Used 2012 Nissan Versa S for sale 

The 2012 Nissan Versa is divided into three trim levels - S, SV, SL, and the car is fully redesigned for 2012. It is now more efficient, spacious, and refined, while the styling also improves by a lot. It is powered by a new 1.6L engine that produces 109 hp and powers the front wheels. The hatchback gets a more powerful engine, but the one in the sedan is more frugal and fuel-efficient. A five-speed manual transmission is standard on the base trim, while the higher trims get a CVT automatic. 

We Recommend

We recommend buying the SL trim of the Versa as it is not only the most popular but also the one that is the most value for money. The base trim is pretty bare-bones and does not include anything, but the SL trim is conveniently loaded and promises all of the optional packages bundled together. All this at the price of $16,890 makes it one of the most value-for-money picks in its segment.

Buyers opting for the 2012 Nissan Versa get a brand-new 1.6L four-cylinder engine that is good for 109 hp @ 6,000 RPM and 107 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 RPM. This is mated to a five-speed manual transmission in the S trim, while the higher-end models get the CVT automatic transmission.

By default, the Versa comes with a front-wheel-drive drivetrain, and there is no other option available as well. The 2012 Versa is however brisk enough for its class and does the 0-60 MPH run in just 10.4 seconds.

One can see that the Nissan Versa is the least powerful car in its class, this translates to its performance as well. Its rivals have better performance when you compare it with the versa. In comparison, the Hyundai Accent is much faster in terms of acceleration, while the Fiesta is the most fun to drive a car. The Versa is dull in terms of driving dynamics as well as performance.

Nissan has focused a lot on the new engine being very fuel-efficient. We start to realize how true that is when we observe the Versa returning 31 MPG within city limits, 40 MPG on the highways, which results in a combined mileage of 35 MPG, all with the CVT transmission. Opt for the five-speed manual, and things get a bit worse but still very much respected as these numbers fall to 27 MPG in the city and 36 MPG on the highway. The Versa has a modest fuel capacity of 10.8 gallons and hence has a decent range of 334 miles in the city and 432 miles on the highway.

The Nissan Versa becomes the class benchmark in terms of fuel efficiency figures with its current redesign. It is finally making us understand why the car remained so dull to drive. The Ford Fiesta would sort better in the hands of someone who needs both efficiency and performance. However, most drivers would want the Versa to perform a little bit better. Hyundai Accent stands together with Fiesta by offering 31 mpg combined.

The Nissan Versa’s interiors have excellent space but the doubt engulfs over its utilization. The seats are big but not very supportive and can be tiresome during long journeys. Material quality is also not that great and can be improved by a lot.

We feel that even in this category, Nissan can offer better quality interiors. The ergonomics are still very decent, and the basic features are easy to use. The sedan can however accommodate tall passengers with ease and the trunk space is excellent at 14.8 ft.³.

All the sedans offer seating capacity for five people, but it is the Versa that offers the most amount of space in comparison. We feel that one of the biggest USPs of the car would be its rear-seat legroom which is by far the most spacious that we have seen in this class. The Nissan Versa also offers the highest cargo capacity, even though its rivals offer very close capacities. The main interior features of the 2012 Versa include:

• Cruise Control
• Fog Lamps (Optional)
• Adjustable Steering Wheel
• Steering Wheel Controls (Optional)
• Trip Computer
• Remote Trunk Release
• Universal Garage Door Opener (Optional)
• Intermittent Wipers

How intuitive is the infotainment system in the 2012 Nissan Versa?

The Nissan Versa has infotainment features that are as basic as they can get. It has a no touchscreen display but gets an updated infotainment system. You have to opt for the SV Convenience package to get Bluetooth and an iPod interface. The SL Tech package, however, adds a navigation system, a compact touchscreen interface, and a satellite radio. The standout infotainment features of the 2012 Nissan Versa include:

• AM/FM Stereo
• Two speakers
• Optional navigation system
• Optional Bluetooth and iPod interface
• Optional touchscreen interface
• Auxiliary Audio Input
• CD Player
• MP3 Player (Optional)

The exterior styling of the Nissan Versa has been updated freshly for the model year 2012 and becomes much more beautiful than before. Even though it is no great-looking car yet its proportions have become much less bulbous.

One can even say that it has started to inch towards being slightly elegant. It is still one of the largest cars in its class but is not the heaviest surprisingly at 2,468 lbs.

The Versa is a huge and spacious car when you compare it to its rivals. It is bigger than its rivals in all aspects except width, where the Ford Fiesta is slightly wider. The Versa is surprisingly lighter than its competitors by almost a hundred lbs. Its long wheelbase also gives it some amount of stability on the highway. Some of its exterior features include:

• Rear spoiler
• 15-inch alloy wheels
• Splash guards
• Chrome surround for the grille
• Body-colored bumpers
• Front license plate bracket

Although it does not have any advanced safety features, the Nissan Versa is quite safe. It has scored four stars out of five stars in the overall crash protection, with three stars for frontal-impact protection and four stars for side-impact protection in the NHTSA crash tests. It has scored a rating of ‘Good’ in the frontal-offset, side, and roof strength test in the IIHS crash tests. It has basic safety features but decent quality. The main safety features of the 2012 Versa include:

• Brake Assist
• Electronic brake force distribution
• Four-wheel ABS
• Dual front side-mounted airbags
• Passenger airbag occupant sensing deactivation
• Tire pressure monitoring
• Electronic Stability Control
• Child Safety Locks
• Traction Control

The 2012 Nissan Versa is a decent sedan that is introduced fresh for this model year. It has several strengths like excellent fuel economy, excellent interior space, cargo capacity, and frugal maintenance. However, it is quite uninspiring to drive and not very luxurious if that should concern the buyer. It is definitely a worthy car for its competitors and definitely worth checking out for people who want a frugal and spacious car.