Rep Power: 497

It’s a fair bet that many people shopping for small cars are primarily concerned with two things: an inexpensive purchase price and fuel economy. Nail those two things, and your car is likely to attract a lot of attention.

Enter the Nissan Versa. This small sedan is brand-new for 2012, and Nissan has addressed both of those all-important issues. In base form, the Versa is the least-expensive car in Canada, with an MSRP of $11,798.

Furthermore, a number of mechanical changes, including a new 1.6-litre engine and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with 30 per cent less internal friction, help reduce fuel consumption to a promised 6.7L/100 km in city driving and 5.2L/100 km on the highway. That’s a pretty serious fuel saving next to the old Versa sedan’s ratings of 7.8L and 5.9L/100 km in the same city and highway tests.

The new car’s fuel ratings aren’t the best in the class, but what Nissan’s after is to create a car with a compelling combination of characteristics that will make the Versa an attractive all-around vehicle, instead of one that excels in just one area.



Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/cars/...#ixzz1jMK1NrBg