I read 2 web sites today, www.thecarconnection.com and www.edmunds.com, that had articles on the new Nissan Versa (as it will be called in the US), or Tiida as it's known elsewhere. This car will come to the US in spring 2006, and will compete with the Fit. What I think is interesting is that it has a 1.8 liter, 120 HP engine, with a CVT tranny or a 6 speed manual trans (according to the articles). I also saw a photo of the 2 door hatchback version of this car, and it looks like it's going fast sitting still. :-) I could see the tuners really going after the 2 door version, just because of the looks. Might be some stiff competition for the Fit, just cuz of the fact that it will have a bigger engine and more HP. I think 2006 will be a very interesting year in the US for the small car market, with the introduction of the Fit, Yaris, Versa, new Rio5, etc etc. BTW, I think the Honda & Toyota are the best cars out there. Nissan has a reputation here as a car that "ain't that great" in the quality department.

Any coments, fellow Fit Freaks? :-)

 

I don't have a warm fuzzy when it comes to Nissan "quality". I'll pass on the Versa.

 

depends... Is the Versa supposed to the the production version of the Nissan Sports Compact/Concept car?

 

Here's some photos. JDM version.

 

I see some similarities to the Ford Focus in looks. Wonder if it's similar in quality? I'll pass on the Versa...

 

Nissan is now owned by Renault so the Ford's quality is probably alot better.

 

From my experience, Nissan's build quality (recently) has been about as good as Toyota's; good but still below Honda's. Their current interior design scheme is pretty weak, too (IMO). However, they do tend to offer pretty strong motors compared to the competition. But it's about the total package. Take the Neon SRT-4 for example...didn't someone mention that it was going to be axed?

 

A little secret about the Nissan Versa/Tiida:

It shares platform with the Renault Megane.






If anybody saw Top Gear last night, they crashed a Megane into the side of another car. Megane is the first "family car" to get a 5 start rating in the European NCAP (equivalent of NHTSA in the US) 50% offset crash test at 40mph.

Nissan would be smart to import some of Renaults diesel engines in the Versa. I don't know why Nissan is positioning the Versa below the Sentra. The interior is bigger than the current Sentra and the new Civic. A family friend drove us around in a Megane in Romania last winter. Interior is about the same size as the previous generation Accord.

 

Who knows what Nissan is thinking....probably the same reason why they chose to have the new Z compete with S2000's and Z4's rather than with the Vettes (as it should be), or why they never brought over the Skyline (heck, it would still sell despite being 8yrs old). Who knows what they're thinking....perhaps that's why they're having financial troubles.

 

Actually, the Versa/Tiida being based off the Renault Mégane isn't such a bad idea. the Mégane is actually a highly underrated car in Europe that has more interior space than the upcoming Mk. V Volkswagen Golf and has actually quite good handling. It has sold well in the UK as both company and personal car, for starters.

If Renault can qualify their excellent 1.9-liter turbodiesel so it meets the 2007 California Air Resources Board diesel emission standard, it would be perfect engine for the Versa, especially with a beefed-up CVT automatic.

 

I kind of wish they just rebadged the Megane as a Nissan and brought it over unchanged. It looks much better than the versa. They put a lot of effort into the interior with lots of hidden storage space and high quality materials. Too bad.

 

Yes, the 2 door hatchback will be the production version. It won't look as good as the concept car. :-)

 

It looks like a mini version of the Murano.

However I will give Nissan much credit. IMO they have one of the most exciting model line-ups currently. 350Z, G35, M45, FX45. I can't wait until 2007 when Nissan unveils their much anticipated Infiniti GT-R.

 

Ditto. I had a 1999 Sentra that was a piece of crap. Nissan has left a bad taste in my mouth. However, I'm sure my Sentra was the the exception, not the rule to Nissan quality. My co-worker has a 1992 Sentra with more than 200,000 miles on it and it's had zero problems.

As far as styling is concerned, I don't like it. It really does look like a Renault Megane, which I believe is one of the ugliest cars in the world.

 

hahhaahahahahahahahahahaa..................

 

i think stock to stock wise the nissan looks more aggressive.

 

I am not seeing any space tricks with the rear seats. On the Fit, the base of the seat goes into the footwell which means there is more room when the seat back is folded. Possibly ditto for the upcoming Yaris. Doesn't look like the nissan does this, from the pic on the nissan website.

Speedo is still has the double mph/kph scale (pic of the silver car interior I saw somewhere else). Most new cars have either have a digital readout you can change, or have a switch so that you can change the analog display back and forth.

(I live in Canada, and like many Canadians I live near the US border and have occassion to drive there. With my bifocals, the small numbers are a pita.)

Overall, it looks a bit behind the competition, like they used an older existing design rather than a clean sheet design. I think the Fit will be next gen, and thus as new as the Yaris.

 

I think its ugly.

It looks like a squished version on the Nissan Quest.

 

Looks like I agree with a lot of you. I think the car looks terrible, especially the profile. It reminds me of the super ugly new Chevrolet Malibu.

 

Oh man Renault nailed it! Nobody including the fit can touch the design of the renault..I love it..totally progressive and like nothing else on the road! No comment on the versa