2011 Nissan Versa Hatchback SL

The Nissan Versa was introduced in 2006 as a 2007 model as Nissan’s entry level vehicle. The Versa comes as a 5-door hatchback or sedan and believe it or not, there is a method to the madness with the name Versa. It’s an amalgam of Versatile and Space….okay, I’ll buy it but none the less, the Versa is indeed roomy for such a small car although it is a bit tight behind the wheel for an “athletic build” like mine.

The 2010 Versa received a fair amount of upgrades so the 2011 model only offers a few minor changes. ABS is standard on the 1.8 S, Traction control and Nissan’s Vehicle Dynamic Control are standard on 1.8 SL models, and optional on 1.8 S models. However, they remain unavailable in both 1.6 models.

The 1.6 liter in the base sedan puts out 107 horsepower and the 1.8 liter in the S and SL puts out 122 horsepower which allows for mileage ratings between 25 and 34mpg. And of course economy and utilitarianism is what the Versa is all about. One very surprising factor for me is the plethora of transmissions.

There’s an optional 4-speed automatic available for the base and 1.8S models, however its standard on the 1.8SL and not available for the others. There’s a 5-speed manual overdrive available for the 1.6 Sedan and Base Sedan but not for anything else. Then there’s the 6-speed manual overdrive that’s standard only on the 1.8S and not available on any others and finally there’s the CVT, Continuously Variable Transmission that’s standard only on the 1.8SL Hatchback and on nothing else.

Inside is spartan and functional albeit a bit cramped for me, but there is plenty of room for four. Power windows and locks, remote keyless entry, and cruise control are standard on the 1.8 SL model, optional on the 1.8 S, and unavailable on the 1.6 models. The 1.8 SL also has an exclusive power moon roof option. The 1.8 SL model also includes a 5-inch touch-screen and subscription-based XM Satellite Radio as well as Bluetooth connectivity and volume controls on the steering wheel.

On the road you pretty much get what you’d expect from a vehicle like the Versa. It’s solid and although it actually rides a bit better than I’d expected, in my opinion it’s still strictly a grocery getter and not something I’d look forward to driving for any length of time.

Nissan has a history of building pretty solid, safe and reliable cars and the Versa fits right in. So if you’re looking for a decent run around car that’s decent on gas and dependable, keep the Versa on your short list. Backed by Nissan’s standard 36-month, 36,000-mile limited warranty, with price ranges from $9,900 to $17,650, the Nissan Versa could be just the value you’re looking for.

2010 Mazda Miata MX-5

It’s still the one to beat

For anyone that’s followed my reviews over the years knows that I have a special affinity for the Miata, the or MX-5 as Mazda likes to call it now. We’ve owned a few in our time and in truth the only reason we don’t have one now is due to the fact that the power hard top wasn’t available until 2007 and that change alone opened the floodgates to allow the best selling sports car in history to tap an even bigger market.

Introduced in 1989 the MX-5 remains basically unchanged after receiving significant updates for 2009 when Mazda added RX-8 style bold fender flares, a large grille, bigger wheels and tires and dual chrome exhaust pipes. The design changes did give the MX-5 a bit more aggressive look that will hopefully attract more male buyers.  

I've always been a roadster fan and loved the old classics like the MGB and TR-6’s etc but if you owned one of those vehicles, as I did, you knew you were going to spend a fair amount of time “tinkering” with your car. Not so with the Miata. You got all the fun, and exuberance of the classics without any of the hassle. No leaking tops, no electrical problems, no quirky carburetors, nothing. Get in start the car and hit the highway.

The car is simply stated, an absolute blast to drive and for all it’s simplicity, it’s pretty civilized. The test car came with an inline 167 horsepower 4-cylinder paired with a 6-speed manual transmission which made for a really fun driving experience. For those that don’t want to manually shift, a 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters is available, but in truth, the only way to have this car is with the manual.

Steering is swift and sure, with great linear brake pedal action making handling very crisp, almost like that of a go-kart. And for a car with less than a 92 inch wheelbase the ride isn’t nearly as rough as one might expect. One minor annoyance is the 6-speed gearing. Fuel economy is decent at 22 and 28 but a taller sixth gear could improve on that significantly and since there’s only 140 lb-ft of torque, you have to downshift to expediently pass at 65, so I don’t understand why they didn’t make sixth a true over-drive gear.

This is a two-seater so there isn’t a lot of extra space in the cabin, and unfortunately the cupholders are positioned in such a way that a cup of coffee or soft drink can be in the way of the shifter. The very good news is that there are lots of places to store things and the trunk does have enough room for a full set of golf clubs but two sets could be difficult. Believe me though; it’s a minor problem though for the true enthusiast.

Bottom line, the MX-5 is still the king of the hill when it comes to serious two-seat fun. It’s inexpensive, prices start at just a under $23,000 for the base Sport and the top of the line Grand Touring PHRT, which is what our test car was, starts at just over $28,000, and with adds the tester came in at just under $33,000. It’s dependable and pretty economical and as I said, an unadulterated blast to drive. There are a couple of pretty nifty looking competitors out there but they don’t come close to unseating the Miata as the King of the Hill of fun roadsters.

So, if you’re looking for something that doesn’t cost a lot to buy and operate and is a boat load of fun, check out the new MX-5 by Mazda. I think you’ll like it a lot.