2008 Nissan Versa Review

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The 2008 Versa sedan and hatchback are Nissan's entry-level models, slotted below the Sentra. It offers energy-, budget-, and safety-conscious consumers inexpensive entry into one of the safest and smartest small cars on the market.

With respective S model base prices of $12,630 and $12,730, and SL prices of $14,630 and $14,730, buyers get a strong 1.8L inline four making 122 horsepower and 127 lb-ft of torque and plenty of amenities usually reserved for more upscale segments. The six-speed manual transmission is standard on all models, while the four-speed automatic adds $800 to the base S and the Xtronic CVT is a $1,000 option on the better-equipped SL. The automatic is not available in SL trim.

Notable standard equipment on the S includes power mirrors,... see more

The 2008 Versa sedan and hatchback are Nissan's entry-level models, slotted below the Sentra. It offers energy-, budget-, and safety-conscious consumers inexpensive entry into one of the safest and smartest small cars on the market.

With respective S model base prices of $12,630 and $12,730, and SL prices of $14,630 and $14,730, buyers get a strong 1.8L inline four making 122 horsepower and 127 lb-ft of torque and plenty of amenities usually reserved for more upscale segments. The six-speed manual transmission is standard on all models, while the four-speed automatic adds $800 to the base S and the Xtronic CVT is a $1,000 option on the better-equipped SL. The automatic is not available in SL trim.

Notable standard equipment on the S includes power mirrors, air conditioning, a CD player, a tire pressure monitor, and six air bags. The SL models feature 15-inch alloy wheels, upgraded cloth seat trim, power accessories, a six-disc in-dash CD changer, and an auxiliary audio input jack. A 60/40 split rear seat is standard on all hatchbacks and on the SL sedan.

A Sport Package in SL trim adds fog lights, unique fascias front and rear, lower body sill extensions, and a rear spoiler, while a Convenience Package adds Bluetooth and remote keyless entry and ignition. A Power Package can be ordered on the base car, and it installs power windows and locks, plus a remote keyless entry system and more. A sunroof, XM satellite radio, and a Rockford-Fosgate subwoofer are available on the SL, and the S now has available cruise control.

The 2008 Versa retains its functionally intuitive cabin design, making control of all dials and knobs a snap for driver and passenger alike. The car returns impressive fuel economy in all trim levels, with a model-best 27 city/33 highway coming from the CVT-equipped SL.

In safety tests, the Versa's combination of standard and available safety features can't be beat. Dual-stage front air bags, roof-mounted front and rear curtain air bags, active head restraints and ten other features come standard, while an ABS package with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist can be added for $250.

The 2008 Nissan Versa scores a five-star rating in NHTSA side-impact crash tests and the Insurance Institute of America gave the Versa its top score in frontal-offset and side-impact tests.
On the heels of a successful launch, the Nissan Versa enters 2008 with few changes. A $700 Sport Package is a new addition on the SL's option list and hatchbacks in S trim can now order cruise control. XM is now the only satellite radio provider for the model. see less

Trims	City MPG	Hwy MPG	MSRP	Invoice	Displacement	Engine
4dr Sdn Auto S	24	32	$13,680	$13,203	1.8L/110	Gas 4-cyl
4dr Sdn Auto SL	27	33	$15,640	$15,087	1.8L/110	Gas 4-cyl
4dr Sdn Man S	26	31	$12,880	$12,434	1.8L/110	Gas 4-cyl
4dr Sdn Man SL Ltd Avail	26	31	$14,890	$14,365	1.8L/110	Gas 4-cyl
5dr HB Auto S	24	32	$13,780	$13,298	1.8L/110	Gas 4-cyl
5dr HB CVT SL	27	33	$15,980	$15,414	1.8L/110	Gas 4-cyl
5dr HB Man S	26	31	$12,980	$12,529	1.8L/110	Gas 4-cyl
5dr HB Man SL	26	31	$14,980	$14,452	1.8L/110	Gas 4-cyl

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Â 2008 NISSAN VERSA STYLING | [6 out of 10]

Cars.com: "I don't know many people who would call the Versa sedan a looker"
Car and Driver: "Hardly a recipe to whet the collective American appetite"
ConsumerGuide: "Controls are logically placed and, for the most part, clearly marked"

The 2008 Nissan Versa arrives in dealer showrooms with an exterior that is unchanged from its 2007 model year debut. The 2008 Nissan Versa is available either as a hatchback or sedan.

For Nissan's 2008 Versa lineup, Edmunds says that "both body styles come in base 1.8 S and more upscale 1.8 SL trim levels," though the only external differences are "alloy wheels" on the 1.8 SL. The exterior of the Nissan Versa certainly isn't exciting, but it is practical and a bit of an optical illusion. Cars.com reviewers write that "at first glance, you might think the Nissan Versa sedan is a subcompact," but in reality, it's "less than an inch shorter than a Honda Civic and just two inches shorter than a Mazda3." The reason for the subcompact appearance is the "funky front end, tall roofline and squished rear," which Cars.com says is a "look that's common to Japanese subcompacts," although on the 2008 Nissan Versa, those elements "don't flow together well." Other reviews read by TheCarConnection.com show mixed reactions, but they tend to agree with Motor Trend's opinion that the hatchback is "the more distinct-looking sibling." Kelley Blue Book reviewers don't mind the exterior styling, writing that "the tidy Versa succeeds at not being boxy or bland," and they note that the car's proportions make it "exceptionally easy to enter." Car and Driver says the style is "hardly a recipe to whet the collective American appetite."

(see full review)

2008 Nissan Versa

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