2015 Nissan Versa Quick Spin Review

2016 Nissan Versa sedan

At one time, subcompact vehicles were considered penalty boxes. Sure, they could deliver excellent fuel economy, but they also had poor interior space, noisy engines, and a miserly list of standard equipment. But in light of increasing fuel prices, automakers have been stepping up their game in the subcompact class. With better interiors, new engine technologies, and a better list of standard equipment, this isn't your father's subcompact.

Case in point: the 2015 Nissan Versa.

Design

The Versa borrows liberally from the compact Sentra and midsize Altima, at least in terms of design. The overall shape is very round to provide both better aerodynamics and a more modern silhouette. Additional tweaks to the 2015 Versa sedan's exterior include larger headlights, more chrome accents, new wheels, and new rear end styling. The interior also sees some changes with a new steering wheel, revised center stack, and new LED display in the gauge cluster.

Despite its size, the Versa has one of the roomiest interiors in the subcompact class, with 90.2 cubic feet of interior volume. The back seat rivals many compacts and even some midsize sedans for the amount of head and legroom on offer. The trunk is also uncharacteristically large, with 14.9 cubic feet available for luggage, groceries, IKEA impulse purchaes, etc. 

Powertrains

All Versas come with the same engine; a 1.6L four-cylinder engine with 109 horsepower and 106 pound-feet of torque. Transmission options vary according to trim level. The base Versa S gets either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic, while Nissan's Xtronic CVT is standard on the S Plus, SV, and SL models.

Fuel economy for 2015 Nissan Versa is rated as follows:

1.6L with five-speed manual: 27 City/36 Highway/30 Combined 1.6L with four-speed automatic: 26 City/35 Highway/30 Combined 1.6L with CVT: 31 City/40 Highway/35 Combined

Safety

All Nissan Versas come with a full suite of airbags, including a side-impact curtain for the front and rear passengers; anti-lock brakes, traction control, and stability control. The Versa SL features Nissan's Easy-Fill Tire Alert, which honks the horn to communicate when the correct tire pressure has been reached. 

In National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash tests the Versa earned an overall rating of four stars, with three stars in the frontal crash, and four in the side and rollover tests. In the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests, the Versa earned the highest rating - Good - in the moderate overlap front, side impact, rear, and roof crush tests. However, the Versa earned a rating of "Poor" in the IIHS' new small overlap front crash test.

Pricing and Features

The 2015 Nissan Versa kicks off at $11,990, making it the least expensive vehicle sold in the U.S. That price includes a five-speed manual as standard, if buyers want an automatic the sticker price creeps to $13,490. However, that upgrade also includes a set of 15-inch steel wheels with wheel covers, cloth seats, Bluetooth, two-speaker AM/FM/CD/Aux-in audio system, four-way adjustable seats for the driver and passenger, and a speed-sensitive volume control system.

Next up is the Versa S Plus which comes in at $13,990. Aside from the addition of Nissan's Xtronic CVT, the S Plus also gets a rear spoiler, four-speaker AM/FM/CD/Aux-in audio system, and cruise control.

Then there is the Versa SV which starts at $15,530 and comes with fog lights, body-colored power remote side view mirrors, upgraded seat fabric, six-way adjustable seat for the driver, armrest for the driver's seat, 60/40 split fold-down rear seat, power windows and locks; and a USB input. Options include the SV Appearance package, which adds 15-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, chrome accents, and variable intermittent wipers. Also available is the SV Tech package, which includes a 5.8-inch touchscreen with NissanConnect and Navigation, voice recognition, SiriusXM TravelLink, and traffic monitoring.

Topping the Versa range is the SL, which begins at $16,890. The SL boasts 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, 5.8-inch touchscreen with NissanConnect and Navigation, voice recognition, and push button start.