The very basic 2019 Nissan Versa has a 1.6L Inline-4 engine under the hood. It produces 109 hp at 6,000 RPM and has a peak torque of 107 lb-ft at 4,400 RPM. It’ll get you from point A to point B and that’s about it. It has a sluggish acceleration and the drive almost feels disconnected from the driver. The transmission on the base model S is a 5-speed manual and the rest (S Plus and SV) are fitted with a CVT.
The CVT struggles a bit when the car is pushed to the limit, creating excessive noise in the cabin. The drivetrain option remains only one in all the trims which is an FWD. In Spite of its underwhelming performance, it is fun to drive around cities. On the highways, it is a disappointment, as it takes time to reach high speeds.
Models
|
2019 Nissan Versa Sedan
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2019 Chevrolet Sonic Sedan
|
2019 Hyundai Accent
|
2019 Toyota Yaris
|
MSRP
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$12,460
|
$15,420
|
$14,995
|
$15,600
|
Engine
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1.6L Inline-4
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1.4L turbocharged Inline-4
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1.6L Inline-4
|
1.5L Inline-4
|
Drivetrain
|
FWD
|
FWD
|
FWD
|
FWD
|
Transmission
|
5-speed manual
|
6-speed manual
|
6-speed manual
|
8-speed manual
|
Power
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109hp @ 6,000rpm
|
138hp @ 4,900rpm
|
130hp @ 6,300rpm
|
106hp @ 6,000rpm
|
Torque
|
107lb-ft @ 4,400rpm
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148lb-ft @ 1,850rpm
|
119lb-ft @ 4,850rpm
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103lb-ft @ 4,000rpm
|
0-60 MPH (seconds)
|
9.2
|
8.5
|
9.3
|
9.6
|
Quarter-Mile (seconds)
|
17.6
|
16.1
|
17.0
|
17.4
|
Top-Speed (MPH)
|
115
|
N/A
|
131
|
N/A
|
When compared to its rivals, the Nissan Versa is underpowered than most of them. Only the Toyota Yaris has worse figures than the Nissan. If you’re looking for a better-performing car, then you should go for the 2019 Chevrolet Sonic which not only has the best performance figures but also is the fastest to 60mph and a quarter-mile.
How well does the 2019 Nissan Versa Sedan handle?
As discussed earlier, the 2019 Nissan Versa is not for those who want an exciting driving experience. It struggles most of the time. The body roll around sharp corners is excessive but the car has reasonable grip. The steering, however, is well-weighted just like most of the cars in this segment. It is fairly easy to navigate in this car. City driving is easy and fun, as it doesn’t demand power. Highways, however, are a nightmare.
The lethargic acceleration gets the car nowhere. The manual gearbox offered in the base model is sloppy while the CVT offered on the higher trims is prone to make the engine scream. The suspension which is a strut-type front and a torsion beam-type rear is soft and offers a decent amount of comfort inside. Overall the driving experience lacks sophistication and composure.
2019 Nissan Versa Braking Performance
The 2019 Nissan Versa being an affordable car, gets disc brakes in the front and drum brakes in the rear. The front brake rotor is 10.0 inches while the rear brake rotor is 8.0 inches. All other cars mentioned in the table below have similar-sized brake rotors but the car which delivered the best braking experience was the 2019 Chevrolet Sonic. Despite its squishy brake pedal, the Versa manages to stop from 60mph in 140 feet.
Models
|
2019 Nissan Versa Sedan
|
2019 Chevrolet Sonic Sedan
|
2019 Hyundai Accent
|
2019 Toyota Yaris
|
Brake Rotors: Front (inches)
|
10.0
|
10.8
|
11.0
|
10.2
|
Brake Rotors: Rear (inches)
|
8.0
|
9.0
|
N/A
|
7.9
|
Curb Weight (lbs)
|
2395
|
2796
|
2502
|
2385
|
60-0MPH (feet)
|
140
|
124
|
N/A
|
138
|
The 2019 Nissan Versa weighs over 2300 pounds. It is not light as such but lighter than most of its rivals. Although the 2019 Chevrolet Sonic is the heaviest, the brakes do their duty very well, stopping the car, just under 125 feet only. The brake-test data of the Hyundai Accent is not available yet but as it comes with the biggest brake rotors in business, it shall do quite well.