Nissan announces new Versa hatchback for the U.S.
The Versa, a U.S. version of the JDM Tiida model (pictured),
will be offered in sedan and hatchback versions, starting at about $12,000. With its 120 hp 1.8-liter four-cylinder
mated to an optional CVT, the small car should give a combined city-highway rating of around 38 mpg.
The hatchback Versa will go on sale in early summer 2006, around the same time as Honda's new small car. The two will
join the Chevy Aveo, Toyota's Scion models and Toyota's upcoming Yaris in this growing U.S. market segment.
More after the jump.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Sid Ghosh 10:49PM (12/18/2005)
Mazda should bring us the MX-Micro Sport.
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ramsport47 10:49PM (12/18/2005)
bring on the smart ForFour
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starlightmica 10:49PM (12/18/2005)
Pics here: http://www.nissannews.com/multimedia/nissan2007/versa.shtml
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Doogs 10:49PM (12/18/2005)
Amen, Sid!
I loved the Micro Sport concept...given what Mazda's been doing with their products lately, I'd consider it alongside a Mini if they brought it to us.
http://arabam.milliyet.com.tr/fuar/2004/detroit/mazda_mx_micro_sport_xx.jpg
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CrunchyCookie 10:49PM (12/18/2005)
Nissan had the opportunity to bring performance and style, yet all they give us is another Aveo? Shame. What happened to the Sport Concept?
Don't they realize what an independent-suspended car with the Sentra's 1.8L engine and disc brakes could do? Versa SE-R.
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Doogs 10:49PM (12/18/2005)
The article says the Versa will use the Tiida platform...and the name, in Mexico.
Given Nissan's recent track record, I have faith that they won't settle for bringing us a bland, POS subcompact.
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Merkis 10:49PM (12/18/2005)
Since I'm a Chrysler guy, I hope the new Dodge Caliber will be competitive with this.
I like this kind of compitition!
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ebm14- 10:49PM (12/18/2005)
I agree with Sid G (writer #1) in that the Mazda Micro Sport should be sold here. We really need a cool Japanese car for under $20k
w/ Awd.
Nissan was foolish for not bringing its Note, Cube and X-Trail to this country. Goshen has been good for taking the company out of the poor house, but not everyone agress with the
boring cars(except the 350z and Murano)that is sold here. Secondly, who wants a mexican made car if I can buy a Japanese made mazda 3.
Honda is slowly starting to realize that we need a fun car, so that is why they re-created the Civic. Toyota is bringing over the Yaris
in addition to its Scion models.
Nissan wake up or just bring over your JDM
and shut up about the labor costs.
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fernan 10:49PM (12/18/2005)
renault rebadge.
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ebm14- 10:49PM (12/18/2005)
I agree with Sid G (writer #1) in that the Mazda Micro Sport should be sold here. We really need a cool Japanese car for under $20k
w/ Awd.
Nissan was foolish for not bringing its Note, Cube and X-Trail to this country. Goshen has been good for taking the company out of the poor house, but not everyone agress with the
boring cars(except the 350z and Murano)that is sold here. Secondly, who wants a mexican made car if I can buy a Japanese made mazda 3.
Honda is slowly starting to realize that we need a fun car, so that is why they re-created the Civic. Toyota is bringing over the Yaris
in addition to its Scion models.
Nissan wake up or just bring over your JDM
and shut up about the labor costs.
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Margo 10:49PM (12/18/2005)
Amazing to see the excitement here regarding new Nissan compact cars. Seems to me that none of you would be so eager to buy these cars if they were badged as Renault's. However, we here in Europe have the Tiida and Note on sale (for a few years by now, with minor changes) as part of the Renault line-up. Just check out the Renault Megane and Modus...
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Jason Chan 10:49PM (12/18/2005)
I can see the butt that sticks out the rear like the renaults. seems nice tho. but 38mpg... seems a little behind in terms of fuel economy, you got corollas and civics hitting 40mpg and those cars are bigger and more powerful.
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Peter W. 10:49PM (12/18/2005)
Jason: Those cars (corolla/civic) are also more expensive, which allows for things like extra catalytic converters, more complicated fuel injection, more-complex-computer-controlled engines and transmissions, and variable valve timing dual cam engines.
The sub-compact hatch market is usually trying to just be cheap.... cheap to buy, cheap to own, cheap to fix. 38 MPG is reasonable... (the aveo 'only' gets 35.. and the xA 'only' gets 40)
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Big Daddy 10:49PM (12/18/2005)
I wouldn't criticize Nissan not bringing over the Sport Concept yet. It may be unveiled in Detroit in January. Nissan usually does a pretty decent job staying tight lipped about models they perceive to generate excitement. I too wish they offered the X-Trail here in the states. I also hope they don't bring the Cube over now. This late in the game behind the xB and they'll be read the riot act whether the vehicle is successful or not (See HHR vs PT Cruiser). I really do think we'll see another good sport compact from Nissan, hopefully next year as I get ready to purchase something in the spring (or later if something is coming down the pipeline). Something to replace the Sentra SE-R Spec V. Might have a lot of power for the price, but I wasn't impressed.
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AFC 10:49PM (12/18/2005)
Good - more B-Class cars for North America (I assume the Versa will come to Canada as well.) For a lot of people, cars like this make much more sense than what they're buying now.
If only small cars didn't suffer such an image problem. Millions of otherwise intelligent people will look at a Versa/Jazz/Yaris and immediately dismiss it as not being safe (after all, it doesn't weigh two tons...) And because it doesn't send the right message - namely, that they're not moving up to a 'premium' lifestyle the way the TV says they should. Puh-leeeze! This is why perfectly fine B-class hatchbacks make it to our shores as awkward-looking sedanlets: we will gladly sacrafice style and utility for the supposed bourgeois respectibility of a trunk.
Please note that I'm not advocating that consumers be denied choice - only that they use their heads when making them.
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Doogs 10:49PM (12/18/2005)
As an aside to the Versa, I was under the impression that Nissan does plan to bring the X-Trail to the U.S., but are waiting on the next-generation model or something.
I hope they do. It is one of my favorite compact SUVs - and they were all over the place when I was in Europe during the summer.
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Sid Ghosh 10:49PM (12/18/2005)
Doogs, the X-Trail is here in Canada. Looks great, runs great BUT it has a centre console gauge cluster.
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j panozzo 10:49PM (12/18/2005)
When I first saw a picture of this car a couple of weeks ago, I was totally impressed with it as a legitimate Scion fighter. Now when I see the finished product, all Nissan did was affix the Quest's front and rear end on something that was probably designed and engineered by the infamous Renault. And we all remember the Encore, Alliance, Fuego, and Eagle Premier. Hardly good genes Nissan would want to depend on.
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Doogs 10:49PM (12/18/2005)
#16 - I have a sneaking suspicion that the U.S. version is going to be somewhat different.
I for one am going to give Nissan the benefit of the doubt until January, and see what they bring to Detroit.
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Alvin 10:49PM (12/18/2005)
"And we all remember the Encore, Alliance, Fuego, and Eagle Premier. Hardly good genes Nissan would want to depend on."
Oh come now, that's a cheapshot. It's like suggesting the Cobalt must be garbage because there was once a Chevette.
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