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On the road, the Versa goes about its duties in a quiet fashion, its long wheelbase contributing to a remarkably good ride that’s well-damped, not floaty. Anti-roll bars are employed front and rear, and the standard tire size is P185/65HR-15. Outward vision is excellent, and the overall quality of materials is high for a car in this category. The instrument panel is plain compared to the Honda Fit’s, but the plastics are of a high quality and the controls on the center stack — which include a handy connection for an iPod in the SL model we drove — are mounted high for easy access. To accommodate drivers of varying sizes, the Versa’s steering wheel tilts (but does not telescope), and the front seats — with integrated side airbags — are adjustable for height. Moreover, they’re covered in a durable, grippy fabric.
The 5-door hatchback Versa is already on sale, with prices ranging from $12,000 to a fully loaded $17,000 car equipped with items such as alloy wheels, roof-mounted side-impact curtain airbags, satellite radio, Bluetooth, an Intelligent Key and a Rockford Fosgate-powered subwoofer. The plain-looking Versa sedan arrives in October, priced similarly.
In this era of increasingly expensive gasoline, a practical, fuel-efficient car such as the Nissan Versa — which feels much larger inside than it looks on the outside — makes more sense every day. No need to explain that twice to me...
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