The Nissan Versa Engines Produce Adequate Performance
Nissan’s Versa subcompact has no changes to either of its four-cylinder engines for 2010. The Versa offers a choice of 1.6-liter and 1.8-liter all-aluminum, 16-valve, DOHC inline fours. Both engines are part of the HR/MR family, which Nissan says was designed for low-end torque, rather than maximum horsepower. Both engines have variable valve timing on the intake valves, and both have chain-driven camshafts, rather than rubber timing belts.
The 1.6 Base and 1.6 models use the 1.6-liter HR16DE engine, which is undersquare, with a bore of 78.0 mm and a stroke of 83.0 mm. With a compression ratio of 9.8:1, it produces 107 horsepower and 111 lb-ft of torque, which compares well with the 106-horsepower Toyota Yaris and the 110-horsepower Hyundai Accent, but lags behind the Honda Fit’s 117-horsepower 1.5-liter engine. The S and SL models use the 1.8-liter MR18DE, which is oversquare, with a bore of 84.0 mm and a stroke of 81.1 mm. It has a compression ratio of 9.9:1, producing 122 horsepower and 127 lb-ft of torque. It is less powerful than the 1.8-liter engines in the Toyota Matrix and Scion xD, which make 132 and 128 horsepower, respectively.
Both Versa engines produce adequate but unexceptional performance. Although Nissan claims that their acoustically equal-length intake runners reduce unpleasant engine noise, both engines are loud and buzzy when worked hard; they are reasonably quiet at cruising speeds. Fuel economy is good, but far from class leading with either engine. The 1.6-liter’s EPA combined ratings (29 mpg with manual transmission, 28 mpg with automatic) are significantly less than the Toyota Yaris (32 mpg manual, 31 mpg automatic) or Hyundai Accent (30 mpg). The 1.8-liter, meanwhile, only beats the Toyota Matrix and Scion xD when equipped with the optional CVT automatic, which gives it a combined rating of 30 mpg. Read the rest of this entry »
The New 2012 Nissan Versa
The all new 2012 Nissan Versa is coming soon. Nissan has built this car to be affordable, fuel efficient, spacious and safe.
The small Nissan car utilizes a 1.6L DOHC 4 cylinder engine that gets an astounding 37 mpg highway. This is the first Nissan model to earn the PureDrive badge. This PureDrive technology is focused on reducing one of the main causes of greenhouse gases: CO2 emission levels. The 2012 Nissan Versa has the industry’s first dual injector system that gets more out of every last drop of fuel. The constant valve timing control on both camshafts gives a quicker response and it has an available next-generation Continuously Variable Transmission. All this gives the Versa lower emissions and an EPA rating of 37 mpg.
This small yet spacious vehicle offers class leading legroom. It can seat five people comfortably with enough headroom to handle six-footers. Although the car has lost about an inch of length and height, it has more truck space than before due to improvements to the engine and transaxle. Inside, buyers will find cloth seat trim, front and rear cup holders, rear window defroster, tilt steering column, and an auxiliary 12-volt DC power outlet. It’s also loaded with plenty of new technology features that will keep buyers entertained. It has a Bluetooth® hands free phone system, USB connection port for iPod® interface, and a Nissan navigation system with a 5 inch touch-screen monitor. On the exterior, one will find of the car has 15 inch wheels, multi-reflector halogen headlights, and energy-absorbing body-color front and rear fascias.
Although the Nissan Versa is very spacious, it is still a small car. However, small can now be safe too. The Versa has plenty of safety features to keep consumers safe. It comes with six airbags, anti-lock braking system, brake override technology, brake assist, traction control, and advanced braking. It also has a driver and passenger restraint system, hood-buckling creases, energy-absorbing steering column, structural collision safety system, and a tire pressure monitoring system. It also has a latch system with lower anchors and tethers for children. Read the rest of this entry »