The Versa's been with us for almost 4 years now, so I thought I'd post an update on our experience with the car.
We've owned it - it's an '08 Magnetic Gray S hatchback with 4-spd A/T, A/C and Value Option package, 68,000 kms - for 3 years and 10 months. The car's been 100% trouble-free in that time. It's cost us almost nothing to maintain with the life-time oil change package the dealer threw in when we bought it.
The exterior's held up very well, with only one or two almost un-noticeable paint chips on the hood. I think the hood deflector really helps here considering how low the front end of the car is. There's a couple of small door-dings too, but I can't ever seem to avoid those no matter how careful I am. Sometimes the first one's actually a relief since you can stop worrying about when it's gonna happen. Sigh....
Even the exterior plastics are holding up well. The rocker panel covers look like new and the headlights are still crystal-clear.
The interior plastics aren't top-grade, but they're good quality for a car in this segment. There are a few scrapes and scratches in the trunk side-panels, but I actually use the car to haul stuff so those are to be expected. Some of the metal-colored paint has worn off the top of the shifter as well, but the rest of the interior's still as pristine as you could expect. Padded armrests and storage pockets in all 4 doors are nice to have.
The one thing that still impresses me is the total lack of squeaks and rattles, even in the winter and especially considering it's a hatch with that huge door opening in the back. The Versa really is as solid as a rock.
The seats are amazingly comfortable and roomy and don't show any evidence of wear yet, but I can't say the same for the carpeted floor mats. Those things really are cheap and flimsy but that's an easy fix.
Now for my pro and con lists:
Pro Comfort - the seats are like nothing else in the class, front and rear.
Interior space - The Versa easily accomodates four adults and their luggage, and does it comfortably. Head and leg-room are exceptional in the back.
Refinement - The Versa's engine is very smooth and produces almost no vibration, especially at idle. You actually have to be careful not to re-start the engine while it's running.
Ride - The ride is by far the most comfortable I've ever experienced in a small car. That's not important to some, but it is to me because I ferry old folks around a lot. It's also quieter inside than you'd expect.
Exceptionally easy ingress and egress. The doors are big and they open wide, plus the Versa is very tall for it's class, which means you can simply slide into your seat rather than dropping into it.
Good quality materials are used throughout.
Fantastic visibility with the big windows and over-sized power side mirrors.
The electric steering is nicely weighted on-center and not as numb as some others I've tried. There isn't a huge amount of 'road-feel', but it isn't totally absent either.
Lots of thoughtful features for the price. I don't know of another car in this segment that includes damped grab handles and glove-box door. That glove-box is huge BTW.
The HVAC system is very effective, the A/C cools the car quickly in the summer even with the black interior. Love the heated exterior mirrors, I'll never be without those again.
Good fuel economy, much better now than when I first got the car. I'm averaging about 8.1L per 100kms in mostly city driving, the best I've gotten was 6.1 on the highway. I think it would be better with the CVT, or even a normal 6-spd A/T that some of the competition offers these days. IMO Nissan should include that option in the next-gen Versa hatch.
Thanks to it's upright stance and high roof, the Versa feels and drives like a bigger car than it really is. It doesn't feel 'small'.
The Versa's very nimble in city traffic and a snap to park thanks to it's great visibility.
As I mentioned, the Versa's been reliable as an anvil.
Con Ergonomics - the unlit power-mirror switches are awkwardly placed on the lower left dash. Trying to find them in the dark is a real PITA. I hope the next-gen hatch has them on the door armrests where they belong. The seat recliners are mounted inboard, but I've gotten used to that. The steering wheel is tilt-only.
The 4-spd slushbox is antideluvian, but I didn't like the way the CVT felt and my wife didn't want the 6-spd manual. That said, it shifts smoothly if a bit early and doesn't really intrude much into the driving experience. Engine revs at 100kmh are about 2100-2200 RPM.
The OEM stereo in the S version is so bad you have to wonder why Nissan included it in the first place. Swapping that puppy out for a decent aftermarket unit - mine's a JVC KW-XR810 - makes the car much more pleasant to drive.
The cargo cover is flimsy, but at least Nissan doesn't make you pay extra for it.
The hatch opening narrows at the bottom, limiting the size of objects you can put in the trunk. Lift-over is decent though.
The rear seats don't fold flat, creating a huge ledge that limits what you can put back there. That said, the overall cargo capacity is quite large.
Lack of ABS and stability control in the base models. I don't know if Nissan has addressed this since I bought my car, although it's not really a major issue for me. These items are standard issue just about everywhere these days, so people expect them.
OEM Continental tires are crap. Mine wore out in less than 25,000kms.
Panel gaps are a little wide, but they are very even and consistent.
Handling is good, if not exactly 'fun'. It tracks very well and is very solid on the highway, but the Versa leans noticeably in hard turns and understeer is never very far away. If the next-gen hatchback addresses this while keeping the ride quality intact, I'll seriously consider buying one.
I don't mind the styling of the current Versa hatch, but the next-gen looks like a huge improvement. I'm looking forward to trying one, I just wish I didn't have to wait for yet another MY.
