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Used 2009 Nissan Versa Hatchback Consumer Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
95 reviews
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Pros
Cons
5 out of 5 stars

Accident Prone

ameliaclaire, 12/05/2011
2009 Nissan Versa 1.8 S 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 4A)
42 of 43 people found this review helpful

I was recently in a terrible wreck in my Versa. The car was totaled and all I suffered was a broken nail from the air bag. This car is incredibly safe and comfortable! As soon as I found it was totaled I told my mom that I needed help looking for another one, possibly a newer one. I absolutely love my Versa!

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4 out of 5 stars

Still going strong.

essdee, 10/14/2014
updated 10/14/2016
2009 Nissan Versa 1.8 S 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 4A)
58 of 61 people found this review helpful

We bought the Versa in 2009 in the cash for clunkers program in exchange for an AWD Toyota Previa (which had served us very well for 18 years and 225,000 miles) and have done about 48,000 varied miles in the Nissan. It has been reliable , pretty economical, easy to park in little spaces, a good load carrier and enjoyable to drive. Interior space is generous and the seats are very comfortable but the stowage space around the driver is a bit limited and there is not really anywhere to rest your elbows. Overall build quality is high but the plastic around the heater controls has started to rot. I also find the blue "cold engine" warning light unnecessary and at night easy to confuse with high beam. After a coast to coast cross country trip later, still happy with the vehicle though I read some worrying reviews of the safety of the sedan version (mine is a hatchback). It still has the original tires and battery. However, at around 43000 miles a big piece of the air conditioning system tucked away behind the dash needed a $600 repair, and from reading online forums it seems to have been quite a common problem.

Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
4 out of 5 stars
Value
4 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

204,597 miles and going strong!

Cheryl Boop, 07/23/2016
2009 Nissan Versa 1.8 S 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6M)
18 of 18 people found this review helpful

This car has been reliable for us! We bought it in Georgia (brand new) and now live in Ohio, so we've had the car in extremes of weather. We've used it to move, to drive people around town, for work, and for play. I had to replace the air conditioning compressor this summer, and just had the exhaust system redone. But those have been the only big items maintenance-wise. I love my Versa!

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
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4 out of 5 stars

Nifty car with many luxury features one weakness

Randolph Selig, 03/23/2016
updated 04/14/2020
2009 Nissan Versa 1.8 S 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6M)
41 of 44 people found this review helpful

If the fuel pump has not already been replaced, it may have to be. It's an expensive job. This is a known vice in this model yet Nissan has not issued a TSB. Another frequent repair is the muffler or precisely the muffler flange. It will rust, requiring a new muffler be installed. That aside, this is a great small car: well designed with plenty of interior space, comfortable back seat, good brakes (though there is no abs) and steering, smooth shifting 4-speed automatic trans, adequate power and pickup though the smooth idling engine gets noisy under hard acceleration. It runs just fine on regular unleaded fuel. The ride is about average for a shortish wheelbase car. Unfortunately there are only warning lights for engine temperature and amps. The sharply sloping hood is hard to see the end of nor can a driver of average height see where the car ends in the rear, both of which can complicate parking. It always appears you are closer to the car in front than you actually are. The model I purchased has power windows and door locks and a keyless entry though to start the car the coded key is needed. The car soldiers on a year later with no repairs but one needed: some recall work on the front suspension--I didn't perceive a problem--revealed a worn connection in the steering linkage. Thus the "free" repair ended up costing around $150 at my own mechanic (the Nissan dealership said nothing about it).

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
4 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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3 out of 5 stars

Annoying and Reliable

Jessica H., 09/05/2017
2009 Nissan Versa 1.8 S 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 4A)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful

The best things about this car are how reliable it is and the decent gas mileage. I use the CD player a lot for audio books, and it is also easy to park because it is small. But that's where the good stuff ends for me. The plastic steering wheel is very slippery. For me, a steering wheel cover is a must. Every day I wish the car had power locks and windows. I hate that to open the hatchback I have to manually unlock the driver door. I hate the extremely poor lighting inside the cab. I have to use a flashlight to see anything inside the car at night (except for the panels that light up only when the headlights are on). All four of the hubcaps fell off during driving. Road noise is extremely loud on the highway. I feel every little bump in the road. I didn't realize how much that bothered me until one day I started swerving around manhole covers in the street to stop from jarring myself. The A/C freezes my fingers on the steering wheel, but that's as far as it goes towards cooling the cab. I'm on my second key, and it's starting to feel mushy because of all the wear it gets from unlocking the door so many times a day. The Versa keys are the expensive $80 keys. The brakes, although good, make squeaky noises when backing up (like, out of the driveway). The car also makes squealing noises when making tight turns (like, in a parking lot). I've been driving it to-and-from work and around-town for five years now, and all the little annoyances have finally gotten me to start looking for a new car.

Safety
3 out of 5 stars
Technology
1 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
4 out of 5 stars
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