2018 Nissan Versa Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

The 2018 Nissan Versa is a utilitarian subcompact sedan that provides you with exactly the specifications it promises, while still delivering plenty of room and great fuel economy. Cool new technology and solid driving on any road type make this a top-tier sedan to consider.

What’s New For 2018

Nissan has streamlined the Versa lineup this year, dropping the previously available Versa SL trim from its lineup. Many of the features that were considered upgrades in higher-level trims now come standard on all trims, including front-seat head restraints and variable wipers that can sweep intermittently. More advanced trims now have a few more technology features than previous year models did.

 

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2018 Nissan Versa – The Pros

1. Fantastic Fuel Economy

The 2018 Nissan Versa definitely has one of the highest fuel efficiencies of any subcompact sedan. The five speed manual transmission offers a great 27 miles per gallon in the city and up to 36 miles per gallon on the highway. When driving, the Versa maintained this average. The upgraded CVT automatic transmission really ramped up the gas mileage, giving the car an astounding 31 mpg in the city and 39 on the highway. It barely feel like you’re using gas when you have the CVT transmission.

2. Huge Amount of Cargo Space

The problem many sedans face is the outward appearance of having plenty of cargo space, but actually not living up to that appearance once you try to fit any sort of luggage or cargo in the trunk. The 2018 Nissan Versa does appear to have plenty of trunk space - and it actually does. The Versa’s trunk has almost 15 cubic feet of space, enough to easily pack in a few bags for your next vacation with room to spare.

3. Three Trim Levels

Although the car can be minimal in many ways, you have three trims to choose from. The base 2018 Nissan Versa S comes with most of the features you want in a car, including the 5-speed manual transmission (with a choice to upgrade to an automatic), air conditioning, and Bluetooth integration. The S Plus trim adds the fuel-saving CVT transmission, cruise control, and some more technology. The Nissan SV trim adds the modern trappings you would expect a true SUV to have, including keyless entry, smartphone integration, and more.

4. Special Zone Body Construction for Safety

The Nissan engineers have designed a special shape and feature-filled body to ensure the safety of everyone in the car if there is a crash. The Zone Body has special safety stops, integrated hood buckling, and an energy-absorbing steering column. Each point that could seriously injure someone during a crash is meticulously detailed to create the maximum safety for the car’s occupants.

5. Solid Engine

The 2018 Nissan Versa base models are run on 4-cylinder , 1.6-liter engine that can muster almost 110 horsepower. This is fairly standard for its class. The engine can be paired with the standard 5-speed manual transmission, a four-speed automatic transmission, or the special variable transmission.

6. Roomy Interior

The Versa doesn’t feel like a subcompact car. This is mostly due to its genius interior design, an impressive feat from the Nissan engineers. The interior offers a huge 90.2 cubic feet of space for its five occupants - enough space to stretch your legs out without feeling cramped or uncomfortable.

7. Unique Nissan Variable Transmission

Nissan has introduced its Continuously Variable Transmission in the Nissan Versa. This transmission, also known as a CVT transmission, works an a unique manner. Most transmission have gears that the car shifts through as it gains or loses speed, but the CVT does not have this. Instead, it has a system that has a “magical gear”, dictated by a computer system, that directly influences the RPM of the engine. This makes the Versa extremely fuel-efficient and pleasing to accelerate with.

8. Classic Nissan Minimalism

Nissan has never been a company to overstock its cars with too many features. The 2018 Nissan Versa has just the right number of utilitarian features that still provide comfort without being cumbersome or confusing. While many other subcompact sedans are offering the distracting infotainment monitor mounted directly into the center console, Nissan has abstained from this. Instead, they have opted for the more standard radio/CD system for the center console.

9. Integrated Technology

Event hough Nissan has kept the car fairly minimal, there are some subtle integrated technologies that help you out. Vehicle dynamic control and traction control both work under the hood to keep the car steady at higher speeds, and the CVT transmission makes the car super efficient.

10. Sleek and Functional Exterior

While the Nissan doesn’t stray too far in design from other subcompact sedans, there are some classic Nissan exterior features that you’re sure to spot. The logo is featured prominently on the bold front grill, and the color choices for the Versa are classic Nissan choices.

 

Reasons Not to Buy a 2018 Nissan Versa – The Cons

1. Engine Has Low Horsepower

Though the Versa is a subcompact sedan, the engine sometimes feels like it can struggle on the highway. Maintaining 60 mph is a breeze for the car, but accelerating past this speed can make the car feel somewhat wobbly and can produce an intense droning from the engine.

2. Lack of Infotainment

While this may be a plus for some, for others not having an informative center console might worry others. If you like having GPS information readily accessible to you on a center console, then you won’t like the simplicity the Versa offers.

3. Lack of Advanced Driver Assistance

Many other subcompact sedans offer driver assistance technologies like automatic safety braking, blind spot detection, and rear traffic assistance. As Nissan has decided to keep this vehicle minimal, it does not include these driver assistance options.

How it Stacks Up to the Competition

The 2018 Nissan Versa is a sweet little subcompact sedan that beats out its competition in fuel efficiency and value. The Ford Fiesta and the Chevrolet Sonic match up to this fairly well, but there are some distinct Nissan characteristics that will win you over.

Conclusion

If you’re on the market for a new subcompact sedan that has plenty of space and doesn’t guzzle gas, then the 2018 Nissan Versa is the perfect choice for you.