2016 Nissan Versa Sedan Review

2016 Nissan Versa Sedan continues to offer refined exterior, spacious interior and 40-mpg fuel economy

The Nissan Versa Sedan, following an extensive makeover just last year, receives additional enhancements for 2016, including standard body-color power outside mirrors on all grade levels, the addition of standard rear speakers for Versa Sedan S grade, a new leather-wrapped steering wheel for the SL grade and two new exterior colors – Cayenne Red and Gun Metallic.

What remains unchanged is Versa Sedan’s winning combination of exceptional roominess and mid-size vehicle technology – and its starting price of just $11,990, making Versa Sedan one of the best values available today. Versa is also offered in a five-door hatchback model, the Versa Note.

A Stylish Exterior Design and Roomy, Refined Interior

Last year’s enhancements to the Versa Sedan exterior – including the bold new front end treatment anchored by larger headlights, a more substantial looking fascia and standard chrome plating on the grille – carry over for 2016. The new look adds a strong, contemporary presence to Versa Sedan’s efficient dimensions and packaging, while strengthening the family ties of the Versa Sedan with Sentra and Altima.

The list of standard exterior features includes body-color front and rear fascias, chrome-accented multi-reflector halogen headlights, body-color power outside mirrors and short rod-type fixed roof antenna. Available features, depending on grade level, include front fog lights, outside side mirrors with integrated turn signals, blacked-out B-pillars and chrome door handles.

Smart aerodynamic engineering helps create a coefficient of drag of just 0.29 (Xtronic-equipped models), which aids in the Versa Sedan’s impressive real-world fuel economy.

The 2016 Versa Sedan is offered in two new exterior colors, Cayenne Red and Gun Metallic, along with Graphite Blue, Metallic Blue, Super Black, Brilliant Silver, Fresh Powder and Titanium.

Inside, Versa Sedan offers five-passenger practicality with a high degree of comfort and refinement – the perfect combination for commuting on weekdays, running errands on weekends and transporting family and friends all week long.

Following last year’s addition of a new center stack shape, a revised meter display with white LED display and a new steering wheel design with standard audio and Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System controls, front seat recline and height adjustment levers have been modified for easier use. In addition, two rear speakers have been added to Versa Sedan S models and the SL grade adds a new leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Versa Sedan S and S Plus grades feature a wide AM/FM/CD audio system with standard auxiliary-in and Radio Data System (RDS), assist grips and passenger-side vanity mirror. Versa Sedan SV adds an outside temperature display, USB/iPod® controls, printed non-woven headliner, map light with key-linked illuminated entry and silver finishers on the center instrument panel cluster.

Versa Sedan SL models include Nissan Intelligent Key® with Push Button Ignition and an AM/FM/CD/USB-iPod® audio system, RearView Monitor and NissanConnectSM with Navigation and Mobile Apps, with 5.8-inch color touch-screen display, Nissan Voice Recognition for navigation and audio, SiriusXM Traffic® and SiriusXM Travel Link™, SiriusXM Satellite Radio (SiriusXM subscription required, sold separately), Streaming audio via Bluetooth® and Hands-free Text Messaging Assistant.

All 2016 Versa Sedans continue to provide a roomy interior volume of 90.2 cubic feet, with more rear legroom than many mid-size sedans. Trunk volume measures 14.9 cubic feet. The trunk design itself focuses on useable space, taking into consideration everything from the size of the hinges to the shape of the sidewalls. A 60/40-split fold-down rear seat is standard on SV and SL models for even greater cargo versatility. Two interior colors are available, Sandstone (SV and SL only) and Charcoal (all trim levels).

Other available interior features include trip computer with outside temperature display, power windows with driver’s one-touch down, speed-sensing auto door locks and remote trunk release lever.

Advanced Engine Technology and an Efficient V-Platform

The 2016 Versa Sedan utilizes Nissan’s global lightweight “V” platform and is powered by a 1.6-liter HR16DE 4-cylinder engine rated at 109 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 107 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. The engine features a range of fuel efficiency enhancing technologies, including a dual injector system that allows a wider injection of fuel than a traditional single-injection system. The smaller nozzles deliver a finer spray to help achieve stable combustion.

The dual injector system also allows the use of around half the amount of rare metals in the catalyzer by reducing the amount of unburned fuel and hydrocarbon emissions.

The compact, lightweight engine also employs a twin Continuously Variable valve Timing Control System (CVTCS) mounted on intake and exhaust camshafts (versus conventional CVTC systems, which are mounted only on the intake camshaft).

Using CVTCS on the exhaust camshaft increases thermal efficiency, decreases inhalation resistance and offers an approximate four percent improvement in fuel efficiency (over the previous engine design). The engine also includes a piston oiling jet, specially tuned piston top shape and expanded exhaust manifold diameter.

The 1.6-liter engine is matched with a choice of three transmissions – a 5-speed manual transmission or 4-speed automatic (S models only), or a next-generation Xtronic transmission with D-mode step shift programming. The Xtronic design allows continuous change of the transmission gear ratio by connecting the two pulleys with a metallic belt and changing their diameter by using hydraulic pressure. It incorporates an auxiliary planetary gearbox to broaden the effective gear ratio helping improve efficiency. The Xtronic transmission’s gear ratio of 7.3:1 is broader than those of typical 7-speed automatic transmissions.

Fuel economy for the 2016 Versa Sedan is rated at 31 mpg city, 40 mpg* highway and 35 mpg combined with the Xtronic transmission – providing an estimated 400-mile driving range. Versa Sedan models equipped with the 5-speed manual offers 27 mpg city, 36 mpg highway and 30 mpg combined, while the 4-speed automatic-equipped models are rated at 26 mpg city, 35 mpg highway and 30 mpg combined.

All Versa Sedans are equipped with an independent MacPherson strut front suspension and torsion beam rear suspension, with front and rear stabilizer bars. The suspension dampers and electric power steering are tuned for a comfortable ride and improved handling. Other standard equipment includes power-assisted front disc/rear drum brakes, an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist.

Versa S, S Plus and SV models are equipped with 15-inch steel wheels with covers and 185/65R15 all-season tires. Stylish 15-inch 6-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels are available with the SV Appearance Package. The Versa SL model features 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with 195/55R16 all-season tires. Low rolling resistance tires are standard on all models.

Standard safety features include the Nissan Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) (includes dual-stage front supplemental air bags), seat-mounted driver and front passenger side-impact supplemental air bags, and roof-mounted curtain side-impact air bags for front and rear outboard occupant head protection.

Additional safety features include standard LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) system, child safety rear door locks, Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), Easy-Fill Tire Alert (SL only), Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) and Traction Control System (TCS).

Four Well-Equipped Models, Two Option Packages

The 2016 Nissan Versa Sedan is available in four well-equipped models – Versa Sedan S (offered in 5MT and 4AT versions), Versa Sedan S Plus (Xtronic only), Versa Sedan SV (Xtronic only) and Versa Sedan SL (Xtronic only).

Just two options are offered – the SV Appearance Package and SV Tech Package. The SV Appearance Package includes 15-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, fog lights, front fascia chrome accents and variable intermittent windshield wipers. The SV Tech Package features NissanConnectSM with Navigation and Mobile Apps with 5.8-inch color touch-screen display, Nissan Voice Recognition for audio and navigation, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, SiriusXM Traffic and SiriusXM Travel Link™ (fuel prices, weather, movie listings, stock info) (SiriusXM subscription required, sold separately), Streaming audio via Bluetooth®, Hands-free Text Messaging Assistant and RearView Monitor.

The 2016 Versa Sedan is assembled at Nissan’s Aguascalientes, Mexico assembly plant.

Specifications