 2014 Nissan Versa Note. Click image to enlarge |
Nissan is not following the route Toyota has taken with the new Corolla and has thrown out the traditional automatic option altogether. Instead, you are given the option of a five-speed manual as standard gear or Nissan’s Xtronic CVT as an upgrade. People looking to row their own who want the Technology Package are out of luck; the Technology Package can only be equipped on SL-trimmed CVT models.
The tech pack is the pièce de résistance to place the Versa Note squarely ahead of the pack. AroundView – the overhead camera system first available in 2007 on Infiniti vehicles – has now trickled down far enough to be used on Nissan’s least expensive offering. Using four cameras (front, rear, and one under each door mirror), AroundView creates a virtual bird’s eye view of the car’s surroundings and displays it on the infotainment screen.
To demonstrate AroundView, Nissan blacked out some windows in a Versa Note equipped with the tech, forcing you to rely on just the camera feed. It was surprisingly easy to back up into a space without looking out the windows (though we wouldn’t advise you do it on public roads). However, due to the placement of the rear camera offset a few inches from the middle of the car, it can give you a skewed perspective.
Also part of the tech pack is navigation, voice recognition, and Bluetooth streaming audio; features that are becoming more and more prevalent in the subcompact market. Hands-free text messaging assistant and NavTraffic are also included in the package.
Another feature on the Versa Note usually reserved for much more expensive cars is double sealing around the doors to cut down on noise pollution entering the passenger cabin. Inner and outer seals work together, in conjunction with other features, to make the Versa Note one of the quietest subcompact vehicles money can buy.
   2014 Nissan Versa Note. Click image to enlarge |
These features and others are what Nissan is hoping will bring in new customers. Along with aggressive pricing, the high-tech kit should help the Versa achieve broader appeal and higher sales, narrowing the gap to the subcompact-sales-leading Hyundai Accent.
However, there are a number of things that may turn customers away. Our main concern is the new 1.6L and CVT, which – when used together – create a very slow car. Passing maneuvers should be scheduled well ahead of time in your day planner as acceleration is glacial. If you are just running about the city, this should not be an issue. But, if you plan on jumping on the 401, things may get hairy if you need to fit between two cars doing 110 km/h while you merge onto the highway.
   2014 Nissan Versa Note. Click image to enlarge |
Switchgear in the interior is also fairly second rate. Knobs for temperature and fan speed look and feel like they’ve been cribbed directly from a child’s playhouse oven. Other than the large screen, the inside of the Versa Note is also quite spartan and lacking any real distinctive design. This is in stark contrast to the outside.
