2009 Nissan Versa Hatchback User Reviews

Pros

Fuel Economy, reliability

Cons

Wish it had a center console and exterior door guards/bumpers, Cheesy hubcaps that like to come off

Purchased As New

I've had my auto trans 1.8S Hatchback for over a year. Nearly 30K miles and not a problem to be had. Mileage does differ depending upon the season. In summer I average 31 in town and almost 36 on the road. Winter it can dip to 26 in town and 32 on the road. Comfortable ride and has a passing gear at 80mph. Roomy and no complaints from those riding in the back seat. I have observed no quality issues. I use it mainly for around town with the occasional trip. I'm impressed....read morehide

Pros

Okay fuel economy for city driving

Cons

Rides a bit rough

Purchased As Used

Ever though it was a used car, it test drove pretty well. But I have had several problems with the car and I have not owned it for a year yet. I'll most likely never purchase another one again.

Pros

Okay fuel economy for city driving

Cons

Rides a bit rough

Purchased As Used

Ever though it was a used car, it test drove pretty well. But I have had several problems with the car and I have not owned it for a year yet. I'll most likely never purchase another one again.

Pros

Extremely safe!!!

Cons

no cons!!

Purchased As New

I have to say my car was awesome. I was t-boned at an intersection earlier this month. The other driver was going 35 mph. My side airbags allowed me to walk away without a scratch. I am currently looking for another!!!!

Pros

Value for the Buck!

Cons

None

Purchased As New

I just hit 40k and am very pleased to report that I now average over 30mpg in mixed driving, on straight freeway I have hit over 40, but mostly average 35. Overall very satisfied, excellent pep, great ride, always starts and so far never been back to the dealer for a repair. I just wish the dealers were as competent as this little car is! You can't go wrong with a Versa....read morehide

Pros

Excellent fuel economy. Lots of room and fun to drive!

Cons

none so far

Purchased As New

This is my first Nissan, I love it. It is sporty yet practical and for the price, I honestly could not have gotten a better deal. I enjoy the ability to haul things that I could not using a sedan ( I have the hatchback). It has plenty of leg room and headroom. I just wish I had gotten the upgraded stereo with MP3, otherwise it is a great little car that gets great gas mileage....read morehide

Pros

good sporty look, awesome gas mileage, can buy fairly cheap if you get the base model!!

Cons

none

Purchased As New

I traded in my Ford Explorer with the "Cash for Clunkers" program, and decided on the Versa after an extensive search for cars within my price range, and my personal needs (4 door, a/c). I got the base model, and with maybe an extra $500 dollars, I had a CD/Ipod stereo installed and power locks (Best Buy). The car runs great and has a TON of security/high tech stuff in it that comes standard. I had to read the manual to understand how all the safety stuff worked. Obviously the MPG is great, and a real upgrade from the 16 mpg I'm used to. I have no complaints....It's my first Nissan, and I am a fan already. Hope this helps :)...read morehide

Pros

Good fuel economy, spacious.

Cons

none so far

Purchased As New

I purchased mine in 2007. I have the 2008 manual transmision hatchback S for $13000 .. People keep complaning about the fuel economy but i think it's great. I went to Canada twice with it and i got over 400 miles per tank on both trips. From Long Island,NY to Montreal just 1 full tank. I was inpressed....read morehide

Pros

Great on Gas, Lots of room, Cute car, Great for long drives

Cons

AC takes a while to cool, Engine is kinda loud, there are some cheap parts

Purchased As New

I bought this car a few months ago and its great. I did have some minor issues but i believe that the dealership i bought it from has more to do with that. Its great on gas and comfy. I love it.

Pros

great interior space / good gas mileage

Cons

cheap hubcaps that break easily /smell from mold somewhere under the hood/ 1st gear-too small range

Purchased As New

PROS
I really like the room and the gas mileage. I used to commute 50 minute in a minivan.This was costing me a lot. Besides looking for good gas mileage, I wanted space. I have a son who plays the drums. Even though he would start driving the minivan at that time, I wanted to make sure his drum set would fit, so that if we needed to switch vehicles sometime, we could. They fit in the Versa. We are now about to switch, as I am not driving as much and he is driving a lot more to and from college. I am glad this worked. CONS Things I really don't like about my Versa include the expensive, cheaply made hubcaps. They are hard to take off and put on. They also, break very easily, including when you are taking them off and putting them on. I have, also, lost several while driving. The most recent time this happened, I had just bought a new set of tires at a Plaza Tire Store. The hub cap was probably not put back on securely after they changed the tires and fell off while driving. Sometimes when you think it is on, it isn?t. I have replaced several. The price was high at first but higher now (then-around $35 / now around $52) I know because I need two, now. (By the way, the Versa looks very junky without its hubcaps.) I will probably replace the set with a non-Nissan set. I priced the whole set of four on ebay for under $40. I hope to eventually switch to different wheels that don't need hubcaps. The next thing I really don't like about this car is that it grows mold somewhere in the system. The smell of this comes out the air conditioning. I had it cleaned out eight months ago. At that time I didn't know what the smell was. I was told it was growing mold in some drain pan. After they cleaned it, the smell was gone. However, eight months later, the smell is back and getting pretty bad. I am embarrassed for anyone to ride in the car. I would like to ask if anyone else has had this problem. It seems like a design flaw. The third thing that bothers me about the Versa is that of its six gears, (I have a manual transmission) the first one doesn?t go high enough. When starting from a stopped position at an intersection, I have to switch to second gear in the middle of the street that I am crossing. Others who have driven my car have complained about the same thing. You can pretty much only start to roll in first gear, and then you have to switch to second. I realize I bought the first model of a new car, so there are bound to be necessary tweaks in the design. Fortunately the flaws I have mentioned are relatively minor, however, they greatly affect the total overall perception the public has of the Versa. The hubcap issue, for example, is a superficial one. Missing a hubcap, obviously, does not affect the car?s operation. But, as I said before, the Versa looks very bad without its hubcaps. Considering this and the many times as I have driven around town without a hubcap, because they either broke or fell off, that is what people in my community have seen. This negative visual affect and driving experience (the low gear range, and the bad smell) tend to negate the Versa?s reputation for its wonderful interior space and the good gas mileage. I happened to be the first person in my community to buy a Versa. There was quite a gap after I bought mine before there were any more in the community. My suggestions to Nissan include: 1 Make the decorative wheels that do not require a hubcap, to be standard on all Versas. There would be a lot more happy customers and the public perception of the Versa would be much more positive. 2 Adjust the range of the first gear to make driving more pleasant to make driving more pleasant. 3 Redesign the drainage system of whatever system is growing the mold. The smell really grossed out my neighbor, who rode with me.Overall, I ?like? my Versa: good gas mileage, ability to carry a big load. It's just what we needed for our long distance needs.However, my ?like? is challenged by what I see, smell & feel....read morehide