"NaturallyAspirated" (NaturallyAspirated)
04/04/2014 at 16:54 • Filed to: Review
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"NaturallyAspirated" (NaturallyAspirated)
04/04/2014 at 16:54 • Filed to: Review | 3
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I got a chance to drive a co-workers 2011 Versa S hatchback this afternoon, and I felt like doing a mini-review so here it is.
This is the 1.8L car with the 6-speed manual transmission.
Driver comfort seemed fine. The cloth seats held up my backside in the expected manner. All the controls were where I expected them to be and were within easy reach. Lots of plastic and not much "soft touch" stuff, but that doesn't really bother me, the exception being the steering wheel. If Ford can put a leather-wrapped steering wheel on a crappy base model V6 SN95 Mustang, what's your excuse, Nissan?
Back seat space was much better than I expected. As a *cough* "big-boned American" man, I had no trouble with either headroom or legroom in the back seat.
The hatch had lots of cargo space. My co-worker had left a sewing machine, a large bag of kitty litter, and an SGI O2 in the back of his, and there was still plenty of space.
The engine didn't make a particularly nice sound at all. Quiet enough at low revs, but buzzy at high revs. Reasonably decent pull for an engine with such a low horsepower rating. I would imagine that this engine in a slushbox car or a CVT would be dreadful.
The clutch engagement point was higher than I am accustomed to, but it grabbed smoothly and it was easy to shift after I got used to the height. The shifter throw was long, but there was never any doubt as to which gear I was in. It took me a minute to find reverse (it's the first 6-speed I've driven, whaddya want?). The box was fairly close-range, so it was easy to find a comfortable gear at a variety of speeds.
The pedals where in comfortable positions. I was able to heel-toe the Versa without difficulty.
Handing was acceptable. Not great, but cornering was flatter than I had expected from such a tall car.
The car was easy to see out of. The side mirrors were very large compared to other cars I've driven recently, which pleased me immensely. I felt comfortable that I knew where the corners of the car were, and I easily backed it in to the parking spot as seen in the title picture.
If you asked me what the car's character is, I would say it reminded me of an ugly old mutt of a dog trying really hard to please its owner. It's never going to do as well as a younger dog, and it's never going to look very good, but you have to give it props for trying so hard.
Overall, I felt it was an acceptable car given it's price. It's no hot hatch by any stretch of the imagination, but it seems like a solid "cheap hatch." I'm left a little confused by all of the hate the Versa gets here, unless the Note is significantly worse than the old Versa. Sure, I would much rather drive the Golf that you can see the corner of in the picture, but it cost nearly double what the Versa did.
Dunnik
> NaturallyAspirated
04/04/2014 at 16:59 |
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You would imagine correctly.
The Versa with a CVT slushbox is dreadful.
Good review, was interesting to see what the S version is like.
I wonder if they'll intro a Nismo version. O_o
GeorgeyBoy
> NaturallyAspirated
04/04/2014 at 17:18 |
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If that backseat is anything like the new Versa sedan, it's amazing. I've never seen such a small car have so much room back there.
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NaturallyAspirated
> GeorgeyBoy
04/04/2014 at 17:23 |
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"Tardis-like" was how my geeky co-worker and I described it.
PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
> NaturallyAspirated
04/05/2014 at 00:53 |
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My driver's ed car! this is actually a really nice commuter car! the "Dred" car was a slushbox, but it was decent and respectable in every aspect(s) of the word(s)