2009 Nissan Versa 1.6 Sedan

Live frugally without (much) sacrifice

Mac Demere / autoMedia.com

About $20. That’s all that separates the 2009 Nissan Versa 1.6 Sedan from the title of “least-expensive new car in the U.S.”. Also, it’s among the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid, non-diesel cars in the country. The Versa 1.6 Sedan has plenty of room for four large adults: The interior is so large that the government rates it as a midsize. With 107 horsepower and a very light curb weight, the Versa 1.6 Sedan provides more-than-adequate acceleration. The Versa 1.6 Sedan offers very livable, basic transportation with few of the hardships associated with bare-bones vehicles.

Value Driven

At a starting price of less than $10,000 (not counting a $695 destination and handling fee), the Versa 1.6 Sedan provides everything you need and almost nothing you don’t. Many will enjoy the simplicity of a manual transmission, hand-cranked windows and finger-operated door locks. No reference book is needed to understand the purpose of every feature on the vehicle. If you were happier with Windows 98 than you are with Vista and are dreading Windows 7—especially the “buying it” part—the Versa 1.6 Sedan is your car. The Versa, which debuted as a 2007 model, is still available with a 122-horsepower, 1.8-liter four.

For a short time, the Versa 1.6 Sedan was the least-expensive new car offered in the U.S. As this is written, the Versa is in second position behind the Hyundai Accent. At its starting price, the Versa 1.6 Sedan comes without air conditioning, automatic transmission or a radio. Air conditioning adds about another $1,000 to the Versa’s price, while air and automatic transmission pushes the price to about $12,500. (The Versa 1.6 Sedan isn’t offered with automatic transmission but without air conditioning.)

Features

You’ll have to hunt to find a used Corolla or Civic—or even a Versa 1.8—for the price of a new Versa 1.6. Most likely, a used Toyota or Honda of comparable price will be three or more years old and have about 50,000 on its odometer. There are advantages to buying a used car: Avoiding the depreciation that occurs the moment you drive off the dealer’s lot is the main one. For some, however, that’s out-weighed by not knowing how the car was driven and maintained. Also, the lack of a factory warranty can cause headaches.

The Versa 1.6 Sedan I tested had air conditioning and the five-speed manual transmission. It didn’t have a radio: That was cured that with an iPod and earphones. (The earphones were probably illegal, but so was going 78 mph on Interstate 40: Neither bothered the Tennessee Highway Patrol.) For about $20, mini-speakers for the iPod would have removed some of my scofflaw status.

Spacious Interior

When I was younger, I regularly drove and owned vehicles without air conditioning while living in the sweltering Deep South. Those cars and pickups also had manual transmissions, roll-up windows, manual door locks and, often, no radio. I’d much rather row a manual transmission and talk to myself than readapt to globally warmed vehicles.