Safety, Features & Pricing

The 2012 Versa sedan has not yet been tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Per federal requirements, an electronic stability system is standard this year.

The stick-shift Versa S starts at a bargain-basement $10,990 — not bad, given air conditioning and a CD stereo with an auxiliary MP3 jack are standard — but the CVT automatic adds a staggering $1,770, and power windows and locks requires the automatic-equipped $14,560 Versa SV. That's still affordable: Equipping most sedan competitors with an automatic transmission and basic power accessories costs $600 to $1,600 more.

Other options include a navigation system, full iPod stereo compatibility, steering-wheel audio controls and Bluetooth phone connectivity. Loaded up, the Versa tops out at $16,260.

    See also:

    Self-test feature
    The ABS includes electronic sensors, electric pumps, hydraulic solenoids and a computer. The computer has a built-in diagnostic feature that tests the system each time you start the engine and ...

    Backing up on a steep downhill
    When backing up the vehicle down a hill, the distance guide lines and the vehicle width guide lines are shown farther than the actual distance. For example, the display shows 3 ft (1.0 m) to the ...

    Out, Damned (Blind) Spot
    The Rogue's sight lines are its biggest problem. With bulky D-pillars, fixed rear head restraints and an undersized rear window, it ranked as the worst of 10 small crossovers — eight of which ar ...