First Drive: 2014 Nissan Versa Note

While the majority of the auto car giants are busy trying to come up with the next big car idea, Nissan has instead, gone the opposite route.  Simpler is better, states the 2014 Nissan Versa Note product definition section in their 2014 business plan. And so it shall be.  The 2014 Nissan Versa is the result of recycled ideas and rudimentary design principles.  Stripped from finesse and toned down on makeup, the 2014 Nissan Versa Note is neither stylish or fun to drive.  But wait a minute.  Don’t all car companies follow the single objective of making money?  Somewhere in that business plan must explain why someone would buy this thing.

Simplicity does have its merits, and when it comes to the 2014 Nissan Versa Note, it’s economical. Comfortably fitting four passengers with room to spare, the 2014 Nissan Versa Note is aimed to provide maximum space with minimal hustling. With that being said, the 2014 Nissan Versa Note may fit the bill for anyone who only cares about getting themselves and their belongings from A to B.

Exterior and Styling

Now simplicity doesn’t necessarily have to look bad.  Rather, the 2014 Nissan Versa Note turns the utopian box-like subcompact shape into a wonky design.  Up front displays a minimalistic front grille accompanied by sharpened headlights.  The tail stands fairly tall and is a reminiscent of a bolt on extension from the side.  Added to the mix is the miniature side windows placed in the front and rear ends that does wonders for increased natural light and visibility in the cabin space.

Interior Cabin Space

Trying to maintain quality at a budget price is a difficult problem to solve, and the 2014 Nissan Versa Note shows that in the interior cabin space.  Majority of the inside is wrapped with cheap generic plastic panels.  While the front seats offer decent comfort and support, the center console replicates the looks and feel of an all-analog 90’s car design with its long shift lever extended from the base and perpendicular console panels.  It just feels cold and clumsy on the inside.  That doesn’t mean Nissan should be flogged for the lack of quality here since the selling point for the 2014 Versa Note is its maximal interior space .

Speaking of space, you get a lot of it inside the 2014 Versa Note.  There is no shortage of room in the front.  Owners will also enjoy less fuss over the rules of calling shotgun as the rear seats offer a very comfortable amount of leg room.  Driving position offers great visibility as well.  While the cheap plastic panels bordering the interior walls are understandable, the cloth material used in the seats are poor grade quality and the padding is overly soft.  This results in fatigue back in longer drive trips. While room is abundant, sound insulation and padding is mediocre at best.  Excessive road noise can be heard when traveling above 40 mph, but the worse is the obnoxious engine noise produced by the 1.6 liter engine especially during acceleration

Driving Impressions and Final Thoughts

The 2014 Nissan Versa Note is prized for its maximum cargo space and economical factors.  Theses are the two factors that appeal to a great number of buyers, but the question is, what’s behind all the smoke and mirrors?  For starters, the engine is a 1.6 liter four cylinder engine producing only 106 horse power and 107 pound-ft of torque.  Certainly well below the automotive norm in terms of power specifications, but it’s still sufficient for a simple daily commute.  And at a curb weight of only 2,482 lbs, the Versa Note feels fine; well, most of the time that is.  Because of the miniscule 1.6 liter engine, it has to work extra hard by ramping up the revs during during acceleration and hill climbing.  It’s not that bad, and the CVT transmission does eliminate the obnoxious oscillating gear shift effect on lower speed automatic transmissions.

In terms of a daily commuter, the 2014 Nissan Versa Note is a very easy car to drive thanks to the relaxed accelerator pedal mapping and predictable steering.  But due to its height and chassis length, don’t expect the Nissan Versa Note to handle very well.  It simply has no bite on the road on turns and body roll is also present.

Nissan has done a great job in producing a simple economical car that is both easy to drive and offers excellent cargo space.    Starting at a base price shy of 15,000$, it’s quite a bang for the buck.  One of the nice things about Nissan is that they are right on top of the infotainment technology.  And to be honest, the Versa Note does feel very hallow and lonely.  With that said, throw in an extra 680$ and you’ve got yourself a 4.3″ infotainment system equipped with AM/FM/CD/IPOD/AUX audio, rear view monitor, arm rest.  In terms of fuel economy, it’s good for its class.  Rated at 31 mpg on the city and 40 mpg on the highway, that’s just about on par, or better than pretty much all of its competitors in the subcompact segment.

So should you buy one?  The 2014 Nissan Versa Note is prized for its economical genetics and cargo space.  This basically means you can either shove a lot of things in this car, or fit an extra 4 passengers and a few extra pieces of baggage with minimal fuss.  But what the Versa Note does not have is the car-like driving experience.  Simply put it this way, the Nissan Versa Note is not exactly a car you want to get into and drive.  Due to the excessive road noise, sub par interior comfort and lack of performance and handling, the Versa Note is more of an attempt to create a spinoff off cargo vehicle for the typical consumer.  There are purchase add-on features that enhances the driving experience such as the CVT transmission and the convenience package with the infotainment system, but it just became difficult to escape the fact that driving the Versa Note was more of a chore than something you’d enjoy.

This doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing – frequent IKEA patrons wil be extremely rewarded, but for the rest of the crowd out there with a similar budget, there are a plethora of choices that can offer both the fuel economy and a more comfortable ride for the same price such as the Ford Fiesta, Mazda 3, or the Toyota Corolla.