Stylish new Nissan Versa now more than just an economy ride

The Nissan Versa is a surprising little runabout.

My first experience reviewing the Versa was several years and at least one generation ago and it left a lot to be desired. But the 2020 SR really changed my mind about this fuel-sipper; I ended up really liking this car.

After lagging behind in the subcompact category, which includes segment leader Honda Fit, the Chevrolet Spark and Kia Rio, while being relegated to the inexpensive and budget fleet, a full redesign was implemented in all the correct ways for 2020.

Re-skinned with all-new angular sheet metal, upscaled interior and safety measures, all while maintaining a very attractive base price, the Nissan has vaulted back into the discussion for this competitive group. A base MSRP with a CVT automatic transmission is about $16,400 while our SR cost $17,600.

You can save close to $1,500 by taking delivery of a manual transmission without sacrificing the freshened cabin features, including the power windows, 7-inch touchscreen, polished and textured plastics and brushed metal trim accents. The seats are covered in two-toned cloth with cross-stitching and are supportive and comfortable.

The well-equipped sound system houses Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio while the six-speaker stereo resonates more because of the significantly quieter ride. Sitting on a larger, more aggressive footprint, the ride is smooth with decent handling. The transmission is silky and the SV offers a sport mode that was helpful when hustling into traffic. The 1.6L engine makes 122 hp but the Versa delivers a robust 40 mpg on the highway and 32 in the city

Despite a slightly longer and wider wheelbase, and rated as a five-passenger sedan, the backseat legroom was a bit tight although the trunk is huge, consuming my golf clubs, photo gear and weekly grocery run. Where the car made another huge jump is the highway performance. What was once a numbing and tedious slog is now a confident ride.

Our SR was outfitted with a solid safety array found on more expensive cars, including blind spot monitoring, lane drift and collision alerts, adaptive cruise control and an electronic dimming rear-view mirror.

So what’s great is that economy-minded car buyers don’t have to break the bank to get nicely outfitted and more stylish cars.

Base MSRP: $14,730

As tested: $17,600

MPG: 32 city, 40 highway

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2Y0fCXN