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The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2014 Nissan Versa

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Overview

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2014 Nissan Versa Review

By KBB.com Editors

KBB Expert Rating: 6.0

For 2014, the Nissan Versa offers a schizophrenic aspect. The sedan version is uninspiring but best-selling older tech, while the 5-door hatchback offers new tech and a wider array of features. The 2014 Versa Sedan claims to be the roomiest car in its class, and it remains the least-expensive new car you can buy with its $12,780 starting price unchanged from last year. Add in fuel economy of up to 40 mpg, and the Versa looks even more sensible. Little is changed this year on the Sedan versions other than chassis tuning and some equipment offerings, but the all-new and very stylish 5-door hatch is a different story, combining fresh looks with similar fuel economy.

You'll Like This Car If...

If your focus is on dollars and cents, the 2014 Versa is among the least expensive new cars to buy. It offers high fuel economy, a surprising amount of passenger room, and a comfortable ride in a car that starts under $13,000. The 5-door Note is also pretty in a way most cars in this segment aren't.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If you desire a modicum of excitement in your economy car's looks or driving dynamics, consider the hatchback Versa Note...or a Honda Fit, Kia Rio, Ford Fiesta or Chevrolet Sonic.

KBB Expert Ratings

Overall Rating

6.0
Driving Dynamics

5.5
Comfort & Convenience

7.3
Design: Interior & Exterior

4.6
Value

6.0
Safety

7.7

Consumer Rating

7.5 out of 10

View all
consumer ratings

What's New for 2014

The big news is the all-new Versa Note 5-door that can be had as a no-frills transport car, but also is offered with a wide variety of features...if you're ready to pay for them. All 2014 Nissan Versa Sedans benefit from revised suspension and steering calibrations. Entry-level S models get a tachometer and SV and SL models have improved seat-cushion design. The SV also includes a 60/40 split-folding rear seat and the top-line SL gets a 4.3-inch display audio package and 16-inch alloy wheels.

Driving the Versa

2014 Nissan Versa Front angle view photo

Driving Impressions We haven't yet had the opportunity to drive the Versa Sedan and Versa Note 5-door back-to-back, but our very educated guess is the new Note amplifies the virtues of the...

older-design Sedan. Both are smooth and quiet by economy-car standards, and we were impressed with the refinement of the Note in particular. Though its road-going behavior will never be called exciting, the Versa is an easy car to drive and maneuver. The steering is light, its turning radius is tight, and visibility is very good from the driver's seat. Like other cars with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), Versas so equipped take some getting used to. There are no conventional shift points, so the engine may seem to be working hard at unexpected times, and with just 109 horsepower, the 2014 Versa's acceleration won't tempt you to enter many drag races.

Favorite Features

REAR LEGROOM
The Versa is commendably roomy, and folding rear seatbacks add versatility. In both Sedan and 5-door forms this is a small car that can comfortably seat two full-size adults in back.

FUEL ECONOMY
Sedans with the CVT automatic transmission are rated at 40 mpg for the highway and 35 mpg combined. The new 5-door equals the Sedan's numbers with even better drivability, making both Versas easy on the wallet and on the environment.

2014 Nissan Versa Details

2014 Nissan Versa Dashboard, center console, gear shifter view photo

Interior

Nissan says the Versa Sedan has best-in-class rear legroom, and the trunk has a surprising amount of space, too. With 14.9 cubic feet of capacity, the Versa's cargo hold is larger than the Nissan Maxima. The Versa Note is equally roomy, and it offers a whopping 21.4 cubic feet of cargo space in a very versatile interior. The Note's interior is also flashier and more appealing than the so-so interior of the sedan version. It offers niceties like a rear-seat armrest with cupholders, available heated cloth seats and a driver's armrest. The Note is also the hot tip if you're a tech fan, offering the Around View Monitor that makes parallel parking a breeze.

Exterior

Picture an economy car in your mind, and you'll likely visualize something akin to the 2014 Nissan Versa Sedan. It is utterly acceptable and that's it. But the Versa Note kicks it all up a notch with exterior styling that Note product planners cite as a "reason to buy." We agree. The Note's overhangs are six inches shorter than the Sedan's, and the result is a more energetic-looking design. Higher-trim SV and SL models are distinguished by chrome highlights. Wheels are 15- or 16-inch, and steel or aluminum-alloy, depending on the bodystyle, trim and option package.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

The Nissan Versa is one of the few new cars that still offers roll-your-own windows and manual-adjust mirrors. But that's in base "S" trim, which is also manual-transmission only. Climbing the food chain, you'll step up to the costlier SV or SL trims that deliver significantly plusher amenities, yet no version of the 2014 Versa Sedan has a telescoping steering wheel, which can make it harder for drivers to obtain an optimum position. The base S trim includes a tachometer, and the low-rolling-resistance tires that used to come only with the CVT are now standard across the line. Happily, even base vehicles have air conditioning and AM/FM/CD audio with auxiliary input.

Optional Equipment

Major options for the Versa Sedan are available in higher-trim SV and SL models. The Convenience Package in SV models adds Bluetooth, steering-wheel-mounted audio and phone controls and 15-inch alloy wheels. The Technology Package on SL models adds Nissan Connect with Navigation and a color touch screen, satellite radio, rearview monitor, and a USB input for audio playback. Things are a bit different for the Versa Note. It, too, starts in an S trim manual-only version. An S Plus adds CVT transmission and little else, but the SV brings with it a 4.3-inch audio display, rear-view monitor, and the Divide-N-Hide adjustable rear cargo floor. The SL version is filled with niceties like 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, fog lights and heated seats. Going to the SL Tech package adds Nissan Connect with Navigation, Around View Monitor and heated side mirrors.

Under the Hood

The front-wheel-drive Nissan Versa Sedan and 5-door Note hatchback are equipped with a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine. With only 109 horsepower, it's not particularly powerful, but does get an EPA rating of 40 mpg on the highway when connected to a CVT transmission. Other transmission choices are a 5-speed manual (Versa Sedan and Versa Note) and 4-speed automatic (available only on base S models of the Sedan.) All other Versas use the fuel-saving CVT that Nissan is so high on.

1.6-liter inline-4
109 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
107 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 27/36 mpg (5-speed manual), 26/35 (4-speed automatic), 31/40 mpg (CVT automatic)

Pricing Notes

With a base price of $12,780 including destination charge (the same as last year), the 2014 Nissan Versa Sedan still claims the title of lowest-priced new car you can buy in this country. The newer Versa Note hatchback has a starting price of $14,780 including destination charge, indicating Nissan's belief that consumers will pay more for its good looks and greater versatility. As you climb the trim levels and add equipment, the prices also climb commensurately. For example, a top-line Versa Note SL model with the Technology Package has a list price of more than $19,000, which could buy well-equipped examples of competitive models like the Kia Rio, Ford Fiesta, Chevy Sonic, or Honda Fit. Before buying, be sure to check KBB.com's Fair Purchase Price to see what others in your area are paying for the various 2014 Nissan Versa models. Over the long-term, the Versa's resale value is expected to be good, and its 5-Year Cost to Own has traditionally been among the best-in-class.

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2014 Nissan Versa Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

7.5

Out of 10

Based on 48 Ratings for the 2012 - 2014 models.

Review this car

Value

8.1/10

Quality

7.8/10
Reliability

8.5/10

Performance

6.7/10
Comfort

7.7/10

Styling

7.2/10

Got rid of at 2800 miles!

By Cargirl (FL) on Sunday, July 21, 2013

I owned and sold this car
Reason: Did not like the car - My approximate mileage is 2,800

10 1.0

overall rating 1 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 1/10
Value: 1/10
Reliability: 5/10
Quality: 2/10
Performance: 4/10
Styling: 5/10
Comfort: 5/10

Pros: "Relatively quiet on the road (even at high speeds)"

Cons: "sways on the highway, cheap material on the seats"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 1

"About 3 months ago we bought the Nissan Versa Automatic 1.8 S Special Edition w/ navigation. Since the car was for my teenage kids, and I had no intention of buying it at lease end; I really did not do my homework (shame on me)! The car is being redesigned in 2014 and will now be called Nissan Note. I think the dealer was pretty happy we walked through the door that day not knowing any of this. The dealer still had some 2012 Versa's still sitting on the lot. We took it for a test drive around the block and felt like it was a good car to learn how to drive. After we bought it we found out several days later that on the interstate it catches wind and it takes effort to hold it steady. We had a cloth charcoal interior and it literally picked up every piece of lint; it was like a Velcro vacuum (I'm assuming cheap material because I've never owned a car that has done this before)we were constantly trying to pick-up lint with a brush. I will never visit that Dealer again! I think they were trying to get rid of the 2012 Versa's left on the lot and therefore we were steered toward that model (they did not show us anything else (Sentra, Altima). My husband and I have been buying /leasing Honda's since 2004. Beware if you lease a Nissan that they charge $395.00 at lease end to turn in the vehicle (Honda does not charge anything). The one good thing I can say about he Versa is that when traveling fast down the highway it was relatively quiet. Another nice thing was it came with a pretty decent sound system. I believe if anyone is looking for a small car, there are better options out there like the Honda Fit etc. (better quality. Plus they hold their value better if you plan to purchase at lease end. We traded the Versa in this past weekend and we were upside down in the negative $4,000. We paid 4,000 at lease signing, so add it up; it was a very bad deal for a car we only had for less than 3 months."

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Like it so much we are buying a second one!

By Miss Easy (TX) on Saturday, July 06, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 14,899

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Everyting is Awesome"

Cons: "Could be a bit more stable in the wind but for a l"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"This little car is awesome! VERY roomy inside, a breeze to drive, it SIPS fuel, easy to park whats not to like!"

3 people out of 3 found this review helpful

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Great Car, Great Price

By papajack (NC) on Sunday, May 12, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 280

10 8.0

overall rating 8 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 8/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 8/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "price, fuel economy. Leg room. head room"

Cons: "lack of power"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I know I have only had this car for a few days. But, I am amazed at what it has to offer for a subcompact. Everything is there I ever needed in a car except the power. But, if having more power means losing fuel mileage. I will leave it just the way it is. Styling is good considering all the rest of all the other cars look all the same. I just love this car. I reccomend it to everyone looking for a fuel miser with the comfort and leg room of a larger car..."

11 people out of 14 found this review helpful

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Best economical car!!

By buckeye_39 (MI) on Sunday, April 28, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 15,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 8/10
Quality: 8/10
Performance: 5/10
Styling: 4/10
Comfort: 4/10

Pros: "Cheapest mode of transportation period!"

Cons: "Zero luxury period!!"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"Over 14,000 miles on my $12,500 out the door Versa. Yes, that is taxes included, got 52 MPG on my fill up today! Had to order it, no floor mats but 50+ MPG worth roll up windows and no power locks. If you want bare bones cheap car, this is for you! I paid $12,500, took almost 6 months to get car but I got my 50+ MPG A-B car!!! If I drive 70 mph = 37 MPG, 55 mph = 50 mpg, it's up to you!!"

14 people out of 14 found this review helpful

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OK Commuter Car. Will Drive You Crazy

By scottinatl (GA) on Saturday, April 13, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 6,100

10 5.0

overall rating 5 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 5/10
Value: 7/10
Reliability: 8/10
Quality: 8/10
Performance: 2/10
Styling: 7/10
Comfort: 6/10

Pros: "Roomy Interior, Price, Fuel Consumption, Highway"

Cons: "CVT, Driving Characteristics, Annoying"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 3

"The CVT is a dream at freeway speeds. Around town it is jerky, awkward, unresponsive, annoying, confused, and overall gutless. It is so bad I am trying to trade it in. You hit the gas and it does nothing and then, at some random point, decides to kick in and scream and yell and goes abosultely nowhere in the process. The interior is roomy and comfortable for the average commuter. Fuel consumption is around 27 around town and 35-38 on the highway. The Atlima is a pleasant experience with their CVT. This car is not and you will curse the day you succumed to a good deal when trying to get in-and-out of traffic in the city."

4 people out of 7 found this review helpful

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Great car!!

By SailorJoe (FL) on Monday, April 08, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 200

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Economical, Practical and Different"

Cons: "Radio"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"37 MPG!!! Researched and test drove the Civic, the Fit and the Yaris. The Versa drove and felt like none of them. It was different in a good way. Good steering, descent acceleration and quiet on the road. It is not very luxurious but I knew that going in so the number rating is reflective of my view in that area. The looks are different but not necessarily a bad thing since all you see now-a-days are the Camry or Corolla. The car feels like the designers actually put some thought into it. Definitely recommend you test before deciding."

4 people out of 4 found this review helpful

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See all 48 reviews