2021 Nissan Versa Review: First Drive

Nissan could have left things as they were in the current SUV-friendly market and not completely overhauled the Versa.

But we’re glad it did. It just gives people like us who still adore cars a ray of hope. North of the border here in Canada, all we got was the Versa Note, the hatch version of the sedan which passed on to the history books in 2012. While the entry-level baton passed on to the Micra next in 2014, the sedan spot sat empty. The 2021 Nissan Versa is the first Versa sedan ever to be sold in Canada and is the first completely new Versa in the US since 2011.

Entry-level it might be, but it certainly does not look ordinary.

Now with sharper new looks, the 2021 Nissan Versa looks like a part of the Nissan family. Being the youngest and the smallest among its siblings, it is the last one to get the V-Motion overhaul. The way the V-Motion grille adorns the front fascia is more akin to the Maxima than any other sedan in the Nissan lineup. The piano black insert under the grille is reminiscent of the Maxima as well. The car itself doesn’t appear large due to the higher roofline, but at 177.0 inches (4,495 mm) long and with a 103.0-inch (2,616mm) wheelbase, it’s barely a sub-compact.

The overall design is clean and sober. Apart from a contoured hood and a strong shoulder line, there isn’t much drama to the overall design. The roofline is as you would expect from a subcompact which melts into the trunk quite seamlessly.

Our tester was the top SR trim and came with LED headlamps as standard along with the top-spec 17-inch wheels shod with 205 section all-season rubber.

The front doors offer a large opening and ingress and egress is quite easy. Compact the cabin might be, but constricting it is not. The front seats are well contoured and the squab offers decent thigh support. While the seatback is supportive, the lumbar is dialed in too far, and there is no way to adjust it either. Speaking of adjustments, the seats are manually adjustable only even on the top SR trim that we have here. But you get sporty orange stitching on the fabric seats, steering, and the dash, which is nice.

There are no adjustable headrests back here which taller passengers could miss. Headroom however is not a problem. The bench itself is quite enveloping and comfortable especially for the segment it sits in. The overall quality, though not impeccable, can’t be frowned upon. Yes, there is liberal use of hard plastic all over the cabin but the faux leather-wrapped steering wheel and the dash balance the equation out.

The climate control knobs and all controls on the center dash feel tactile. Plus, the large buttons on the infotainment system and the physical volume knob means operating the system on the move isn’t distracting at all.

Nissan offers the Versa with a host of standard safety features. Apart from the auto emergency braking with pedestrian detection and lane departure warning—which are quite common these days—the entry-level Nissan also gets High Beam Assist and Rear Auto Braking as standard. The blind spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert, however, is reserved for the SV and SR trims.

The one we have here is the fully loaded SR trim. A 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system is standard across the range but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not. They are only available with the Nissan Connect system which is available on the SV and SR trims only. There are also no USB-C ports which, considering the current crop of smartphones, is quite essential.

A 1.6-liter four-pot making 122 hp and 114 lb-ft of max torque might not sound like much but for a car that tips the scales at just 2,599 lb, the output is fairly adequate. Though, I will admit the CVT doesn’t feel organic at all. While it is well adapted for the city, on the highway it feels stressed and confused when you put your foot down. But forward progress is made all the same. A five-speed manual gearbox is also available but with the base S trim only.

The suspension setup is on the firmer side and it is good. It does get noisy over some bumps and undulations. But thankfully there is no judder or shake that plagues the cabin. It feels plaint and absorbent even on the roughest of surfaces.

Overtaking can be tedious business especially at cruising speeds. Even though a small sport button hides behind the gear lever, it does little more than hang on to the revs for longer. The CVT takes time to build the revs to help gather speed. Plus, the little sedan has little to give past the higher cruising velocities. So if you’re looking to make an exit, it’s a better strategy to slow down rather than accelerate. Also, using the leftmost lane is not recommended because you will be flashed or (shudder) honked at.

As an entry-level sedan, the Versa is a good little package. It offers a host of premium safety features as standard, it’s spacious, and offers a supple ride as well. Plus, the cabin now comes with much-needed quality and visual upgrades. At a starting price of just $15,855 ($18,168 CAD) it’s also good value. The SR trim that we had is priced at $19,265 ($22,668 CAD) all-inclusive. It includes LED headlamps and a set of 17-inch wheels. My only gripe with the Versa are that Android Auto and Apple CarPlay should have been standard and the five-speed manual should have been an option on the SR as well if not across the range.

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