2010 Nissan Versa

Good entry-level commuter car but not a DogCar

Sat, Feb 6th 2010

From the outside, the Nissan Versa looks as if it would make a good city DogCar. The 60/40 split fold-down rear seats and the hatchback are promising features.

Alas, that promise is broken when you fold down the seats and discover that they aren’t level with the floor of the cargo area. Seats up or down, the space is useless for carrying more than a single small or medium-size crate. Worse, the crate only fits sideways, making it difficult to put the dog in or remove him from the carrier. Nor are there any tiedowns to secure the crate.

The driving experience doesn’t make up for the design drawbacks. The four-cylinder engine struggles to power the car, and the brakes bring it to a jerky stop. In its favor, the Versa gets good mileage, averaging 28 mpg city and 34 mpg hwy.

Also on the Versa’s plus side, the rear seats have plenty of legroom for passengers -- and not just kids -- and the dashboard is easy to navigate.

The MSRP is $16,530. As equipped — automatic transmission, air-conditioning, six-speaker audio system, cruise control with steering wheel-mounted controls, power door locks and remote keyless entry, keyless ignition, Bluetooth phone system and steering wheel-mounted audio controls -- it runs $18,385.

-- Kim Campbell Thornton

Carguy Comments: The 2010 Nissan Versa hatchback model features a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine that produces 122 horsepower in front wheel drive. You have your choice of six-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission, or the Xtronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) where no shifting is discernible. Cargo volume with the seats folded down is 50.4 cubic feet.

-- Keith Turner, The Family Car

Barking Lot Banter: Good entry-level commuter car but not a DogCar.