2011 Nissan Versa

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.

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. 

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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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

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

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. 

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

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)

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.