Vehicle: 2009 Nissan Versa sedan with automatic transmission pkg, convenience pkg and ABS pkg
Price as tested: CDN$17123

Performance: There is no better time to introduce a base model with an entry-level compact during economy downturn. Nissan decided to decontent the Versa sedan with a 1.6 liter instead of hatchback’s 1.8 liter, while cutting some of its standard features and left it as an option. But there is a catch, which we will tell you later on.

Instead of using the 122hp 1.8 liter as its hatchback silibing, Nissan decided to source the 1.6 liter from across the shore. This 1.6 liter has 107 ponies and 111 lb/ft of torque, in relative to 1.8 liter’s 122hp and 127 lb/ft of torque. While we were terribly unimpressed with that 1.8 during our initial test drive with Versa a couple of years ago, this 1.6 liter is just add forst to the snow. This 1.6 liter continues to feel unrefined and noisy when pushed, also feel rather gutless on low-end pick-up. The most fortunate fact of the whole powertrain combination is the use of 4-speed automatic, which won’t create as much noise as its Xtronic when pushed hard during acceleration. But anything is in relative to price, especially when Nissan considers this as the “recession edition”. When you factor in the base price of this Versa sedan, all those rough and noisy engine notes have become forgivable. The 4-speed automatic, on the other hand, has a low enough gear ratio for 1st gear during acceleration. Its surprisingly comfortable with high gear ratio for 4th gear while 2nd and 3rd are spaced out enough in between. Even though Xtronic is an efficient combination due to its gearless CVT, we actually find the 4-speed automatic a more refined choice for the Versa.

Handling: Versa’s dynamic qualities have never impressed us. Its soft suspension combines with tall center-of-gravity have made Versa drives more like a minivan than a compact. There are just too much body rolls, which already exaggerrated with its tall driving position. The soft suspension has added insult to the injury during process. The standard 15″ wheels won’t helped neither. Understeer is the name of the game whenever you start to push the vehicle. Steering feels darty and numb, without any feedback. The best attribute of this Versa is the ride quality. In the hatchback, we felt choppy and ungainly. The smaller wheels actually help it improves the ride comfort.

Brakes: Despite of its so-called affordability, Nissan is stupid enough to offer an ABS package. That package alone adds $500, plus you have to add that additional $1 grand for convenience package to get it. Criticism aside, Versa’s front discs and rear drums provide better than average pedal feel. The stopping distance is acceptable while ABS, as so equipped, acts at the right time at the right place.

Interior: Versa’s best attribute has always been its spacious interior and decent use of materials. In this Versa, however, you have to add $1 grand to get all the necessary features. Without that convenience package, Versa sedan only comes with a steering wheel and an engine. This package adds power windows, locks, mirrors; a stereo, a clock and air conditioning. When you add both ABS and convenience package, along with auto transmission package; all of these are going to add up to $17 grand. That price is enough to get a better Versa hatchback with 1.8 liter engine.

Conclusion: Although Nissan has responded to the economy downturn with the introduction of a decontented Versa sedan, it doesn’t offer as much value as one expected. As we have mentioned earlier, the base car only comes with a steering wheel and an engine for $12 grand. Add up all the features, then it becomes poor value with $17k. What a pity!

OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2009 Nissan Versa sedan
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Performance: 1/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 2/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 2/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 2/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 2/5
Value-for-money: 2/5

Overall rating: 2/5