable.
However, it is unreasonable
to expect this little car to perform like one of its grown-up siblings, like the 350Z. The
Versa is an honest attempt to bring economical motoring, with an impressive
group of standard features within the reach of young (or mature) Americans.
On the first refuel, economy
numbers were 6.5 L/100km (34mpg).
The base price in the USA is
USD$15,000 – plus the usual extra taxes and charges.
The biggest complaint among the
enthusiast and consumer magazines in the USA, is the cheap and nasty feel to
the plastics and the interior trim. There is no doubt, when you’re sitting in
the cabin, you instantly recognize this is a car where production costs were cut to the bone.
But, if you’re going to make
a car for a price, then the discipline carmakers have to observe on component
and equipment costs must be rigid. Having said that, Nissan is a huge global
company, even bigger since the creation of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance,
and so its ability to source better looking, and better feeling plastics should
not be limited. In terms of purchasing power Nissan could surely do better, to
give the Versa a better-resolved interior space.
I could point to the
excellent results GM achieved with its new Chevrolet Spark (right), thanks to the
influence of GM’s new Head of Design, Australian Michael Simcoe.
Simcoe told me he set his
teams a target to create a ‘quality feel’ regardless of its pricing
status in the Chevy lineup, and after driving the car in Australia GM certainly
achieved its goals – and Nissan could do worse than take a leaf out of the GM
playbook.
As CAR AND DRIVER said in its review, inexpensive doesn’t have to
mean the car ‘looks’ cut-rate.
Personally, I think the
Versa has nothing going for it in terms of visual appeal, sex appeal or any
other appeal. It looks like what it is, and that’s a shame, because hiding
under the pedestrian styling and the uninspired interior design, is a tough,
reliable, economical and safe passenger car, that offers excellent
value-for-money.
It's also roomy for
its size, with fold-down rear seats, decently-sized trunk and comfortable front seats.
Really cute small cars are
often tagged as ‘chick’ cars, meaning no young male would be seen driving it –
unfortunately for Nissan, I can’t see the Versa appealing to anyone under 65. It's just great for someone who only needs wheels to trundle from the Assisted Living Village to
the Mall.
So, there. I’ve damned it
with faint praise, which probably only endorses the fact that I’m some sort of
brand snob, with champagne taste on a beer pocket. Competitors like the
Chevrolet Sonic, the Kia Picanto and Honda Fit are
more attractive, and dynamically better.
However, the payback comes in very
economical operation; on the second fill the fuel consumption fell to 5.9
L/100km (39mpg).
This is especially important, considering the Nissan Versa SV shown here (USD$16,500), is just a couple of hundred dollars
cheaper than the comparably-equipped and dynamically-superior Ford Fiesta.
CAR AND DRIVER’s nutshell
view captures the situation:
“For many years, the Versa has been America’s
biggest-selling subcompact, so there appears to be little incentive for Nissan
to spend more money.”
What’s that you said about not wasting money putting lipstick on a pig?
Alta calidad comprar réplicas de relojes de un relojero confiable? aquí puedo ofrecerte el mejor réplica de relojes rolex in high quality, including Cartier, Breitling,Omega, etc.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the post. It is valuable for the Nissan users. If you are looking to get the car rental services then, luxury car rental la service provider who has number of cars.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the valuable blog with us. If you are looking for the Denver to Vail car service then mountaincars.com is here for you.
ReplyDeleteNISSAN Is awesome option to rent! i always rent it on rental24h.com when i decide to travel to some country! it is actually great car!
ReplyDeletebest rental car rates, luxury car rentals columbia sc luxury car rentals columbia sc cheap car hire in usa
ReplyDelete