The 2012 Nissan Versa Sedan reminds me of my first car.  Nothing fancy about it. Unsophisticated driving.  Plastic interior.  Nothing to show off…..other than it had four wheels and got me out of the house.  Driving the Versa brought me back to the simple pleasure of a reliable source of freedom.  If my daughter were turning seventeen, she might be getting one of these.  Kelly Blue Book named it one of the best ‘Back to School’ cars for this reason.  It’s the least expensive car on the market offering the seating and cargo room of a sedan, with the gas mileage of a subcompact. Perfect for loading up campus gear and and friends without hitting Mom and Dad up too much for gas money.

The exterior body design encompassing this 90 cu. ft of cargo and 14.9 cu. ft trunk, is not fashion forward…..but here again, that’s not what this car is about.  In all fairness though, it’s better looking than some of those square icebox-y things out there.

Driving the Versa is a true front wheel drive experience.  A pulling motion from the front of the car gave me the sensation of being led around by my daughter at Toys R Us.  The CVT transmission was surprisingly seamless though, a refreshing boost in fuel economy without compromise.

This is a car not trying to be more than it is.  But if you want more than it is, there are models and packages.  It comes in three versions, S, SV and SL.  The most basic S has an optional Cruise Control Package option which also comes with two rear speakers and a trunk light.  My tester, the SV steps it up by adding, chrome grill accents, power windows, Fine Vision instrumentation, and upgraded cloth seats.  The SL brings in 15-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, 60/40 split fold down rear seats, Bluetooth, steering wheel audio controls, USB/iPod connectivity and an upgraded audio system.  The Technology package (available on the SL only) is what you need to bring a 5-inch color touch screen with navigation and satellite radio into the picture.

As far as putting a baby in a rear facing car seat, I’m all hails and smiles.  Huge backseat, leg room…for long legs, and kudos again on the trunk.  I did have trouble getting a secure fit on her Graco snugride 35, but according to Nissan’s new Snug Fit Safety Guide, the Versa accommodates roughly 180 different car seats from rear facing to booster.   We had a good time going about our week from Stop n’ Shop to music class, spilling cheese puffs all over the back seat.  It reminded me again how the greatest joys lie in these moments of time spent together, so much more than fancy steering wheel controls and touch screen navigation (although that stuff is nice too). Depending on how you look at it, the Versa’s simplicity could be considered the worst thing about it……or the best thing about it.

Some Basics
MSRP:  $10,990 – $15,560
engine: 1.6 L, I-4
hp/torque: 109 hp/107 ft-lb.
drivetrain: FWD
fuel economy:  30 city/38 hwy
IIHS Safety Rating: Good. Top Safety Pick

drivermom summary
Three words to describe this car
affordable, basic, fuel-efficient

What’s the best thing about it?
spacious interior

What’s the biggest drawback?
not the best handling

Mom-friendliness score: A-

Driver-friendliness score: B

If this car could talk, what would it say?
“Everyone remembers their first car.”