I may not be remembering right, but if I recall, the Versa doesn't have standard side-curtain airbags -- a total necessity for me, especially in a small car. Versas look really ugly, especially their forward-slanting back windows.
Reliability will probably be much poorer than in a Honda. And the space utilization in the Fit is superb, much better than the Versa.

 

The Versa does have the side curtain airbags standard as well as the usual side and front bags. What it does not have as standard, which I think is pretty silly in this day and age, is ABS.

 

No problem. My own memory does not always make me proud, either, and is sometimes downright blank. :p

 

I did a lot of drugs in the 70s and may have done some permanent damage. I usually just say "it's my Alzheimer's acting up". I apparently had at least one moment of clarity when I chose the Fit!

 

While everyone is certainly entitled to their own opinions, and this is a Fit forum after all, this thread is making Nissan vehicles sound like complete junk. Let me preface by saying I too compared the Versa and Fit and chose the Fit; however, I am coming from an Xterra and miss it(minus the MPG) dearly. I don't have any bad things to say about Nissan and in fact highly recommend them based on my experience. My brother also owns an Xterra, and other than regular maintenance, neither of us have had any issues with them.

 

I agree that Nissan makes good cars, as well as some duds, like anyone else. Honda has had its own share of duds over the years. If someone doesn't believe me about the latter, he/she should re-study the history of Honda Giken Kogyo, K.K.

The Versa is a competent car, in my opinion. For my family's purpose, the Fit is a better, eh, fit, but I can see the Versa working out for a number of people as well. I drove a 1.5 L Tiida (Versa in Japan) for sometime, and it was a great car.

 

As a former Nissan (Sentra) owner, I don't trust Nissan's reliablity on their lower-level cars. They've been cutting corners since the late 1990's, and it shows in quality on anything costing less than $20K. The Versa has some nice qualities, such as the size and the ride, but build quality is inconsistent at best. On True Delta (www.truedelta.com), the reliability numbers are abysmal. Needless to say, I didn't even bother test driving the Versa.

BTW, True Delta does require a membership, but it's free as long as you agree to provide data for your car.

 

it shows in quality on anything costing less than $20K.

Perhaps ironically, Consumer Reports' automotive surveys have consistently shown that it's Nissan's more expensive cars that tend to have reliability issues, e.g., the Armada, Titan, and Infiniti QX56, as well as the Quest. It appears that the Canton MS works just cannot get it right.

 

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I forgot their large-truck-based vehicles and the Quest have a pretty crappy history as well. The Maxima, despite being the flagship sedan, also has a spotty repair history. Among cars, they seem to pay a lot more attention to the Z and GT-R. Those two cars, and the Altima 3.5 SE, are the only three cars I'd trust from them.

 

Bought my Fit 3 weeks ago... test drove both the Fit and Versa.
Liked the handling and ride of the Fit, though the Versa interior seemed larger, the cargo space configuration was by far better in the Fit. I've never owned a Honda, but after doing extensive research, felt comfortable and confident in my decision.

 

The Versa's in a tough spot when you compare it to the Fit. An SL comparably optioned out to a Fit Sport is nearly $20k. Not much of a value, IMO, and in that price range, I think your money's better spent elsewhere. I'd rather have a 1.5i Impreza hatch w/ the premium package and more power for less money. Better all-around, and I still think Nissan has a ways to go w/ their interior quality.

-Mike

 

To be fair, I have to acknowledge that the SL trim of the Versa comes standard with something that the Fit Sport does not have: Center arm rest for both the front and rear seats, 6-CD changer, map lights, driver's seat height adjustment, which are all nice things.

 

Definitely fair. I bought the JDM armrest for my Fit, and well, I don't ride in the back. :) All my music is via iPod or radio. Seating position for me is fine, but I know it's not for many others. Maplights would be nice, though! Again, close to $20k for what is basically Nissan's entry level car... and I like Honda's general policy of offering very little in the options arena, which aside from a few trims, is usually limited to transmission and nav.

Anyway, although they've come a long way, it's tough to convince myself to buy a Nissan again after our family had such bad luck w/ them in the 80s and 90s. The upcoming G37 Sedan, though? I'll bite. :)

-Mike

 

When we talked to a neighborhood Nissan dealer about a Versa SL, we could have actually gotten one for about the same price as the Fit Sport, comparably equipped. It was $16.5k-ish for a CVT one, exclusive of TTL. We chose the Fit because it worked and is working for us better, but the Nissan dealer was definitely much more inclined to deal than any Honda dealerships around us. They still did not get our business, but it was an interesting difference between the two makes.

 

Can't argue with that, seeing as how people are still paying MSRP or more for the Fit, so your real world comparison is ultimately more valid than the on-paper numbers I threw out there. Wheeling and dealing was not something my Honda dealer was interested in doing either... they knew the car would sell, so why offer it to me for less than the next guy? Kind of a bummer, but it's still a good chunk of car for the dollars involved.

-Mike

 

Isn't the versa on a Renault Clio Platform? If so, I guess this is one way of renault getting back in the states.