(first posted 12/13/2017) At the beginning of December 2017, I needed to have some work done on my 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport. As I have done a lot of work related to computers for a dealership I hang out at, they offered to do the work on the van if I bought all parts that were needed and could go without the van for a week. I jumped on this as it is a pain working on the GM U-Vans.
I also decided to rent a car rather then drive my other car because I had a lot of discounts from Enterprise Rental, I made arrangements to have a midsized car for the week. I expected a Malibu or a Sonata. However when I arrived I noticed a blue 2015 Nissan Versa Note with Ontario license plates on it in the rental car lot. I inquired on it and was told it was a rental that was just dropped off here by a person that elected to fly back to Canada due to an emergency instead of driving it back. I asked if it was available to be rented and was told yes. I then switched my reservation to a small car and got it.
My interest in it was 3 fold. I wanted to drive a car with a different country’s license plate on it in the USA. I also wanted to drive a car that had everything (or most everything) in metric and I also wanted to drive a Versa Note (which was a car that I was to test drive before I bought my Fiesta a few years ago)
My first impression of the car was that it was a reasonably good looking car with a decent amount of space in the hatch for items.
The seats were firm but they were not uncomfortable and at the end of a long journey, my back and rest of my body did not feel bad.
The interior was actually more spacious than I would have expected in a car of this size. I am 6ft 1in tall and with the seat all the way back I could barely reach the pedals. Headroom was great. Even with the seat raised up to its highest, there was still room between the top of my head and the roof.
The car being a Canadian market car was metric and used kilometers, Celsius and liters. There was a small inner MPH ring on the speedometer but you had to stare too long for it to be effective(at least it was for me) so I kept a paper attached to the dash that had the conversion from kilometers to miles in order to be able to make sure I was going the correct miles to avoid a speeding camera. After a day or so I did not need the paper anymore and I could remember it.
Equipment wise the car was well loaded with a backup camera, USB port, power windows, locks, mirrors, heated mirrors, remote start and remote entry.
The engine in the Versa Note is a 117hp 1.6l 4 cylinder engine. However unlike the miserable penalty box engines of old, this one is actually quite sprightly. While no race car engine, the 1.6l engine in the Versa Note is more than enough to motivate the car in taking off from a stop and keeping up on the highway.
The CVT transmission takes a bit to get used to as you cannot feel it shifting the way you can with regular automatic transmissions. I have read that CVT transmissions get a lot of flak for their performance but I found no issue with it. The car was pleasing to drive.
In the article about the 2008 Land Rover, Mr. Brendan Saur remarked that the inboard folding armrest (which was once a common feature in cars) seems to be dying off. The Versa Note has this feature for the driver’s seat and if I recall, my 2012 Fiesta had it also. So maybe this feature is making a comeback.
The other thing that surprised me in this car was that it bucks the trend of having the “great wall” of center console that most cars have now. This console is small and does not impede reaching for items on the passenger side floor or cause you to bump your right leg on it while driving.
The Bluetooth and radio worked flawlessly and had no issues.
In short, this car was a good rental car. It was comfortable to drive and seemed to be well made with the doors shutting with a nice solid thunk.
The only annoying thing on this car was the button to open the gas filler door. This lever is very low on the dash next to the hood release lever. I spent a few minutes looking for it at the gas station as you cannot see it until you bend down and look.
If I was in the market for a small car, I would consider buying one of these. In fact I should have test drove this before I bought my Ford Fiesta as it is better in every way than the Fiesta. Plus there is no Sync in the Versa Note. This single feature turned a good car into a bad car quickly for me and caused me to dump it less than a year later. I most likely would have bought the Versa Note i
An interesting read. I gather that the Versa Note is Nissan’s response to my Honda Fit. I recall being not so impressed with the original Versa hatch, but this one seems to have been improved.
Like you, I am not big on CVTs but they seem to be the modern way.
To be fair, both the Note and the Fit are mainstream cars elsewhere in the world. Nissan and Honda probably aren’t combating each other; they’re offering a car that they think will sell in this market.
I rode in friends-of-friends’ Versa hatch a while back. They are NOT “car people” and love it. As one of four full size adults in the car (both owners are large people) I was impressed with the roominess, and it felt peppy and less CVT drone than I expected. Not my kind of car, but definitely progress, over say a B210. I also drove a 2016 Fit, 6 speed Sport version, recently. Loved the interior and packaging, certainly a step or two above the Versa, but less enameled with the driving experience. “Sporty” yes; “Sport” not really. At least the Versa makes no pretenses.
If given the choice, I also would have selected the Versa Note, based on the Canadian factor alone. Hard to explain I know, but it’s just neat to drive something that’s a little bit different.
That was a good idea to keep the paper handy with Kmh/mph conversions. When I visited Canada this summer, I wish I had done that, because I found out that the Kmh scale on our Odyssey was virtually unreadable. So I just guessed at speeds, but your method is much better.
I live in Seattle and go to Vancouver now and then. I can easily do the math in my head, but that’s me. When you cross into Canada at the Blaine, WA, crossing (and I assume at other crossings), the speed limit signs say “100 km/h.” They don’t want you to get the wrong idea!
Not sure on the Versa, but our 2 Hondas (Pilot and CRV) have a button to change the speedometer and odometer to metric and back again.
Ideal console size. For that alone, I would consider it. And the front headroom and rear legroom.
I imagine the interior space seems larger for the lack of an ice cooler sized console between the seats.
The styling isn’t bad either.
Re rear legroom, is it adequate for a 6′ person with the driver’s seat fully back? If so, then it’s better than the larger Focus/Mazda3, which I found disappointingly tight in back for a C-class car.
I think the problem here is, for the sake of low aero drag or style, carmakers don’t do tall compacts anymore like the OmniHorizon, Gen1. Golf, or Escort; height can make up for limited longitudinal space. The only way to go is with a longer wheelbase like the Civic and Prius at 106″. The latest Mazda3 has this too, but I haven’t checked.
The height/legroom aspect is interesting, I recently experienced the current generation Corolla (hatch aka Auris in Europe) which has been lowered in height compared to the older model, and I definitely got the impression that there was less legroom in the rear due to the lower seating height – the front seats end up further back. I would ‘blame’ this on Toyota trying to be sporty and ‘cool’ rather than aero.
The rear legroom is even better than that from the front … I know it’s strange and most review said the ergonomics for a tall driver are awful , no telescopic steering wheel , only tilt
Interesting for me as a long time Honda and Ford owner. When I was considering a new/newer car to replace my 1997 Civic I considered the Fit, Fiesta (I really wanted a Fiesta, having owned a 1st generation model bought new), and MAYBE a Versa Note. The Fit was/is impossible to find in my area with a manual transmission, as is the Fiesta. The Note’s biggest attraction is it’s low price and because it was/is so unpopular a low price could have been reduced even further.
I wound up going the other way entirely and bought a Crown Victoria. I am intrigued by this review but expect to buy a Fiesta or Fit for my next car.
Wow! So it is possible to build a car without some ungainly mass of plastic between the seats.
For that alone, I like this Nissan.
The smaller the car, the less chance of a center console. My Fiat 500 has a small arm rest that pivots down on the drivers side seat, but not one on the passengers seat. It does make it seem much more roomy inside, but it is probably more impression than reality.
That car is nearing the end of its life as a rental since it is 2015 with over 50,000 Miles, but I am not surprised it is still in service given it is from Canada. I do like the interior layout and the Versa Note looks nicer than its Versa brother. Sometimes I think about buying a Versa Note.
Here in Portland, OR the Versas and Versa Notes Enterprise has are newer and I have not seen one with over 45,000 Miles. Also no backup camera except for the 2018s.
“…I am not surprised it is still in service given it is from Canada…” What makes you say that? Most rental cars here seem to be miled out with less than 30,000 km (<19,000 miles), and then sold as used "program" cars.
For example, Nissan dealers always have a ready supply of Frontier SV 4×4 crew cab pickups with <15,000 km – all ex-Enterprise.
the choice of model here in cdn for rental are very limited and the penalty for dropping anywhere is simply stealing not like in the u.s. .
A quick conversion tip for speed.
1 mile=1.6km.
So 10 miles=16km.
Take the first digit of the speed you are driving and multipy by 16.
30mph..3×16….48km
50mph…5×16….80km
55mph….5.5×16….88km
Hope that helps!
My son’s GF has one of these. I like that they have eliminated the blind spot with the aft window. I find it a bit unusual when backing up in that its proportions seem out of synch with the sight and feel of the steering to me. It seems to give me an oversteer sensation. Hers has a nice radio with satellite radio. She has no complaints about the car. No reports yet on how it handles in the snow. I suspect it will be pretty light on its feet and steer with no problem.
A few months ago, a driver texting while backing ☹ managed to hit my parked car. During the six days it was in the body shop I rented a 2016 Versa Note SV with power accessories, back-up camera, and 20,000 miles on the odo. I chose the Versa Note because it was the only small car at my Hertz Local that had a back-up camera.
Context: my only car is a low mileage 2010 Infiniti G37 sedan I’ve had since new and given that I rarely rent or drive another car these days, the inevitable comparison between two widely divergent Nissan products, one costing half the price of the other, is hardly fair.
Of course, initially I was struck by how loose the steering and braking felt compared to the G but I soon adjusted and found the Versa to be easy to drive and park. The power was okay for both city and freeway driving but I disliked the CVT. A stomp on the accelerator produced an unpleasant roar and I constantly missed the feel of definitive shift points. OTOH, the gas mileage was outstanding. The rental period happened to coincide with a week when I was daily commuting into the city from the coast to attend a film festival. In LA bumper-to-bumper traffic the Versa sipped fuel at the EPA estimate of 31MPG. Interior space also was outstanding. I’m 6’ 1” and had plenty of room in a car that is only 163 inches long and less than 67 inches wide. The car was relatively quiet and well assembled for this price point.
In addition to city streets, I drove this car briefly on the freeway and at low speeds so I don’t know how well it would serve a long commute. My overall impression: the Versa Note is lot of car for under $20,000 and would be a good compact for urban use.
I would guess a ’10ish G37 and new Note would be fairly evenly matched in what you’d pay for one if buying now.
I had a 2015 Versa Note until a month ago. Yours appears to be the SL model, mine was the next step down SV. Nice interior, power mirrors and windows, CVT. Decent seat. A manual transmission is not available at all in the Note now. They are fun to drive within limits. While cruising along on flat ground, the motor turns 2000 rpm at 65 mph. Gas mileage in this mode is outstanding, as you’ll have to go faster to get below 40 mpg. Except for wind noise and no sound deadening against road noise, these cars are quiet. The Bridgestone Ecopia tires are loud and have a hard compound. But…
1) Any sort of headwind, a hill or even cresting a overpass bridge on the Interstate means the CVT spools up towards 3,000 with very little prompting. Climbing the northbound hill on I-5 south of Salem, OR means 4,000 on the tach, with accompanying engine roar and plummeting mpgs. Why Nissan prefers to rev the hell out of engines instead of going deeper into the throttle is beyond me. This feature quickly grew tiresome and I never came to like it.
2) The Versa blog I read is filled with stories of how fragile the CVT is. Failures after 30,000 miles have repeatedly happened and replacements are expensive. I read post after post about how their CVT is acting up or failed and Nissan will either replace it or increase the internal oil pressure to improve shift quality. They seem to be as fragile as the auto transmissions in the Honda Odyssey. Get the extended warranty if you buy one. This is the weak spot for these cars – and you can’t get a manual in them. I doubt we see many 2015 models on the road in 2030. Mine was beginning to exhibit warning signs at 45,000 miles such as a ‘grabbing’ delay after hitting the gas. There was one stoplight in my commute where it would do this every time this past year.
3) These care are roomy. You can pack lots and lots of stuff into them, put the seat down and pack more stuff into them. It held all my possessions in a recent move with room to see behind me in the mirror. The armrest is nice.
4) The non-SR or SL versions will not play music from your phone thru Bluetooth. Only phone calls.
5) Build quality aside from the transmission is decent. No rattles, no wind leaks.
Would I buy another one? Only if Nissan offers them with a stick and has discounts.
I remember reading lots of reports of failing CVTs in the Ford Five Hundred and Freestyle of the mid 00s. But the technology was younger and the cars were so much heavier. I had sort of assumed that engineers had the bugs worked out of CVTs, at least in smaller, lighter cars. Perhaps not. Maybe my sister did the right thing by ditching her CVT-equipped Subie Outback after 2 years.
The Honda Fit had CVT issues ca. 2015, but supposedly these have been sorted. I see for the Civic, Honda offers only CVT or 6-speed stick.
I am 6 ft 2 in tall with rather short legs. There are many cars I just don’t fit into. The Versa has lots of room. I have rented a Versa twice, and been happy both times. One rental was with weather of 2 degrees F and 8 inches of snow. Note the easy to use climate controls. You can adjust them with your gloves on.
One of the local dealers was actually listing the sale prices on the web. (They have since stopped.) 2017 upper level (If there is such a thing) Versas were more than $4000 off. I didn’t mind the CVT as a rental, but would want an extended factory warranty with any CVT.
I also rented Altimas twice. Lots of room. Nicely assembled. Again, the CVT isssue.
When I worked at Hertz, I rented a 2007 Hyundai Sonata V6 from Ontario for a road trip from Morgantown, WV, to Milwaukee and back. Mostly for the novelty factor. I ended up really liking it. It had some neat differences from a regular Sonata GLS in the US. Of course it had standard DRLs and the metric gauges, but it also had different (better) seat fabric, an option combination I think was Canada only (17″ alloys, power moonroof, fog lamps, manual driver seat, auto climate, cloth seats, auto lights, upgraded sound system), and I generally liked the NF Sonata. Silver over dark gray. The manual seat had more travel than the power seat that seemed standard in every US model, which meant I was in a car I liked in every way, which had a more comfortable driver seat, fixing one of the biggest problems with the NF.
I didn’t think you could take rental cars across the border – shows what I know, I guess. Maybe it varies by company, but I swear I saw that restriction the last time I traveled to Seattle (though that was almost 10 years ago now). Now I’m getting some interesting travel ideas….
My 72-year-old mom just bought one of these (used) as her first car. Yes, first car: at her age, she is learning to drive. Dad can’t do it anymore due to declining eyesight.
This car is a wonderful little machine. I’ve driven it a lot. I’ve ridden in it a fair bit. I’m astonished by the back seat legroom.
Versas and Sentras seem to be a favourite choice of older women. The Novas and Valiants of today!
I’ve had a few of these as rentals, and I’m always impressed with how roomy they are. They also perform well on the highway, with very good mileage.
I rented the prior generation Versa (it was a 2009/2010) and I remember being shocked by how smooth, quiet, and roomy it was for a subcompact car. It was truly comfortable to drive, even on the freeway, almost Camry-level comfortable. It would have been impressive for a C-segment car (Focus/Corolla/Civic/etc) let alone one that was a size class down and costs $14,000 brand new! No comparison to the noisy, cheap Hyundais and Kias available then or even the Toyota Yaris, and I’ve rented all of them. WAY roomier than the cramped Fiesta, and a much smoother ride, albeit with much squishier handling than the Ford. But really, who is driving aggressively in a 115-horsepower commuter box? The newer generation Accent/Rio have improved a lot, but the Toyota is still a penalty box (with terrible styling to match) Haven’t had any time in the current Versa, but I’d have to imagine it’s still a comfortable ride. I would only ever buy a manual transmission in ANY of these cars, since sub-2.0-liter 4-cylinder economy cars and automatics are a miserable combination, CVT or otherwise.
SYNC does indeed suck, at least the earlier versions of it. It’s my least favorite part of the used Focus I bought this year. At least it technically has Bluetooth, even if this interface is terrible, and the car itself was dirt cheap.. so I can’t complain too much.
two summers back I hired one of these in Ireland (with a smaller petrol engine, manual) and achieved a shade over 95mpg! I checked my numbers, and waited a month for the hire firm to get back to me with an underfilled fuel tank penalty, but no!
I’ve seen as little as 36 in a Nissan Micra for the same journeys
I think Nissan sells a 1.2 or 1.3 three cylinder Note or Micra in other countries. I wouldn’t mind a 3cyl if it had turbocharging or supercharging (or both!)
And a 5 or 6 speed stick
95 mpg? Recheck your math.
… and now the hybrid Note : http://www.autonews.com/article/20171114/OEM05/171119883/nissan-tests-versa-note-e-power-hybrid-for-u.s. with 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine isn’t connected to the wheels, but charges an internal battery pack powering an electric motor .
I was given a Nissan Note on a recent trip to Florida. As alluded to above, the transmission behaved much better than expected. So much so, that I confirmed that it was a CVT on the Nissan web site on my return home. And it had a lot more interior space than a Toyota Corolla that was given to me on a prior trip. Also, the Note got 33.6 MPG with both Alligator Alley cruising and Miami stop and go on I-75. Not bad!!
It would make a good commuter car or something you put your elderly parents in for ease of exit or entry. It does a lot to dispel the notion of “econobox”.
I live in Canada and have owned cars since 1968, which was before the switch to kilometers on the highway system. All of my cars up to MY2000 had speedometers marked in both mph and kph except the car I had at the time of the change to kilometers was only in mph. I guess it was my fault for buying a relatively upmarket car (BMW 2002). You get used to it pretty quickly, but I kept the car for more than 30 years, so it was kind of funny.
My newest cars have digital displays, so I expect I could switch to miles if I ever wanted to.
Fortunately it also existed with manual gearbox version, the only one to consider since the CVT is not reliable.
The low-mounted gas filler door release must be a Nissan thing. I rented a Cube a few years ago, and I ended up Googling an owner’s manual at a gas station to find it — similarly, on the underside of the dash, more or less, totally invisible when sitting in the driver’s seat, and not even easy for a short person to find by feel.
I rented a previous-to-current generation of Camry from Maryland location Enterprise a year ago and also got an Ontario-tagged car. The analog speedo was similar to most Canadian-market cars – km/h for the main markings and small MPH labels if you look closely, but the car also had a digital display that could be set to read MPH. There didn’t seem to be a way to change the thermostatic HVAC controls to read in Fahrenheit rather than Celsius though.
“Inboard folding armrests” were common in the bench seat era, particularly on split benches, either a wide armrest attached to one of the seats or two narrow armrests attached to each outer front seat (each of those setups has advantages and disadvantages). Most recent cars I’ve been in have an armrest that covers a cubby located between the backrests near the back of the center console, and is usually hinged at the back though sometimes hinged on the passenger side. The “inward folding” variety is most common on vans, SUVs/crossovers, and tall cars. Some have them on both front seats, often with a wide gap between them, others have it only for the driver.
Most of the center console armrests on cars these days are too short to make effective armrests; they’re more like like elbow rests. I like the design used on some VW group cars, with a thickly padded armrest (which is also the console storage cover) that can be latched at different heights/angles, and the whole thing slides forward a few inches so it’s not back at your elbow (though it usually restricts the height of one of the cupholders when pushed forward).
The previous version of the Versa hatchback (pre-2013) I believe was developed in conjunction with Renault. For a small car they had a noticeably comfortable highway ride, something French cars are known for. I rented them a couple of times for a routine 1600 km summer road trip to the interior of British Columbia, and while the fuel economy wasn’t outstanding they were extremely comfortable cars for their size. They became my go-to car rental choice for a number of years, being replaced post-2014 by the VW Jetta.
I believe the post-2013 Versa was entirely a Nissan product, and based on one brief driving experience didn’t have the same ride quality.