2007 Nissan Versa First Drive

The 2007 Nissan Versa clearly originated from this Japanese automaker’s current design template. The front clip features a Murano-inspired full-length grille that curves outward and upward from the centered Nissan logo. Large headlights slide rearward along the tops of the fenders, referencing the Maxima, Murano, Quest and even the sporty two-seater 350Z. Hatchback and sedan models look very similar in profile, as they share the same robust C-pillar, though the sedan adds 6.8 inches of length behind the rear axle to create a huge trunk. Fans of avant-garde styling should opt for the hatchback and its clever triangular rear lamps that slide around the quarter panels and help define the beltline. In contrast, the sedan makes do with everyday taillights and conventional styling cues.

Interior materials are soft to the touch and in no way imply this vehicle is a bottom-of-the-line econocar. The Versa’s seats are good-sized, well padded and double-stitched. The dashboard is substantial in volume and includes an intuitively designed symmetrical center stack. A three-gauge cluster resides behind a three-spoke, height-adjustable steering wheel, with Nissan’s signature aluminum accenting brightening things up. Small triangular windows ahead of the side-view mirrors break up the mass of the A-pillars and provide more interior illumination.

Special attention has been paid to passenger volume with the intention that rear seat occupants will ride in comfort without sacrificing front seat space. The Versa offers 38 inches of rear legroom, compared to 33.7 inches in the Honda Fit, 33.8 inches in the Toyota Yaris hatchback, 35.6 inches in the Toyota Yaris sedan, 34.3 inches in the Kia Rio5, and 37.6 inches in the Ford Focus ZX5. Headroom is generous, too, though the Fit and Focus offer slightly more than the Versa.

As both a hatchback and sedan, Versa is a larger vehicle than you might expect and would best be described as class-straddling. Stretching 169.1 inches as a five-door and 175.9 inches as a sedan, Versa compares closely to Ford’s Focus, which measures 168.5 inches in ZX5 hatchback form and 175.2 inches as a sedan. Compared to the competition, the Versa is substantially bigger, though Nissan assures that it legitimately competes against vehicles classified as “subcompact” by the EPA. There’s nothing subcompact about the Versa’s ability to carry cargo, however. Hatchback versions yield 17.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up, and sedans deliver 13.8 cubic feet of trunk space.