2017 Nissan Versa Review

The entry-level S model comes with 15-inch steel wheels, power mirrors, air-conditioning, cloth upholstery, manual locks and windows, a tilt-only steering wheel, Bluetooth phone connectivity, a trip computer, and a four-speaker sound system with a CD player, steering-wheel audio controls and an auxiliary audio input jack.

The S Plus gets a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT), a rear spoiler and cruise control.

Stepping up to the SV model gets you remote keyless entry, power windows and door locks, upgraded cloth upholstery and interior trim, a height-adjustable driver's seat with an armrest, 60/40-split folding rear seatbacks, upgraded instrumentation, map lights and a USB port.

The new SV Special Edition option package adds 15-inch alloy wheels, foglights, chrome exterior accents, variable intermittent windshield wipers, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a rearview camera, an audio system with a 5-inch color display, satellite radio, Bluetooth streaming audio and a hands-free text messaging feature.

The SL trim starts with the contents of the aforementioned SV Special Edition package and adds 16-inch alloy wheels, side mirrors with integrated turn signals, keyless ignition and entry, and a navigation system.

The 2017 Nissan Versa is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder that produces 109 horsepower and 107 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission is standard on the S, and a four-speed automatic is optional. A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is standard on all other Versa models. All transmissions send power to the front wheels.

In Edmunds performance testing, a Versa sedan with the CVT went from zero to 60 mph in 10.4 seconds, which is about a half-second slower than the average subcompact or compact sedan.

With the CVT automatic, EPA estimated fuel economy stands at an excellent 35 mpg combined (31 city/39 highway), though most competitors achieve similar numbers. With the standard five-speed manual transmission, those numbers dip to 30 mpg combined (27 city/36 highway). The four-speed automatic also gets 29 mpg combined (26 city/35 highway).