In addition to being well built, the Nissan Versa includes materials not entirely typical of an economy car. In particular, the 1.8 SL model offers upgraded cloth upholstery and padded plastics with matching grain patterns, a huge improvement over the hard panels found in not only other inexpensive vehicles, but pricier models, too. We were also pleased to find the leather on the shift knob and steering wheel to be soft, while the mesh headliner overhead imparted a sense of quality. Furthermore, there was a solid feel to the dials and controls. Cost-cutting can sometimes be easy to see, especially when a manufacturer is hell bent on keeping the price down, but such measures are hard to recognize in the Versa 1.8 SL. The 1.8 S, lacking the SL's upgraded interior materials, likely conforms to what buyers expect in an entry-level economy car.