Versa in the Market

Extreme bargains are scarce these days, and Nissan deserves credit for keeping the Versa wallet-friendly. But the new Accent, Fit and Fiesta are cars you actually want to own — brand emissaries that leave a good enough impression for first-time buyers to stay in the family when it's time to buy the next car. If the new Versa is anyone's first Nissan, it imparts a brand that's big on value and practicality but short on drivability and perceived quality — far from Nissan's reality, but the Versa's flavor all the same.

Among entry-level cars, value is crucial. But, increasingly, so is overall appeal. Nissan hit a bulls-eye with one of those. I just wish it had hit the board at all with the other.

    See also:

    Starting the vehicle
    1. After starting the engine, fully depress the foot brake pedal before moving the shift selector out of the P (Park) position. 2. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and move the shift selector i ...

    Speedometer
    The speedometer 1 indicates vehicle speed in miles per hour (MPH) and kilometers per hour (km/h). ...

    Tire chains
    NISSAN recommends using the following tire cables made by Peerless Chain Company for this vehicle due to limited tire clearance. Call 800-533-8056 to order tire chains for your vehicle. - ...