Used 2011 Nissan Versa SL for sale 

Apparently, this thrifty sedan will not be updating the present configurations. Continuing with four trims - Base, 1.6, S, and SL, the Nissan Versa promises nothing new to its besotted cabin and equipment list. A prime advantage is a price at which the Base trim is offered. At that low price, it is appropriate to say that Nissan has nailed it with the Versa. Although there is hardly anything to interest you in that version, it is more than enough to take you places in a very comfortable manner. Plus, moving up the ladder will always add more and more amenities to the Versa. 

We Recommend:

Obviously, we won’t recommend the Base version. We would have gone with the 2nd trim in line, but the smaller engine just seems to take the feeling away. Thus, arriving at the S trim, it houses some good features to make the Nissan feel more like a sedan. Even then, the Nissan Versa seems pretty cast down. But, the cost at which it comes is good enough to catch your interest. 

As always, Nissan has empowered the Versa with a choice of two different powertrains. Starting with a 1.6L naturally aspirated 4-cylinder motor, this engine is existentially for those willing to use the Versa for utility and not for a family drive. Besides being highly underwhelming with just 107 horsepower and 111 pound-feet of torque, the engine is also grumpy, meaning the ride and refinement is not up to the mark. 

On the other hand, the better powered 1.8L engine produces 122 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on the 1.8 S trim, while for those who like to travel hassle-free, an option for the 4-Speed automatic is also available. 

As expected, the Nissan Versa is easily surmounted by some of the chief monikers in the compact sedan segment. Maximizing the output is the Ford Focus with 140 HP under the hood, followed by the Toyota Corolla. However, the latter seems to be a shy runner as power comes in too vaguely throughout the rev band. Meanwhile, the Chevrolet Aveo develops power figures close to that of the Versa.

Given the undermined powertrain, the Versa is expected to deliver an unprecedented economy. Unfortunately, hope is a lie. The economy of this sedan is just as mediocre as its powertrain. With an EPA estimate of 26 MPG in the city and 34 MPG on the highway, the 1.6L engine moves the stakes higher but fails in front of the mighty competition. On the other hand, the 1.8L returns an estimated 26/31/28 mpg with the manual, 24/32/27 mpg with the four-speed automatic, and 28/34/30 with the CVT.

Rightfully derived, the Nissan Versa disappoints yet again with its inefficient prowess. With technology taking hold quite firmly, the relatively old school Versa is underscored by rivals like the Toyota Corolla with an economy of 31 MPG combined, and so does the Chevrolet Aveo. Even the Ford Focus returns better figures than the Nissan Versa. 

As much as we have criticized the Versa for its powertrain, the Versa impresses with a remarkably roomy cabin. Headroom is plentiful thanks to the car's tall roof, and generous legroom allows 6-foot passengers in both the front and rear seats to sit comfortably.

Looks-wise, the car's interior is quite bland, but the overall interior quality is high. The controls are simple and easy to use, and optional items like keyless ignition/entry, Bluetooth, and satellite radio are welcome goodies in this budget-friendly car.

The car's overstuffed front seats are comfortable during hour-long commutes, but support fades on longer drives. Unlike Honda's Fit, the Versa hatchback's split rear seat doesn't fold down in a way that provides a flat cargo floor but lowering it reveals a sizable 50 cubic feet of space. Likewise, the sedan's 13.8-cubic-foot trunk is on the large side for its segment, although it doesn't come close to being as Versa-tile as the hatchback. Some of the interior features in the 2011 Nissan Versa are:

• Available cloth or a suede/synthetic fabric seats
• Standard air conditioning
• Standard 12-volt power outlet
• Optional speed-sensitive volume
• Optional power doors and windows, cruise control
• Optional leather-wrapped steering wheel with mounted controls
• Optional keyless entry/start

2011 Nissan Versa Infotainment:

There is not much to add about infotainment about this car if you are specifically looking for the Base trim. Although it gets four audio speakers, there is no MMI or even a CD changer to stream music into them. The same can be said for the next trim in line. 

On the other hand, the Nissan Versa S is much better equipped, with plenty of standard features, such as a 120-watt AM/FM/CD sound system with four speakers, a rear defroster, and air conditioning with filtration. Meanwhile, major options on the Versa include Intelligent Key, Bluetooth compatibility, a Rockford Fosgate subwoofer, an MP3 player input jack, and a new Navigation/XM Satellite Radio package. One disappointment is that Bluetooth remains only offered on the SL.

• 90 Watts Stereo Output
• 4 Total Speakers
• Radio Data System (O)
• 4 Total Speakers (O)
• Auxiliary Audio Input
• AM/FM Stereo

The tidy Versa succeeds at not being boxy or bland. Taller and more upright in stance than most small cars, the Versa is exceptionally easy to enter.

You can see at a glance that the passenger compartment takes up much of the car’s length, the back doors are particularly long and the windshield is about as far forward as possible. Five-door hatchbacks excel in versatility, but may not be popular with everyone. Some shoppers might prefer the Versa Sedan.

Dimensionally, the Versa is quite in line with all its rivals, which can also be ushered from its capacious cabin. However, style is not the best of Versa’s moves when it comes to attracting buyers. It is substantially light as compared to vehicles like Toyota Corolla and even the Chevrolet Aveo. Some of the exterior features in the 2011 Nissan Versa are:

• Available 15-inch steel wheels, available 16-inch alloy wheels (hatchback)
• Standard power mirrors
• Standard body-colored front/rear bumpers, door handles, and mirrors (1.8 models)

In the government's new, more strenuous crash testing for 2011, the Versa earned an overall rating of two stars out of a possible five, with three stars for overall frontal crash protection and two stars for overall side crash protection. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests, the Versa earned a top rating of "Good" for its protection of occupants in both frontal-offset and side-impact collisions. Every Versa comes standard with front side airbags and side curtain airbags. 

Anti Lock brakes are optional on the base car and standard on all other trim levels. Stability and traction control are optional on the 1.8 S and standard on the 1.8 SL. Without anti-lock brakes, we found the Versa could stop from 60 mph in 132 feet, which is about average for this type of car. In government crash tests, the new Nissan Versa scored four out of five stars for all occupants in both front- and side-impact tests.

• Standard front, side-impact, and side curtain airbags
• The standard smart key that immobilizes the engine in an attempted theft
• Optional anti-lock brakes with brake assist
• Available electronic stability system

In a world of ever-expanding the reach of technology, the Nissan Versa exhibits typical customary traits. Starting right from its design to all the way up to the features, the Versa sedan is anything but contemporary. But, there are also some undeniable facts that make this sedan stand out. First in line is its tamed price, which is enough to attract many who consider mobility as a primary need. Meanwhile, the roomy ergonomics of this car are too good for any other sedan in its class. Overall, the Nissan Versa’s virtues keep in level with its vices, so, think better about what exactly your needs are.