2015 Nissan Versa note review

"Matthew Phillips" (flatsidewaysfl) 12/22/2016 at 11:00 • Filed to: None

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Nissan wanted me to rent a Versa note so badly, they created a minor crisis in my life that involved ruining the front axle of my XJ, manipulating deadlines for a textbook that required me to call out of work, take a final and drive across the state of Virginia all in one day.

Not my image, but it looks like this....

People give Nissan a hard time, it’s understandable, though. The 90's had the 240sx, the Z, and the SE-R. The Pathfinder laughed at the Explorer and the Maxima was a true performer. despite being a car guy I never really got to know who Nissan really was. So I just hear people complain about them. They are very basic cars riding on nostalgia. These are my own personal thoughts though, so I’m going back to the car in question, the Note.

One of my friends dropped me off at my local Enterprise agency where I had booked an economy car. I was expecting a 2016 Kia Rio as was featured on the page I booked, I should have known something was up when I saw the white Nissan and a red prior gen Elantra. The agent was nice and let me choose my poison. There was no way I was getting in a 2008 Elantra.

I had the CVT in mine, not the manual.

After we inspected the car I got into the car and hit the road.

The interior from the front was roomy except for my left knee which was constantly making love with the door panel. the lack of telescoping steering wheel also meant that my 6'0 self couldn’t really find a permanent resting position. The wheel is awkwardly pushed forwards and if you scoot too closely your knees hit the dash. After 45 minutes I gave up and found an in between.

Driving the dang thing was not bad, if not fun. When I was on an open freeway I was wondering why anyone in a less crowded area would buy one of these, that is until I hit Alexandria traffic which might as well be a third world country when it comes to driving. I learned to drive in that area of VA in less nimble vehicles meaning I had to plan and calculate how I was going to attack a situation, the Note has a really small footprint and the throttle response is amazing even with the CVT I had no issues going around slowpoke drivers, distracted drivers, and the oh-so-famous Nova lane hogger.

This was my first experience with a CVT transmission and it’s an odd thing. At times it was fine and I thought it was adorable the way it attempted to feel like a traditional transmission. Other times it just felt like it was slipping and would squeak and squeal much like a worn water pump and that was disconcerting.

I averaged 35 MPG the whole trip, which still disappointed me when cars twice it’s size are getting 40+, I hope to get the chance to drive a standard model at some point.

Personally, I think Nissan should have forgone making the not a Sentra SE-R Turbo and put that drivetrain in the Versa. That drivetrain with a Nismo tune and some suspension mods would make this car a very competitive alternative to the Fiesta ST. I’ve had the chance to ride in one of those at least, the fact is the Note is much more basic then the Fiesta I think it would be priced better to position it as a serious bang for your buck hot hatch.

As-is it’s fine, the interior is roomy, the seats are ok for long drives and the heater felt like it was funneling exhaust vapors from hell itself. (It was 18 degrees on my return trip from Nova to CVA). I personally couldn’t bring myself to purchase a car this small for even around town use, it doesn’t fit my lifestyle. There are other options, but if you have to rent an economy car look around the lot and grab one of these and be sure to remember your AUX cable.

-Stay Sideways- FSFL

jvirgs drives a Subaru > Matthew Phillips 12/22/2016 at 11:05

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I grew up in Stafford and I never try to go north of there if I can avoid it. Traffic is so bad. Traffic in Richmond is not even really traffic

Matthew Phillips > jvirgs drives a Subaru 12/22/2016 at 11:17

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I laugh when people complain about “Traffic” here in lynchburg.

Wacko > Matthew Phillips 12/22/2016 at 11:26

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I own a 2014 pathfinder since march 2015.

So far I had no problems with it, and actually like it. I wanted nothing to do with nissan because of CVTs. I hated the feeling on the versa when it first came out.

We were looking for a 7 passenger, and tried the Pathfinder just to cross it off the list. but once I tried it i liked it alot. The 2014 doesn’t have the fake shifts, and is smooth and constant.

I own 3 CVTs, my path, my side-by-side and my snowmobile.

Matthew Phillips > Wacko 12/22/2016 at 11:37

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That’s good to hear, I’ve driven two different generations of Altimas and an Armada and I thought they were really well put together vehicles. I’m starting to wonder if the Versa had artificial shift points, or if it was driven like a bat out of hell in it’s usage and it was just wear and tear.

After doing some research on the Nissan CVT it seems it’s just wear and tear...

Wacko > Matthew Phillips 12/22/2016 at 11:40

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the Pathfinder uses a metal belt, so it might be different with other models. since 2015 they added fake shift points which to me is against the point of a cvt.

Matthew Phillips > Wacko 12/22/2016 at 11:45

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I’m trying to fi8nd ways to understand, but like you said. It goes against the point.

MLGCarGuy > Matthew Phillips 12/22/2016 at 11:47

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I have a Note myself. So far I have not gotten anywhere near the 35 MPG that you achieved. But then again, I have a lead foot when driving this car (did it seem slow to you too?).

Wacko > Matthew Phillips 12/22/2016 at 11:52

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cause the average american wanted the same feeling as an automatic, so they made it act like an automatic. I sure that just adds wear and tear on the system for nothing.

I have nothing but praise of my CVT, that is until it breaks.

Then I’ll be like

Matthew Phillips > MLGCarGuy 12/22/2016 at 11:56

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No, it was quick to me. All my owned vehicles 0-60 times have been over 8 seconds. This was a treat for me almost. I also drive like an old lady when I’m not stressed or in a rush.

Probenja > Matthew Phillips 12/22/2016 at 12:14

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The Versa Note is starting to have fake shift points from the 2017 model year which has a different front end.

Matthew Phillips > Probenja 12/22/2016 at 12:16

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So it was just wear and tear then. Thanks for the info.

Probenja > Matthew Phillips 12/22/2016 at 12:20

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My Mom has a Versa, hers is the fully loaded SL trim and it’s a fine little car for the city, on the highway the engine screams but it’s able to keep up with the bigger cars just fine. We just came back from a 5 hour trip and the seats are acceptable and the a/c is great. We got 34 mpg traveling at 80 mph which I would say it’s pretty good.

Everyone praises the Fiesta but IMO it’s just not practical enough to be a great option, If the Versa had more power I’m sure it would get more love.

Matthew Phillips > Probenja 12/22/2016 at 12:22

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Exactly ! I was doing 65-70 the whole time and it was just fine.

I enjoyed my time in it and almost wished I could take it home and park next to my Jeep. Makes a perfect second car for the project owner.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Matthew Phillips 12/22/2016 at 12:37

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Seriously? They offered you a 2008 Elantra? Did it have 170k miles?! How is such an old car in any rental fleet?

My problem with recent Nissans is how terrible their build quality has been getting in recent years. You pay a lot less for a Kia, which is actually built really well these days.

Matthew Phillips > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 12/22/2016 at 12:51

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Really ? I might have a different point of view because the two best cars I’ve owned were a 1995 Subaru Legacy Outback and a 1999 Grand Cherokee and the Versa Note was right on par with the Subaru save for less soft touch surfaces and a simpler design. There were no rattles or squeaks and it was reasonable quite inside. for a $15,000 economy car it was solid.

The Elantra could have been an 08-10, it was that gen regardless though.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Matthew Phillips 12/22/2016 at 13:21

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A 1995 Legacy is a long shot from a modern car, though. That’s over 20 years ago.

The interior of my FoST looks like it could be a luxury car from the mid-00s, and it’s just a Ford economy car. Modern Kias are way up there, too (as far as new cars go, I think they have the nicest interiors at nearly every price point).

There’s a reason they used the Kia Rio as an example of what you might get in that size range.

The only major manufacturers still using noisy hard plastics extensively in their interiors are Nissan, GM, and Chrysler... In fact, the spots where Ford used them in my car are glaringly obvious because they look so out of place (various parts of the door card, primarily).

Matthew Phillips > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 12/22/2016 at 13:24

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Yes, but compared to many modern cars I’ve been in it was fairly close in terms of build and refinement. which was my point. Af course with the Note being an Economy car it’s expected that there would be some penny crunches to keep it cheap to build, sell and buy.