Cars
It worked fairly well the first time around, so Nissan stayed true to practice with the second-generation Versa sedan by making it as ugly as possible.
Where the first Versa sedan was devoid of styling, as though Nissan simply put the body panels where they had to go, this second car appears to reflect an effort to actually design an awful car. But unlike those spectacularly beautiful photos of repugnant oil rigs in the North Sea, Nissan didn't pull off any tricks with the 2012 Versa sedan. It's plain repugnant, and not spectacularly beautiful in any way.
Much would be forgiven if the Versa was a terrific car to drive. It is not. The 109-hp engine is no longer class competitive. The interior looks like the interior of a subcompact car at a time when other subcompact cars like the Kia Rio, Hyundai Accent, and Ford Fiesta possess interiors worthy of a pricier segment. And 38 miles per gallon on the highway? What is this, 2009?
The game has moved on. Other automakers are scoring touchdowns with their subcompacts. Nissan hasn't even made it to the red zone.
Alternatives: How 'bout a 1999 BMW 528i Touring for $5900? Or, if you must go new, consider the well-equipped Kia Rio hatchback. Or anything that isn't a Nissan Versa sedan.
Base USD/CAD Price: $10,990 / $11,798
It Sucks, But... it has headroom! As if you need the so much surplus headroom that your car looks like a blob.
Sales Stats: Year-over-year, U.S. Versa sales were up 15% in August, 68% in September, 47% in October, and 38% in November as the newer, even uglier, very inexpensive Versa sedan took over from the Bad 8-winning old Versa sedan. Monthly and yearly sales figures for the Nissan Versa sedan and hatch can be viewed here.
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- 2012's The Bad 8 - Chrysler 200 Convertible
CHRYSLER 200 CONVERTIBLE It should be hard to hate a convertible. The very idea of dropping the top and basking in sunshine, while driving, is accepted as a possible definition of the word "fun." But it's easy to hate the Chrysler 200 Convertible....
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- 2012's The Good 12 - Ford Focus Titanium Hatchback
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- The Bad 8 V4.0 Part 8 - Nissan Versa Sedan
NISSAN VERSA SEDAN Now with a longstanding tradition of badness, the Nissan Versa sedan is in its fourth year as a member of The Bad 8. "Hear the engine drone," was the text in 2008. "It's as dull as December 27th local news," 2009's Bad 8 said....
Cars
2012's The Bad 8 - Nissan Versa Sedan
NISSAN VERSA SEDAN
Much would be forgiven if the Versa was a terrific car to drive. It is not. The 109-hp engine is no longer class competitive. The interior looks like the interior of a subcompact car at a time when other subcompact cars like the Kia Rio, Hyundai Accent, and Ford Fiesta possess interiors worthy of a pricier segment. And 38 miles per gallon on the highway? What is this, 2009?
The game has moved on. Other automakers are scoring touchdowns with their subcompacts. Nissan hasn't even made it to the red zone.
-----
Alternatives: How 'bout a 1999 BMW 528i Touring for $5900? Or, if you must go new, consider the well-equipped Kia Rio hatchback. Or anything that isn't a Nissan Versa sedan.
Base USD/CAD Price: $10,990 / $11,798
It Sucks, But... it has headroom! As if you need the so much surplus headroom that your car looks like a blob.
Sales Stats: Year-over-year, U.S. Versa sales were up 15% in August, 68% in September, 47% in October, and 38% in November as the newer, even uglier, very inexpensive Versa sedan took over from the Bad 8-winning old Versa sedan. Monthly and yearly sales figures for the Nissan Versa sedan and hatch can be viewed here.
The Good 12
BMW 3-Series - Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon - Chevrolet Suburban
Ford F-150 EcoBoost 4x4 - Ford Focus Titanium Hatchback - Jeep Wrangler
Kia Rio 5-Door - Land Rover LR4 - Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
Ford F-150 EcoBoost 4x4 - Ford Focus Titanium Hatchback - Jeep Wrangler
Kia Rio 5-Door - Land Rover LR4 - Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
Nissan Juke - Porsche Boxster Spyder - Volkswagen GTI
The Bad 8
The Bad 8
Acura RL - Chrysler 200 Convertible - Ford Explorer EcoBoost
Honda Crosstour - Lincoln MKS - Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet
Nissan Versa Sedan - Toyota Corolla CE
Honda Crosstour - Lincoln MKS - Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet
Nissan Versa Sedan - Toyota Corolla CE
The Bad 8 Rules
- 2012's The Bad 8 - Lincoln Mks
LINCOLN MKS There are faces only a mother could love, and then there are faces even a mother couldn't love. The Lincoln MKS's face fits into the latter category. Oddly, Lincoln has chosen to make their big sedan's nose even more offensive...
- 2012's The Bad 8 - Chrysler 200 Convertible
CHRYSLER 200 CONVERTIBLE It should be hard to hate a convertible. The very idea of dropping the top and basking in sunshine, while driving, is accepted as a possible definition of the word "fun." But it's easy to hate the Chrysler 200 Convertible....
- 2012's The Good 12 - Porsche Boxster Spyder
PORSCHE BOXSTER SPYDER As if it wasn't enough that the Porsche Boxster was one of the best cars in the world to drive, in Spyder form, it's also one of the best at which to gander. We're nearing the end of the line for the current,...
- 2012's The Good 12 - Ford Focus Titanium Hatchback
FORD FOCUS TITANIUM HATCHBACK Replace the Blue Oval on the front grille and the new 2012 Ford Focus Titanium Hatchback looks like a premium-priced competitor for the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz B-Class. In truth, the high-end Focus equipment lines...
- The Bad 8 V4.0 Part 8 - Nissan Versa Sedan
NISSAN VERSA SEDAN Now with a longstanding tradition of badness, the Nissan Versa sedan is in its fourth year as a member of The Bad 8. "Hear the engine drone," was the text in 2008. "It's as dull as December 27th local news," 2009's Bad 8 said....