Test Drive: 2012 Nissan Versa SL

By Kevin Harrison

With a potential transit strike looming in Halifax, the idea of car ownership may now on some level seem like less of a burden. Since many in the city seem to think our transit service is non-existent in the first place, perhaps a strike will seem like any other day anyway. But for some people like my friend Erin, having absolutely no transit means absolutely no work or social life. She just can’t afford to lose it.

Likewise, she can’t afford a new car either. While she may be able to get a decent second hand car which would have someone else eat most of the depreciation, there’s still that unsettling feeling that something could go wrong with her ‘new-to-her ride’ at any moment. The question then remains, will she have the money to fix it?

With close to zero knowledge of cars in the first place makes car ownership for Erin more anxious than Charlie Sheen at a drug testing lab. Luckily for her, her friendship with yours truly has many advantages not least of which is someone to help her pick out a good reliable used car.

But why ‘settle’ for a used car when a new one is actually within Erin’s grasp? Nissan has just redesigned the Versa sedan and they’re boasting the lowest MSRP of any new car in Canada in the process.  It certainly makes for an interesting new versus used argument.

Has Nissan come up with just a cheap car or a good valued car? I tested one to find out.

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2012 Nissan Versa Gets Lowest MSRP in Canada

Nissan Canada has just announced pricing for the redesigned Versa sedan and it comes in at $11,798. That makes it the cheapest brand new car you can buy in the country.

The new Versa sedan will be powered by a 1.6 litre four cylinder mated to either a manual transmission or a CVT. Notable options include Bluetooth, a 5 inch navigation touch screen and XM satellite radio.

This is particularly interesting because the Hyundai Accent has long held the cheapest-new-car crown. With its redesign, it offered even better value, but now Nissan has raised the bar in short order. The new Versa sedan is actually closer to being mid-sized that compact which makes that compact price even more desirable. It also reinforces my questioning the existence of the 2011 Nissan Sentra. Perhaps it will be a question of whether people want value or refinement.

Oddly enough, the Nissan Versa hatchback, which is arguably the more desirable variant of the two by Canadians, will continue on unchanged for 2012.

In Canada the Versa sedan will come in three trim levels:

• 1.6 S 5 MT starting at $ 11,798,
• 1.6 SV 5 MT starting at $ 13,798
• 1.6 SV CVT Starting at $ 15,098
• 1.6 SL CVT Starting at $ 16,298

[Nissan Canada]

Oh Hi: 2012 Nissan Versa

Nissan shown up to the New York Auto Show with a much needed refresh of the Nissan Versa.

The biggest story with the new Versa is the bump in fuel economy. The Versa is 150 lighter and uses a 1.6 litre DOHC 4 cylinder engine using Pure Drive technology – which is essentially a badge that Nissan will only put on its models that acheive 140 g/CO2 or better. Nissan has been doing this in Europe since 2008 and the North American Versa will be the first to wear the badge on this side of the pond. All this helps the Versa achieve the very marketable “green” status, especially with fuel efficiency ratings of 7.1 l/100 kms. That’s not Toyota Prius numbers by any means but considering this car will start at $10,300 in the States, that’s a sizable deal when figuring the initial cost to gas savings ratio.

With that price point, the Versa’s immediate competition will likely be the Hyundai Accent. The Accent is offered in both hatchback and sedan form. Nissan only showcased the sedan at the auto show, and has yet to confirm the hatch. However, with Canadians’ love affair with small fuel efficient hatchbacks, it’s a good bet that a hatch will find its way over at some point.

No Canadian pricing has been released yet.

[Nissan]