Interior

Much like the exterior, the inside of the 2016 Nissan Versa offers simple, basic durability. Big, simple knobs and switches highlight the interior, which is clad in easy-to-clean hard plastics. Silver accents are used throughout the cabin, while cloth seat trim is the standard. For a touch of class, add leather-wrapping for the steering wheel along with cloth door trim accent, interior chrome trim, and trim appliques.

The most impressive feature is the space provided for passengers – while the Versa is a subcompact car, it offers mid-size space, with 36.6 inches of head room in the rear along with 37 inches of leg room. Up front, the driver and front passenger get nearly 40 inches of head room, along with almost 42 inches of leg room. Even the trunk is roomy, with 14.9 cubic feet of cargo being at the top of the class.

Driver convenience is a high priority, particularly in a car built for daily commuting like the Versa is. This comes through the availability of Integrate Key with remote keyless entry or Nissan Intelligent Key with Push Button Ignition, along with the RearView Monitor and cruise control. Steering wheel-mounted audio controls, standard on all models, means you can take care of changing stations or tracks on the CD without taking your hands off of the wheel.

Technology

Value is much more than just offering a low price tag – the 2016 Nissan Versa shows this by providing standard and optional technology at an affordable sticker price:

Performance

At the heart of every subcompact sedan is the desire for great fuel mileage, and the new Versa comes through. The 1.6-liter engine produces 109 horsepower and 107 lb-ft of torque, enough to provide reliable power, particularly in urban driving. Drivers can select from a manual, a four-speed automatic, or the Xtronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). The responsive manual transmission offers 27 MPG city and 36 MPG highway, while the four-speed provides 26 MPG city and 35 MPG highway/ The CVT is the most efficient of all, hitting 40 miles per gallon on the highway while makig 31 MPG in the city.

Safety

Offering the typical small-car features, the 2016 Nissan Versa provides sensible safety. A full roster of air bags includes the Nissan Advanced Air Bag System with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt and occupant-classification sensors, along with seat-mounted side impact and roof-mounted curtain air bags. For children in car seats, the LATCH system provides security. Zone Body construction with front and rear crumple zones and hood-buckling creases provide protection, and have helped with Versa earn the top rating of “Good” from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in all but one crash test.

Video