Nissan Versa 360 review
The Nissan Versa sedan and hatchback are among the cheapest new cars you can buy, and experts say the Versa's unusually roomy (for a compact car) five-seat interior makes it a good value. The 2010 model carries over mostly unchanged from 2009. For a detailed review, see our page on the 2009 Nissan Versa (*Est. $9,990 to $16,330)
Fuel economy for the base 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine is an estimated 29 mpg combined (26 mpg city/34 mpg highway with the five-speed manual transmission, or 33 mpg highway with the four-speed auto). The step-up Versa S switches to a 1.8-liter four-cylinder with either a six-speed manual (26 mpg city/31 mpg highway/28 mpg combined) or four-speed automatic transmission (24 mpg city/32 mpg highway/27 mpg combined). The Versa SL sedan gets the four-speed auto, but the Versa SL hatchback comes with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that boosts fuel economy to 30 mpg combined (28 mpg city/34 mpg highway).
For 2010, antilock brakes now come standard on Versas with the 1.8-liter engine, but they're optional on 1.6-liter versions. Electronic stability control is standard only on Versa 1.8 SL models and is optional on the Versa 1.8 S. All Versas include front, side and curtain airbags. In crash tests at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the 2010 Versa earns the highest rating of "good" in front, side and rear collisions, but its rollover roof strength has not been tested. In government crash tests, the 2010 Versa sedan and hatchback both earn 4-star ratings across the board -- front crash, side crash and rollover resistance.