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2011 Nissan Versa

Rating7.3

Ranked #1 in Subcompact Sedan

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Starting MSRP 

$9,990 - $16,650

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Key Spec of 2011 Nissan Versa
fuel economy

26/30/34

fuel type

regular unleaded

horsepower

107 hp @ 6000 rpm

basic warranty

3 yr./ 36,000 mi.

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Old CarsBuild In & Price

2011 Nissan Versa Price, Review, Ratings and Pictures

Updated on: December 28, 2021

Nathan Dyer's image
Nathan Dyer 

Senior Editor

When one is considering buying a new car at a very tight budget and yet does not want to compromise on the practicality of a sedan, the super affordable subcompact sedan segment has very few rivals offering as much value as the Nissan Versa. It is one of the most affordable sedans sold in the US and yet is spacious enough to be able to sit an adult at the back and also carry plenty of luggage. With affordability one also expects low running costs and the high frugality is also one of the traits of this sedan.

2011 Nissan Versa Latest Updates

  • Dec' 1, 2021 : 2022 Nissan Versa Prices Announced! Starts Under $16,000 Read More »
See detailed review
ProsConsWhat's New

Spacious cabin with usable rear seat

Dull driving dynamics

ABS brakes now available with upgraded 1.6 trim

Comfortable and compliant ride quality

Most of the features are only available on top SL trim

1.8 S receives a six-disc CD changer

Large trunk capacity

Available convenience features

Over All Rating

7.3

Out of 10

Pricing and Features7.00
Pricing and Feature6.00
Features8.00
Engine and Performance6.60
Fuel Economy7.00
Interior8.30
Exterior6.00
Safety6.70
Competition8.00
Notable Rankings

#1 in Subcompact Sedan

#12 in Sedan

Pictures & Videos

Exterior [6]Interior [5]
2011 Nissan Versa exterior
2011 Nissan Versa exterior
2011 Nissan Versa exterior
2011 Nissan Versa exterior
2011 Nissan Versa exterior
2011 Nissan Versa exterior

Trims

Base$11,420 onwards

  • 14-inch steel Wheels
  • Cloth Seat trim
  • Front manual air conditioning
  • Radio prep Radio
Build Car

S$14,100 onwards

  • AM/FM stereo
  • Remote anti-theft alarm system
Build Car

SL$16,650 onwards

  • AM/FM/Satellite-Prep
Build Car

Colors and Styles

2011 Nissan Versa in Arctic Blue Metallic color
Arctic Blue Metallic

Expert Review, Pricing Analysis and Buying Guide

For the 2011 model year, ABS brakes are available from the 1.6 trim onwards while a CD changer is available from the 1.8 S trim onwards. With the prices beginning at an MSRP as low as $10,750, the rivals like Chevrolet Aveo, Ford Fiesta sedan, Kia Rio sedan and Toyota Yaris sedan, all find it difficult to justify their higher price tag.

Features
8.0/10

If opting for the base trim, one has to crank their windows and lock/unlock all the doors by themselves while humming to their own tunes because there ain’t any power windows, power door locks or a radio on offer. The 1.6 trim adds all of those and an air conditioning system alongside the newly available ABS brakes.

The 1.8 S trim is powered by a more powerful 122 hp motor and also features a lot more convenience features that makes life easier on a daily basis with this car. The 1.8 SL trim offers all the creature comforts that one expects from a subcompact sedan. It is the only trim to feature all wheels and premium cloth upholstery. 

Trims

1.6 Base

1.6

1.8 S

1.8 SL

MSRP (Man)

$10,750

$12,180

$14,860

-

MSRP (Auto)

-

$13,180

$15,860

$17,410

Key Features

1.6L, 107 hp inline-4 engine

1.6 Base trim plus;

1.6 trim plus;

1.8 S trim plus;
 

Front And Rear Head Airbags

Emergency Braking Assist

1.8L, 122 hp inline-4 engine

Remote Anti-Theft Alarm System
 

Tire Pressure Monitoring

Anti Lock Brakes

Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags

USB With External Media Control
 

4-speaker audio system

Air-Conditioning

Auxiliary Audio Input

6-speaker audio system
 

Simulated Alloy Interior Trim

Radio

4-Wheel ABS

Cruise Control
 

Heated Mirrors

  

Power Mirrors

Folding Rear Seat w/Storage & Pass-Thru Center Armrest 
 

Cloth Upholstery

  

15-inch Steel Wheels

Premium Cloth Upholstery
 

14-inch Steel Wheels

    

15-inch Alloy Wheels

We Recommend

As the lower trims are very rudimentary and industrial and do not feature any amenities, it is better to opt for 1.6 trim that adds at least a handful of convenience features. Transmission choice is a personal preference but the manual should be the way to go due to the slow responsiveness of the automatic transmission.

Engine and Performance
6.6/10

The 2011 Nissan Versa is available with either of the two four-cylinder engine choices. The lower two trims are powered by a 1.6-liter unit which produces 107 hp and 111 lb-ft of torque, while the higher two trims employ a larger 1.8-liter engine, rated to produce 122 hp and 127 lb-ft. Both the engines are either paired with a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission which power only the front wheels as expected. 

The performance from the base engine is lackluster to say the least. It takes well over 11 seconds to achieve 60 mph from standstill on the speedometer. The larger engine does comparatively well to do the 0-60 mph run in about 9.4 seconds. Both the engines pack a solid midrange punch which makes it pretty usable in both city and highway scenarios. The softly tuned suspension offers a rather comfortable ride but results in an unexciting driving performance. 

Model

2011 Nissan Versa 1.6 Base

2011 Chevrolet Aveo LS

2011 Kia Rio Sedan Base

2011 Toyota Yaris Sedan Base

MSRP

$10,750

$12,725

$12,990

$14,475

Engine

1.6L, Naturally Aspirated Inline-4

1.6L, Naturally Aspirated Inline-4

1.6L, Naturally Aspirated Inline-4

1.5L, Naturally Aspirated Inline-4

Drivetrain

FWD

FWD

FWD

FWD

Transmission

5-speed manual

5-speed manual

5-speed manual

5-speed manual

Power

107 hp @ 6,000 rpm

108 hp @ 6,400 rpm

110 hp @ 6,000 rpm

106 hp @ 6,000 rpm

Torque

111 lb-ft @ 4,600 rpm

105 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm

107 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm

103 lb-ft @ 4,200 rpm

0-60 mph (sec)

11.4

9.6

10.3

11.1

Quarter Mile (sec)

19.6

18.4

18.9

19.4

Top Speed (mph)

108

109

109

108

There is no competition to the Nissan Versa in terms of affordability, but the low engine output results in the slowest acceleration performance in this segment. Although the Toyota Yaris is the most expensive one here, it is only marginally quicker than the Versa. Both the Aveo and Rio are priced very similar to each other but somehow, the Chevy manages to be a lot quicker in the straight line acceleration tests. 

Fuel Economy
7.0/10

The affordability and high fuel efficiency is something that is the biggest selling point of a subcompact sedan, but the 2011 Versa isn’t really the trend setter in this regard. The base engine is rated for a combined 29 mpg by the EPA while the larger 1.8-liter unit is rated for 24/32/27 in city/highway/combined driving scenarios. The large 13.2 gallon fuel tank remains constant which aids in offering a longer driving range and compensating for the mediocre fuel efficiency. 

Model

Nissan Versa 1.6

Chevrolet Aveo

Kia Rio Sedan

Toyota Yaris Sedan

MPG (City)

26

27

28

29

MPG (Highway)

34

35

34

36

MPG (Combined)

29

30

31

32

Fuel Tank Capacity (gal)

13.2

12.0

11.9

11.1

Range (City / Highway / Combined) (miles)

343 / 449 / 383

324 / 420 / 360

333 / 405 / 369

322 / 400 / 355

Though the Versa isn’t a gas guzzler by any means, when compared to its rivals, it falls behind. The Chevrolet Aveo has a bit higher fuel efficiency but employs a smaller gas tank, while the Kia Rio is even more frugal than the Aveo and also offers a gas tank similar to the Chevy. The Yaris is the most frugal of the lot but offers a much lower fuel tank capacity which lowers its driving range considerably.

Interior
8.3/10

The biggest stand out point for the Nissan Versa is its spacious interior. Although the cabin design is pretty bland and does not really stand out, the material quality is pretty high for its class. The fit and finish is very tight as well and there are no corners cut in this regard by Nissan to save costs. The front seats are quite soft and offer plenty of comfort even on longer drives. 

There is ample amount of headroom and legroom for both the front and rear seat passengers due to the high roofline and longer body. The rear seat legroom is on par with the car a segment above the Versa. The 13.8 cu-ft of trunk is also one of the best in the segment and the higher trims also feature a folding rear seat that opens a massive 50 cu-ft of space for all your cargo needs. 

Model

Nissan Versa 1.6

Chevrolet Aveo

Kia Rio Sedan

Toyota Yaris Sedan

Seating Capacity

5

5

5

5

Front Row (Head / Shoulder / Leg) (in)

40.6 / 53.5 / 41.4

39.3 / 53.6 / 41.3

39.6 / 53.5 / 42.8

38.8 / 51.6 / 42.2

Rear Row (Head / Shoulder / Leg) (in)

37.9 / 50.7 / 38.0

37.4 / 52.8 / 35.4

37.8 / 53.1 / 34.3

36.7 / 50.2 / 35.6

Cargo Capacity (cu-ft)

13.8

12.4

11.9

12.9

The Nissan Versa has no competition in this regard, offering the best cabin and trunk space here. The Versa offers the maximum amount of headroom in this comparison while the Toyota Yaris has the lowest headroom on offer. The Kia Rio offers the most legroom at the front but the rear seat is the tightest of them all and also has the smallest trunk. Both the Chevrolet Aveo and Yaris have a similar rear seat space and trunk on offer. 

  • Reclining front bucket seats w/active adjustable headrests
  • 60/40 split fold-down rear seat w/trunk pass through & adjustable headrests
  • Woven cloth seat trim and Soft-touch front center armrest w/cup holder
  • Soft-touch door armrests, instrument panel, upper door trim
  • Wood IP trim & door lock switch
  • Remote keyless entry
  • "Reddish orange" interior illumination

How intuitive is the 2011 Nissan Versa Sedan’s infotainment unit?

Although the 2011 Versa does not feature any fancy technology and has pretty bpand interior design, the controls are very well under reach for the driver and does not cause any issues to use them while driving. The low cost industrial nature of the Versa can be felt the most in this regard as apart from the satellite radio preparation and iPod interface, there is practically nothing to be considered modern. 

  • AM/FM stereo w/CD/MP3 player
  • 6-speaker 180W audio system
  • XM-ready configuration
  • iPod interface system
Exterior
6.0/10

In terms of exterior design, the story is the same as that of the interior. The design is pretty simple and basic and one can feel the age of the car as the car hasn’t seen an overhaul ever since it was first launched all the way back in 2006. The lower trims all look very simple and cab-like and only the top SL trim gets chrome treatment and alloy wheels which adds a bit of appeal to the car. 

Model

Nissan Versa 1.6

Chevrolet Aveo

Kia Rio Sedan

Toyota Yaris Sedan

Curb Weight (lbs)

2,516

2,568

2,365

2,313

Length (in)

176.0

169.7

166.9

169.3

Width (in)

66.7

67.3

66.7

66.5

Height (in)

60.4

59.3

57.9

57.5

Ground Clearance (in)

6.3

6.4

6.1

5.8

Wheelbase (in)

102.4

97.6

98.4

100.4

The extra space at the rear and in the trunk of the 2011 Versa is due to the larger dimensions of the car which makes it one of the larger cars of the segment. Both the Aveo and Yaris are similar in terms of dimensions while the Kia Rio is the smallest which justifies its tight cabin. The Chevy also offers the highest ground clearance which is pretty much similar to the Versa and Rio, the Yaris rides a bit lower to the ground. 

  • Multi-reflector halogen headlamps
  • Body color folding power mirrors
  • Black grille w/chrome accent
  • Chrome deck lid finisher
  • Sport front/rear fascias
  • 15-inch aluminum alloy wheels
Safety
6.7/10

The safety test records for the 2011 Nissan Versa is a mixed bag for us. The NHTSA has rated the car with a very low 2-star overall rating while the IIHS has rated it pretty fairly in the tests conducted by them. Although there are quite a few safety elements baked right into the design of the car, there aren’t many modern safety features and hence the car struggles in the modern-day safety tests.

  • Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) and Traction control system (TCS)
  • Electronic brake force distribution (EBD) and brake assist
  • Zone body construction w/front/rear crumple zones & hood deformation point
  • Dual-stage front airbags w/occupant classification system
  • Front side-impact airbags
  • Front & rear side curtain airbags
  • Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
Final Verdict

The subcompact sedan might not be the most exciting segment but it is one of the most tough segments to compete in, merely due to the challenge of offering everything at the price of nothing. The 2011 Nissan Versa aces that in our opinion. It is spacious and comfortable, has a solid build quality, is very affordable and even offers a decent amount of features. If the questionable safety and rather low fuel efficiency does not bother you, the 2011 Nissan Versa could very well be your first choice in this segment. 

Features

vehicle bio
base price

$14100

body style

4dr Sedan

engine type
displacement

108 cu in

horse power

122 hp @ 5200 rpm

torque

127 lb.-ft. @ 4800 rpm

transmission

6-Speed Manual w/Overdrive

dimensions
length

176 in

wheelbase

102.4 in

width

66.7 in

curb weight

2671 lbs

Height

60.4 in

Ground Clearance

6 lbs

capacity
passenger volume

94.3 cu ft

cargo volume

13.8 cu ft

passenger capacity

5 Seats

fuel economy
city/combined/highway

26/28/31 mpg

highway range

409.2 mi

warranty
basic warranty

3 yr./ 36000 mi.

See All Features & Specs

2011 Nissan Versa User Reviews

2.6

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POPULAR TAGS

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MG

Madeleine Glover

2011 Nissan Versa

4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)

6

User Overall Rating

Posted On: March 24, 2022

Noisy and inexpensive sedan

Pros - Comfortable and spacious seating along with a large trunk.

Cons - Bland driving dynamics, noisy and underpowered engine.

Economical and underpowered compact sedan. I bought the Versa last year since my budget was tight and I was in dire need of a cheap and roomy daily commuter. The handling is terrible around turns, the steering is weak and only somewhat responsive, and the brake pedal feels mushy. The economy of 27 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highways is fairly amazing, as is the volume of cargo and sitting ...

6/10
Features
4/10
Interior
7/10
Design
6/10
Safety
6/10
Reliability
8/10
Deal Value
8/10
Dealer Review
Read more »
UK

Ursula Kutch

2012 Nissan Versa

S 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)

4

User Overall Rating

Posted On: April 22, 2022

Nothing fun about the car

Pros - Spacious, Trunk.

Cons - Power, Handling, Drive engagement.

Dull performance Versa came in at $6,288 and even though it was affordable, the car just feels dead. The only advantage of having the Versa is that it offers a massive room for both passengers and cargo. They sell cheap cars that just has no fun when it comes to driving

3/10
Features
6/10
Interior
5/10
Design
4/10
Safety
4/10
Reliability
4/10
Deal Value
5/10
Dealer Review
ML

Maria Lewis

2013 Nissan Versa

S Plus 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl CVT)

5

User Overall Rating

Posted On: January 27, 2022

A reasonably comfortable and economical sedan

Pros - Spacious rearseats, generous trunk space, comfortable ride and good on gas.

Cons - Sluggish acceleration, poor quality interior materials, limited highway engine power and erratic shifting CVT.

Weak subcompact car with poor quality interior materials. Three years ago I went with the Nissan Versa as I had a pretty stiff budget and needed a mode of transportation urgently. Although the sedan delivers uncomplicated, capacious, and low-cost transportation, the four-cylinder engine is underwhelming, and the CVT seeks for the optimal ratio at highway speeds.The seats in the front are OK for s...

8/10
Features
3/10
Interior
4/10
Design
4/10
Safety
6/10
Reliability
8/10
Deal Value
7/10
Dealer Review
Read more »
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Top Cars

Top User Reviews

6/10

User

Rating

Noisy and inexpensive sedan

Economical and underpowered compact sedan. I bought the Ver...

by Madeleine Glover

4/10

User

Rating

Nothing fun about the car

Dull performance Versa came in at $6,288 and even though it...

by Ursula Kutch

5/10

User

Rating

A reasonably comfortable and economical sedan

Weak subcompact car with poor quality interior materials. T...

by Maria Lewis

7/10

User

Rating

Economical and practical subcompact car

Inexpensive sedan with good amount of utility on offer. At ...

by Victor Ince

4/10

User

Rating

Unimpressive headlights.

Poor mpg figures. Besides the design, there is nothing inte...

by Grayce Jacobs

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Nissan Versa 5 year Cost To Own

Cash Price(MSRP)
$17,758
5 Year Cost To Own
$35,497
Total 5 year Cost To Own -  $35,497
Year 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5total
Depreciation$4,084$1,309$1,268$1,457$1,420$9,538
Insurance$1,392$1,404$1,425$1,511$1,607$7,339
Fuel$1,583$1,663$1,701$1,686$1,745$8,378
Maintenance$439$657$503$1,095$1,469$4,163
Repairs$39$-23$142$289$346$793
Financing Interest$1,100$919$620$457$150$3,246
Taxes and Fees$1,545$131$179$86$99$2,040
Total Cost-To-Own$10,182$6,060$5,838$6,581$6,836$35,497
Read more about Cost-To-Own »

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