2018 Nissan Versa Note Review

Name: 2018 Nissan Versa Note Review
Brand: Nissan

Price Range: $8,999 - $12,999

2017 Nissan Versa Note 1.6 SL 4dr Hatchback Exterior Shown

2018 Nissan Versa Note S 4dr Hatchback Exterior

2017 Nissan Versa Note 1.6 SL 4dr Hatchback Front Badge Shown

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$11,639 avg. price

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Nissan Versa Note model years

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Edmunds' Expert Review

by Peter Gareffa^{Staff Writer
Peter digs deep to help provide shoppers with the information they need to make wise car-buying decisions and keep informed about the auto industry.}

Pros

Roomy interior with an adult-friendly back seat
Affordable base price
Clever cargo space
High fuel economy

Cons

Slow acceleration and lackluster handling
Noisy engine doesn't sound very refined
No telescoping steering wheel
Low-quality interior materials

What's new

Base S model receives features from the S Plus trim
S Plus and SL trims dropped
New Special Edition package for SV trim
SR model gets new features
Midyear 2018.5 models receive standard 7-inch touchscreen and rearview camera
Part of the first Versa Note generation introduced for 2014

The 2018 Versa Note might be considered a suitable hatchback for young drivers or shoppers on a tight budget. But among its competitors in the humble subcompact class, the Versa Note will come up short for most buyers.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

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2018 Nissan Versa Note
SV 4dr Hatchback
$11,998
- 106,922 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, corporate fleet vehicle
- 4cyl automatic
- CarMax Rivergate (472 mi away)
- Delivery available*
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- USB Inputs
- Trip Computer
Close
Located in Madison, TN
CarMax values transparency and wants you to love your next car, not settle on it. Certain vehicles may have unrepaired safety recalls. Check nhtsa.gov...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
34 Combined MPG (31 City/39 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 3N1CE2CP6JL355930
Stock: 27067538
Certified Pre-Owned: No
2018 Nissan Versa Note
SR 4dr Hatchback
$12,999
- 72,255 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use only
- 4cyl automatic
- Driveway (1,783 mi away)
- Home delivery*
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- USB Inputs
Close
Located in Oxnard, CA
CarFax No Accidents Reported,High Demand,Back-Up Camera,Bluetooth,Brake Assist,Keyless Start,Power Door Locks,Brake Assist,Front Wheel Drive,Gasoline ...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
34 Combined MPG (31 City/39 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 3N1CE2CP6JL371142
Stock: JL371142P
Certified Pre-Owned: No

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The Versa Note is sluggish compared to most competing models, not particularly fun to drive and lacking in creature comforts. It does offer comparatively generous rear passenger space and a cleverly designed cargo system, but these assets are not enough to earn it a strong recommendation. We suggest checking out the alternatives before settling on the Versa Note.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

6.6 / 10

Trim tested

The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Nissan Versa Note SV Hatchback (1.6L inline-4 | CVT automatic | FWD)

NOTE: Since this test was conducted in 2014, the current Nissan Versa Note has received some revisions, including more standard and optional features added throughout its life cycle. Our findings remain broadly applicable to this year's 2018 Versa Note, however.

Scorecard

Overall	6.6 / 10
Driving	6.5
Comfort	6.0
Interior	7.5
Utility	7.0

Driving

6.5

With a meager 109-horsepower four-cylinder engine, nontraditional continuously variable transmission automatic transmission (CVT) and uninspiring handling, the Versa Note offers little in terms of performance. This is strictly a point A to point B car with minimal entertainment in between.

Acceleration

6.0

It took us a very long 10.4 seconds to reach 60 mph, which is slow even for an economy hatchback. The Versa Note's CVT causes the engine to drone loudly when accelerating, making it feel even weaker.

Braking

6.5

The pedal is uncharacteristically firm and quick to respond for this class. Still, in Edmunds testing the Versa Note required 125 feet to stop from 60 mph, slightly longer than average.

Steering

5.0

Perhaps the worst part of this car, the Versa's fuel-saving electric power-assisted steering offers artificial, springy feedback and lackluster response. The result is a vague feeling through the wheel that doesn't inspire confidence.

Handling

6.0

Despite the lack of feedback through the steering wheel, the Versa Note handles reasonably well around corners and over big bumps in the pavement. That said, it's rarely fun, just competent.

Drivability

7.0

In spite of its tepid performance, the Versa Note is an adequate day-to-day driver. Its small size makes it a good grocery-getter and an easy parker. The high-winding CVT can be annoying, though.

Comfort

6.0

The Versa Note is plagued by below-average seat comfort, a jittery ride and plenty of wind, road and engine noise. These are low scores even for the economy hatchback class.

Seat comfort

6.5

A rare instance in which the rear seats offer more room and comfort than the front seats. The lumpy front buckets offer decent adjustment but little lateral support.

Ride comfort

6.0

Ride comfort is typical for a small car, which means it feels busy over bumps and is negatively affected by crosswinds. Other choices in the segment do a better job.

Noise & vibration

5.5

Wind, tire and engine noise is evident most of the time and will prove excessive for some. Under acceleration, the engine emits a loud cowlike groan until you lift off the pedal.

Interior

7.5

A few clever and unexpected measures offset the usual subcompact interior qualities and drawbacks. The Versa Note SV's materials are notably better than those on the lower trim level, but they're not much better than average for the segment.

Ease of use

6.5

Taller drivers will find the cabin controls a bit hard to reach. The driving position, armrests and placement of window switches all feel out of place.

Getting in/getting out

7.5

Entry and exit are easy from any seat. As a bonus, the rear doors open almost to 90 degrees for unusually good access when space allows for it.

Driving position

The lack of a telescoping steering column means that slightly taller than average drivers will either have to sit uncomfortably close or have an awkward reach to the steering wheel.

Roominess

8.0

The rear seat room is excellent, particularly when it comes to legroom. The cabin feels open and airy for such a small car.

Visibility

8.0

We found the sight lines above average for a hatchback, with no blind spots. The optional rearview camera system is somewhat unnecessary unless the vehicle is loaded to the ceiling with cargo.

Quality

7.0

The overall build quality of the Versa Note may meet some lower expectations, but among rivals it's noticeably downmarket. Even higher-trimmed Versa Notes will remind you that you're in an economy car.

Utility

7.0

Cargo space is about average for the class behind the rear seats but small when it comes to maximum capacity. The rear seats do fold flat, and the multi-adjustable cargo floor could prove useful in some cases.

Small-item storage

Storage for your personal items is limited to a few small door pockets and cupholders. Rivals offer larger and more intelligent solutions.

Cargo space

The Versa Note's 18.8-cubic-foot cargo space behind the rear seats and maximum 38.3-cubic-foot capacity aren't impressive, but Nissan's Divide-N-Hide cargo floor allows you to store flat items (purses, laptops, briefcases) out of sight while providing a larger space on top.

Compare 2018 Nissan Versa Note trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

2018 Nissan Versa Note models

The 2018 Nissan Versa Note hatchback seats five and is offered in three trim levels: S, SV and SR. It's powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine (109 horsepower, 107 pound-feet of torque), routed through a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) on the way to the front wheels.

Standard feature highlights for the base S trim include 15-inch steel wheels, air conditioning, power mirrors, a tilt-only steering wheel, cloth upholstery, 60/40-split folding rear seats, Bluetooth phone integration, and a four-speaker CD player with auxiliary audio input.

The SV trim adds remote keyless entry, cruise control, power windows and locks, upgraded gauges, additional interior trim, upgraded cloth upholstery, a height-adjustable driver seat with an armrest, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an adjustable cargo floor, a 5-inch touchscreen display, a rearview camera, Bluetooth streaming audio, USB-iPod audio input, satellite radio and a hands-free text messaging assistant.

The top-of-the-range SR trim adds such features as sporty exterior treatments, 16-inch alloy wheels, foglights, heated mirrors, a rear spoiler, remote keyless ignition and entry, a vehicle immobilizer system, Nissan's Easy-Fill Tire Alert system (beeps when the correct pressure has been reached), a sport steering wheel, simulated suede upholstery and a center rear armrest.

Later in the model year, a rearview camera and a 7-inch touchscreen were added as standard equipment. Nissan refers to these as 2018.5 model year vehicles.

Some features are available as options on lower trim levels.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2018 Nissan Versa Note S 4dr Hatchback w/Prod. End 05/18 (1.6L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $2.95 per gallon for regular unleaded in Wisconsin.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Wisconsin

$107/mo

$154/mo

Avg. Compact Car

Calculate my fuel costs

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Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4/5Above Average

#16 out of 27 among Subcompact Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Nissan Versa Note from 2008-2022.}

$456/yr

vs. $416/yr
for Average Subcompact Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

1.02x/yr

vs. 1.22x/yr
for Average Subcompact Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

10.1%

vs. 10.1%
for Average Subcompact Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Nissan Versa Note Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.1

26 reviews

5(54%)

4(27%)

3(4%)

2(7%)

1(8%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Fun to drive, great mileage

David Allin, 08/05/2016

2016 Nissan Versa Note 1.6 SL 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl CVT)

First, the Versa Note is almost totally unrelated to the other Versa models. It's a different platform that is more solid and much better looking. When you close the doors, you hear a nice muffled 'thunk', not the tinny clank of most economy cars. The whole car feels very tight, and is extremely quiet inside, with no squeaks or rattles and little tire and wind noise. The interior is … simple, but the materials all feel sturdy and look attractive, which is standard for Nissans. I traded in a 2005 Sentra with 108K miles, and the cloth interior of that car still looked just like new. The Note's interior is very spacious, especially for such a small car, with plenty of leg room in the back seats for two adults. The cargo area is adequate, with a floor that can be positioned at two heights, and the rear seatbacks fold down almost flat. Unlike most cars these days, the rear side windows roll all the way down and out of sight in the doors. The car handles extremely well, and stops on a dime. In order to make it good great mileage, however, Nissan put a very small engine in it, combined with a CVT transmission that is programmed to save gas. As a result the car is not a pocket rocket, although the acceleration is adequate. Going up Nine-Mile hill at 75mph with the AC on is a strain, but otherwise the car can keep up with traffic pretty well. I've found that a gentle pressure on the gas pedal will actually result in better acceleration than pushing it to the floor. Still, we use our Murano for long trips, and the Note in town, where it scoots around happily. There's an old sports car saying that it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow, and it applies here. I bought the SL, with all the bells and whistles, and for the most part they are worth the extra cost. The satellite radio is great, and the car's sound system is better than the one in my Murano. One of the main features we were looking for was visibility, and in addition to the great arrangement of windows, the SL has the around-view monitor, with cameras on all sides that produce a picture on the center screen of a birds-eye view of the car when backing up. The cameras can also be turned on when pulling forward into a parking space. The navigation systems is okay, but not as good as my Garmin, and clearly has not been updated for at least four years. The Sirius Travel Link is a nice feature, giving you the prices of gas at nearby stations, movie listings in the area, stock prices, and weather info. It also provides you real-time traffic alerts. All of these can be accessed using voice commands that work fairly well. Instrumentation is limited to tach, speedo, and gas gauge; all other systems are just warning lights. The HVAC is the same one that was in my 2005 Sentra, but it works well. Judging by our experience with previous Nissans over the last 20 years, we expect this car to be trouble-free for as long as we own it. Yes, I wish it had a little more power, but we love the car anyway. UPDATE: After owning and driving the car for ten months, my previous praise still stands. I'm averaging 31-39 mpg, depending on type of driving, and have had absolutely no problems with the car. I have learned how to modulate the accelerator to achieve better acceleration; a steady, firm but moderate pressure on the gas pedal allows the CVT to spool up properly and bring the car to speed quickly. You can't accelerate by the sound of the engine or the sweep of the tach like most cars; instead you just watch the speedometer and let the CVT figure out how to best move the car forward. Driving this way has made me far less aware of the limited power of the engine. I always enjoy driving the car, and it really scoots around town, while cruising comfortably on the highway. It's a fun car, but also practical and totally reliable.

Took a risk and fell in love with this car!

Karen and Phillip, 06/21/2017

2017 Nissan Versa Note 1.6 SR 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl CVT)

This is now the second Nissan Versa Note we purchased. No base model for us the SV wirh appearance package for him and the SR with tech and navigation for me. What I like is quiet and smooth ride without feeling like I am in a small car. I like good vision all around the car and ample head room. Has a roomy feel unlike others that I tested.I tested all cars in the same category and …

3 years with no, no repair costs and 33 to 40 mpg

Newton, 03/18/2017

2016 Nissan Versa Note 1.6 S 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 5M)

This is a basic manual shift car with very comfortable front seats. Purchased new summer 2014. Driven in Tx at highway speeds in very hot weather. AC is excellent. Only expense was gas and oil changes for over 50K miles. Steering is fine, brakes fine, manual shift fine, tires excellent, visibility fine. Purchased for trips over 3000 miles. No back or knee issues, surprising considering …

Problems, problems, problems

James Reyome, 05/02/2018

2016 Nissan Versa Note 1.6 SV 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl CVT)

First off, you probably should know that this is our second Versa. We really like the model...it is, it seems, as close to our ideal vehicle as exists today. Sure, we wouldn't mind some cavernous SUV but the fact is that we can't afford it, and with gas getting dearer and dearer still we appreciate the economy of a well built "misermobile". We bought the first used as well and have put … 140K miles on it (so far...it's still running well!) but we were ready to get another, thus the 2016 Versa Note SV. We purchased this one via Enterprise Car Sales and I cannot say enough about the buying experience...first rate all the way; great price, wonderful vehicle, just what we were looking for, and with pre-arranged financing through our credit union we were in and out of the dealership in well under an hour. Now, as to the car...first things first, it's not a race car, so take reviews from sites like Car and Driver and Motor Trend and their ilk with a VERY large grain of salt. The Versa Note is a commuter car, and it does that job exceedingly well. It rides well, has a quiet, roomy cabin (I am 6' 3" and fit fine both in the back seat and behind the wheel) and everything is laid out logically. The SV package includes just about every electronic widget you could possibly desire sans navigation, but that's why I have an iPhone and a GPS. The backup camera is a nice touch but with so many enormous windows it isn't wholly necessary. It's nice to have, though. The body style is a significant upgrade from the rather shoe-like boxiness of the 2011 Versa we own, and is very pleasing to look at. The cargo space is remarkable with the rear seats folded down (my bicycle fits just fine, thank you!) and the Divide-n-Hide storage is a neat feature that gives you a nice flat floor with a nifty hiding place beneath. Every car should have this sort of thing! As to the driving, I enjoy the CVT personally though I can understand why drivers who prefer more input might desire a five or six speed. I certainly can't argue with the results though...my average gas mileage has been a jaw-dropping 41.5 mpg in combined highway and local driving. Seriously. I watch this stuff carefully (with my budget I have to) and this is not just accurate, it's spot-on. Those are near hybrid numbers, at what, a half of the cost? A third? Remarkable! Mind you, I drive with a balloon foot mostly, but hey, I stay out of the way and don't slow anybody else down. I bet I could speed up a bit with little loss in mileage, but I'd rather be kind to the car. The small fuel tank probably helps too, holding about 2.5 gallons less than the 2011 Versa. Less gas, less weight. Less range too, you would think, but at 41.5 mpg you're talking 450 miles per tank, and that's more than the 2011 ever got. The steering is precise on the road but remarkably light in the parking lot...nothing to complain about there. The car mags all note the supposedly gutless engine, but hey, it gets me up to speed just fine and I don't have any problem keeping up. So far as costs go, apart from gas, regular oil changes, and rotating tires, the Versa would be frugal on that score too. In the summing up, as a used vehicle, fleet or otherwise, the Versa Note is a remarkable bargain, proof that you don't have to give up much to gain a lot of value. I expect to be driving it for many years to come. UPDATE 5/5/20 This may not come as much of a surprise to other Versa owners, but we have now had serious problems with our machine. It started with a sudden Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) that noted that we apparently had problems with our ABS system. Next time the car started, the error cleared. Bemused, I continued to drive the car. A couple of weeks later, the same error reappeared. In order to clear it, I shut the car down and restarted it (yes, I am an IT tech, no, it wasn't terribly bright to do this whilst stopped at a traffic light.) To my alarm, the car would not restart again! I got help to push the vehicle off the road...a few minutes later it restarted and I managed to get it home. I took it to a shop which replaced the Camshaft Position Sensor. I took the car home. I went out to start it to go to work the next day and...it happened again! No start. The shop got the car and took it back, then called me later to tell me the "computer" was faulty and needed to be replaced. They tried to do it and finally refunded all my money and said I'd need to take it to a dealer. I did and...THE DEALER AS MUCH AS TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T WANT TO WORK ON IT. They said it would entail many hours of research and an expensive part and boy, there sure were a lot of nice cars in the lot and wouldn't I be better off to look at them...? So I took the car home, and here it sits. Weirdly, it appears to have something to do with temperature, as it seemed to be okay all winter, but now that the weather has gotten warm again, the problem has recurred. The Versa is now discontinued, and I am sorry that it has ended so badly. UPDATE 11/5/21 I'm happy to provide an addendum to this drama. We finally managed to convince someone to take a serious look at this. $2200 later, the wiring harness is replaced (the, the whole wiring harness!) and the car starts as it should now. Now, in the interests of full disclosure, we do still have a Check Engine light come on every so often...I invested in a code reader and when it tells me is that an oxygen sensor is bad. I am told this is not an uncommon problem...and also that the error could be a an error itself. So, we clear the light when it appears and blithely drive on our way. We are over 110K miles now, and the car is holding on, which in this frantic age is a good thing.

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2018 Nissan Versa Note, so we've included reviews for other years of the Versa Note since its last redesign.

See all 26 reviews of the Nissan Versa Note

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2018 Versa Note Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$15,600
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	34 MPG
Cost to Drive	$107/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	18.8 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the Versa Note models:

RearView Monitor: Gives you a view of what's behind you on the dash-mounted screen.
Easy-Fill Tire Alert: Ensures safe tire pressure by signaling when the proper inflation level is reached.
Hands-Free Text Messaging Assistant: Helps to keep your eyes on the road by reading messages and responding with preselected texts.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall3 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger2 / 5
Side Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Side Barrier Rating
OverallNot Rated
DriverNot Rated
PassengerNot Rated
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front SeatNot Rated
Back SeatNot Rated
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover14.7%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Not Tested
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Not Tested
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Not Tested