A while back, I test drove a 2010 Versa. It was the absolute base model with no AC or power windows. It did feel much more go-kart ish than my Focus, but wasn't a bad car. I loved the simple interior and for a car this small, it had a stupid amount of space in it!
So, I had to put about 60 miles total on a 2012 versa rental the other day.
For what is the cheapest car in America, I liked the interior. The design of it isn't as nice as the older one (Lots of every where ...), but I liked that the HVAC controls were manual - NOT electronic - IE - less stuff to go wrong.
The interior definitely said cheapest car in America, but that was fine. The hard plastic didn't feel terribly cheap. The thing I really didn't like was the lack of center console. Apparently that's the new thing for bottom of the barrel cars?=
I did like the electric power steering. At first, it was odd that the steering was so light, even sitting still in a parking spot. It seems to work pretty well.
The car gets blown around A LOT - more so than I noticed with the previous generation.
This car was equipped with the CVT, which, was ... different. I've never drove a CVT vehicle. More than once, I got that quick adrenalyne rush that said "Oh @#$@ my transmission is going to blow up", but then realized that was the case with CVTs.
Taking off from stoplights was hard and took getting used to as the engine revs up to 2000RPM, THEN the car takes off.
It's advantage is definitely in stop and go traffic. Once I could get used to the delay from pressing the gas and the car moving, it definitely was more sure footed than an automatic transmission.
Driving down the highway at 55 was confusing to the transmission as it would randomly shoot up to 4000RPM, then back down.
I wouldn't mind one of these .. but it would have to be the 4AT or 5MT option!
So, I had to put about 60 miles total on a 2012 versa rental the other day.
For what is the cheapest car in America, I liked the interior. The design of it isn't as nice as the older one (Lots of every where ...), but I liked that the HVAC controls were manual - NOT electronic - IE - less stuff to go wrong.
The interior definitely said cheapest car in America, but that was fine. The hard plastic didn't feel terribly cheap. The thing I really didn't like was the lack of center console. Apparently that's the new thing for bottom of the barrel cars?=
I did like the electric power steering. At first, it was odd that the steering was so light, even sitting still in a parking spot. It seems to work pretty well.
The car gets blown around A LOT - more so than I noticed with the previous generation.
This car was equipped with the CVT, which, was ... different. I've never drove a CVT vehicle. More than once, I got that quick adrenalyne rush that said "Oh @#$@ my transmission is going to blow up", but then realized that was the case with CVTs.
Taking off from stoplights was hard and took getting used to as the engine revs up to 2000RPM, THEN the car takes off.
It's advantage is definitely in stop and go traffic. Once I could get used to the delay from pressing the gas and the car moving, it definitely was more sure footed than an automatic transmission.
Driving down the highway at 55 was confusing to the transmission as it would randomly shoot up to 4000RPM, then back down.
I wouldn't mind one of these .. but it would have to be the 4AT or 5MT option!
