The Nissan Versa sedan received a makeover for the 2015 model year and now the company’s starter vehicle looks like the rest of the line-up. The automaker said Versa’s new “‘Nissan family’ front-end styling adds a more substantial visual presence.”
“Versa Sedan is the entry point for the dynamic Nissan sedan lineup, attracting many first-time new car buyers to the brand,” said Pierre Loing, vice president, Product Planning, Nissan North America, Inc., in a statement.
“It’s critical that we keep Versa’s look and feel fresh and its value equation high, with a rewarding driving and ownership experience.”
Despite the exterior change, the Versa is the same size as its predecessor, but it now looks more like bigger relatives: Sentra, Altima and Maxima. Nissan restyled the hatchback last year and renamed it the Versa Note.
Also unchanged is the 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine rated 109 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 107 pounds-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. Buyers get a choice of three transmissions – a five-speed manual transmission or four-speed automatic (S models only), or a next-generation Xtronic transmission with D-mode step shift programming.
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The four-cylinder power plant is rated at 31 mpg city, 40 mpg highway and 35 mpg combined with the Xtronic transmission. The five-speed manual offers 27 mpg city, 36 mpg highway and 30 mpg combined and the four-speed automatic-equipped models are rated at 26 mpg city, 35 mpg highway and 30 mpg combined.
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Like most entry-level cars, there are plenty to tech upgrades available to satisfy the younger buyers who are the target market. The NissanConnect with navigation and Mobile Apps system, which is offered as part of the SL Technology Package, includes a 5.8-inch color touch-screen display, Nissan Voice Recognition for audio and navigation, SiriusXM Traffic and SiriusXM Travel Link. A SiriusXM subscription is required for those services and it’s sold separately.
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The 2015 Versa goes on sale April 16 with the lowest starting MSRP in the U.S. of $11,990 or $12,810 including shipping.
