2008 Nissan Versa S Hatchback Reviews

My newly purchased 2008 Nissan Versa S hatchback is a quirky and fun car to drive.  I chose the Versa after I had researched extensively and even test drove the Suzuki Aerio, Scion xa, VW Golf/GTI, Toyota Yaris, and Chevy Aveo. I decided against the xa and yaris because they both had the driving "dials" located in the center column of the dashboard.  I am too much of a lead foot and didn't think for safety reason the spedometer was in a good location in the car. It looks like Scion has learned though because on the new 2008 xd that have moved the driving "dials" back to the left driver's side.

My Versa stands out in a parking lot. I don't see it as much as the other hatchbacks although it's body style reflects that of a Mazda 5 or 3 hatchback and maybe some Pontiac Vibe thrown into the mix too.  I especially like the front and back lights and the way the hatchback looks on the Versa.  I also feel taller in the Versa than I did in my Honda Civic.  I have great visability between the two oversized side mirrors and a wide front windshield and smaller rhombus styled back windshield.

The interior is the selling point though!  The minute I saw the inside of a Versa - I knew it was what I would buy. The seats are covered with a soft faux-microsuede material and they are oversized, plush bucket seats. They feel like you are sitting on a sealy posterpedic mattress practically! The driving "dials" are situated nicely in big simple circles on the driver's side and the accessories panel is laid out in the middle of the dash with a fairly decent factory stereo with a mp3 cd player. There are big dials for the ac/heat and a simple sliding bar for the inside/outside air function; one of the standard features on the Versa is a HEPA air filter in the ac/heating system.

My Versa came with some upgraded features including power windows & power locks which means it has DEEP door pockets on either side up front and they even have drink holders in them, I also have cruise-control.  But even on the standard S package Versa, you get two interestingly placed but effective cupholders in the middle of the two seats, as well as middle divider that has a bunch of what I call "little cubbies" - and further on towards the back, there are another 2 drink holders, so 6 drink holders in all!  This car just screams road trip!  

Moving onto the back seats...WOW! You would never know that a car this 'compact' would be so spacious in the back seat.  Even with Sam in the driver's seat (he's almost 6'), the passengers in the back seat would still have the legroom that my parent's mini-van has!  Each right & left passenger seat in the back has its own headrest and 3-point seatbelt, and even the middle passenger in the back has a 3-point seatbelt!  I have yet to ride in the back but my passenger's have told me that it's a cozy, soft ride back there.

The hatchback is a little small for what I'd ultimately like to do with it but it will suffice for sure and offers me more versatility than a sedan trunk. The only other complaint I have with it is that the backseats don't fold down flush with the hatchback; they fold forward instead and so a little "lip" is created so it makes it harder with bulkier stuff, so like a 27" tv per se.

Lastly, the handling is easy as pie and very responsive. I have no trouble getting it up to 60mph and it doesn't rev very high either, maybe the low 3,000 rpm range.  The steering is reminscent of my Nissan 240sx's steering which was "loose" but very accurate, it allows for more manuvering I feel like.  I don't know how something could be loose and yet tight but the Versa's steering is definitely that. It is simple to make turns and I don't feel much body roll when I make them. The 15" tires definitely give the car a very steady feel and making even sharp turns doesn't make the tires squeal. I know I couldn't race a bmw or even a Scion tc in this car but it definitely contends with my stock Honda Civic and I would hope so since it's at 122hp and 127-lbs. of torque; it has more 'gaux' power than your standard 4-banger car.

Oh yea, and I get great gas mileage even being somewhat of a lead foot. I filled my Versa up last Saturday (11/1) when I bought it and I still have a 1/4 of a tank left today, a full week later.  Nice!! :)

All in all, this car suits me to a T.  I love the ease of use of it, all of the features, the comfort of it, and most of all the fact that it was inexpensive.

Awesome gas mileage.  Roomy

I have recently had the opportunity to drive the new 2008 Versa S Hatchback as a rental car from Enterprise while my del Sol is undergoing body repair.  My overall impression of the car is that while it is very roomy for its size and boasts a 1.8L DOHC engine and 'comfortable seats', it may not be all it's cracked up to be.

For starters, I'll consider the aspects of the car that agree with.  The seats are rather like sections of a large, strategically contoured sofa.  While they undoubtedly support a broad range of body types, I happen to be a slim person, so as a result the seats do not provide the type of support I am used to.  Nevertheless, I would recommend the seats for individuals of more significant build.

Overall, the car is clean in appearance.  The engine is covered by a pleasing arrangement of contoured plastic.  The interior is adorned by a strongly textured (albeit not unattractive) headliner.  The console and compartments are contemporary.  Panels on the dashboard have a brushed metal look, and the instruments take the form of three cylinders.  Dials and gauges are always backlit, even without the headlights on, and this combined with the shielding provided by the cylindrical walls makes them sharp and clear.

The car boasts plentiful legroom and headroom, even in the back seat.  Four large and/or lanky people would be able to sit comfortably in the car, and three smaller to average-sized individuals would find the back seat accommodating.  There are cupholders to spare, seats and headrests are adjustable, the steering wheel is tiltable, and there is even a sensor to determine whether the passenger airbag should be on, based upon the mass of the occupant.

Sounds are unintrusive to the ear.  Engine noise is very isolated from the cabin.  Road noise is negligible.  The car beeps precisely and patiently when a door is left open, lights are left on, or the driver's seatbelt has not been fastened.

The cargo area is small with the rear seats upright, but can be expanded.  A tonneau cover normally shields the trunk from the cabin, but can be removed.  The hatch is easy to operate and opens with very little force, thanks to hydraulics and a sensitive button.

And now for the bad news...

The car's suspension leaves much to be desired during normal (especially highway) driving.  Understeer is exaggerated, despite the amount of car present behind the engine, and steering is a bit vague.  This fact becomes readily noticeable on the highway.  The car is susceptible to wind gusts because of its tall stature, which creates the need to correct steering with the wind.  The steering has some difficulties remaining centered (possibly due to bump steer).  This brings me to the suspension.

Springs and dampers are fairly soft.  The ride is smooth and absorbs bumps very well, but overall the car feels bigger than it actually is.  Because of the vagueness of the steering, it is not as agile as one would expect.  Despite this, it is admittedly capable of heavy cornering.  I must cite an occasion when I successfully frightened off a Subaru Legacy sedan while taking a > 180-degree decreasing radius on ramp.

Another feature that annoyed me is the low tire pressure warning light.  When I picked up the car, the light was on.  The enterprise employee checking the car over took it to Meineke to ensure correct tire pressure, and he assured me that everything was fine.  Despite this, the light DOES NOT GO OFF.  Perhaps this is due to a lessee slamming into a curb, but I noted no visual damage to the car whatsoever, which had under 3300 miles on it when I began driving it.  This could be an issue that needs to be worked out by Nissan.

The automatic transmission in this car does a poor job of disproving the "slush box" classification.  Shifting out of first gear is extremely, extremely delayed, usually falling around or higher than 3000 RPM for normal city driving.  This could be due to the fact that the car is rather underpowered (I solo drag-raced a 2008 5-speed Scion xD with three occupants and lost, with a head start).  Shifting is unpredictable and always delayed.  There is the (1-2) option to use first and second gears exclusively, and overdrive may be turned off, but the uses for these features are rare and limited.

Fuel economy is not spectacular.  I get better gas mileage in my 1993 del Sol (with a short ram intake and stainless steel exhaust headers).  I averaged about 200 miles to a tank in the city, which equates to 20 mpg, and I am a mostly conservative driver.

In conclusion, the car does well for its price range.  The one I drove can be priced at approximately $14,500, and yet it felt like a small Altima or Sentra on the inside.  Additionally, the car can be drifted with a bit of finesse and skill around an empty, icy airport parking lot without loss of control or rollover...although the fuel level gauge will be thrown off for a few moments until gasoline pools back into the bottom of the tank.  Thanks for reading and I hope this helped.