Cars
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. And last year? Alternatives were said to include a bicycle built for four.
What more can be said to disparage the Nissan Versa sedan in hopes that Nissan banishes it from showrooms across North America? An assault on the Versa's design starts things off. Indeed, the Versa doesn't actually suffer from bad styling - it has no style to speak of. So utterly forgettable, the Versa sedan is an insult to the rest of the car design world, to people who put effort into making something look as good as the Nissan 370Z. Yep, the 370Z is linked consanguineously to the dreadful Nissan Versa sedan.
Good news, you might think, is found in the 2011 Nissan Versa sedan's MSRP. At $9900 in the USA, the Versa is priced low but, quite startlingly, has no stereo and no mirrors on the visor. You can take a guess as to what else is missing from the Nissan Versa Sedan 1.6 Base. It has the word "Base" right there in its name. Worse than its lack of features, perhaps even worse than its exceptionally terrible design, is the Versa's wooden ride, its annoyingly ineffective powerplant, and its hateful transmission. Bad has found a home.
Alternatives: Piaggio MP3 400, Fiat 500, saving up for the Nissan Juke, waiting for the 2012 Hyundai Accent,
Base USD/CAD Price: $9990 / $12,698
Improvements Required: There's no longer truth to the suggestion that small cars can't look good. The 2011 Hyundai Elantra is curvaceously spectacular. The 2012 Ford Focus is clean and cool. The new-to-North America Fiat 500 is classy and chic. If Nissan must sell a sedan version of the Versa - as Ford feels it must with the otherwise handsome Fiesta - they could try and create something that wouldn't be an embarrassment to the brand.
Historical Significance: Apart from the fact that the Nissan Versa sedan has appeared in every version of The Bad 8, this car is insignificant at best.
- 2009 Nissan Versa Sedan 1.6 Becomes Cheapest New Car In The Usa
Priced from $9,990 (excluding a destination and handling fee of $695) the new Versa Sedan 1.6 is the cheapest vehicle on four wheels in the U.S. - or so Nissan claims. The newest addition in the Nissan Versa's range is powered by a smaller displacement...
- 2013's The Bad 8 - Nissan Versa Sedan
NISSAN VERSA SEDAN Usually, car segments are defined by size or status. Sometimes they're called subcompact, compact, midsize, or large. Other times they're labelled as A-segment, B-segment, C-segment, or D-segment. There are cars, SUVs, crossovers,...
- The Bad 8 V4.0 Part 4 - Honda Accord Crosstour
HONDA ACCORD CROSSTOUR There are very few automakers in existence which haven't produced at least one jaw-droppingly impressive design. Consider the Toyota 2000GT, Chrysler Airflow, and Honda S600 as examples of greatness by companies which have...
- The Bad 8 V2.0 - Part Vi
NISSAN VERSA SEDAN Designers find it easier to make big things look good. There are times, however, when small things step in with attempts to disprove that point. But the Nissan Versa sedan isn't one of 'em. Think iPod, Mini Cooper, and The...
- The Bad 8 - Part Vii
NISSAN VERSA SEDAN Allow the images to speak for themselves. Experience the odd sensations of the Xtronic continously variable transmission. Hear the engine drone. And, once again, allow a profile shot of the Nissan Versa sedan to convince you of...
Cars
The Bad 8 v4.0 Part 8 - Nissan Versa Sedan
NISSAN VERSA SEDAN
Good news, you might think, is found in the 2011 Nissan Versa sedan's MSRP. At $9900 in the USA, the Versa is priced low but, quite startlingly, has no stereo and no mirrors on the visor. You can take a guess as to what else is missing from the Nissan Versa Sedan 1.6 Base. It has the word "Base" right there in its name. Worse than its lack of features, perhaps even worse than its exceptionally terrible design, is the Versa's wooden ride, its annoyingly ineffective powerplant, and its hateful transmission. Bad has found a home.
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Alternatives: Piaggio MP3 400, Fiat 500, saving up for the Nissan Juke, waiting for the 2012 Hyundai Accent,
Base USD/CAD Price: $9990 / $12,698
Improvements Required: There's no longer truth to the suggestion that small cars can't look good. The 2011 Hyundai Elantra is curvaceously spectacular. The 2012 Ford Focus is clean and cool. The new-to-North America Fiat 500 is classy and chic. If Nissan must sell a sedan version of the Versa - as Ford feels it must with the otherwise handsome Fiesta - they could try and create something that wouldn't be an embarrassment to the brand.
Historical Significance: Apart from the fact that the Nissan Versa sedan has appeared in every version of The Bad 8, this car is insignificant at best.
The Bad 8
Acura ZDX - BMW 5-Series GT
BMW X6 - Honda Accord Crosstour
Lexus HS250h - Lincoln MKT - Nissan Leaf
The Good 12
Audi Q5 - Buick Enclave - Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon
Fiat 500 - Ford F-150 - Ford Mustang V6 - Infiniti G25
Jeep Wrangler - Nissan Juke - Porsche Boxster Spyder
Fiat 500 - Ford F-150 - Ford Mustang V6 - Infiniti G25
Jeep Wrangler - Nissan Juke - Porsche Boxster Spyder
Porsche Cayenne - Toyota Venza
Rules & Nominees
- 2009 Nissan Versa Sedan 1.6 Becomes Cheapest New Car In The Usa
Priced from $9,990 (excluding a destination and handling fee of $695) the new Versa Sedan 1.6 is the cheapest vehicle on four wheels in the U.S. - or so Nissan claims. The newest addition in the Nissan Versa's range is powered by a smaller displacement...
- 2013's The Bad 8 - Nissan Versa Sedan
NISSAN VERSA SEDAN Usually, car segments are defined by size or status. Sometimes they're called subcompact, compact, midsize, or large. Other times they're labelled as A-segment, B-segment, C-segment, or D-segment. There are cars, SUVs, crossovers,...
- The Bad 8 V4.0 Part 4 - Honda Accord Crosstour
HONDA ACCORD CROSSTOUR There are very few automakers in existence which haven't produced at least one jaw-droppingly impressive design. Consider the Toyota 2000GT, Chrysler Airflow, and Honda S600 as examples of greatness by companies which have...
- The Bad 8 V2.0 - Part Vi
NISSAN VERSA SEDAN Designers find it easier to make big things look good. There are times, however, when small things step in with attempts to disprove that point. But the Nissan Versa sedan isn't one of 'em. Think iPod, Mini Cooper, and The...
- The Bad 8 - Part Vii
NISSAN VERSA SEDAN Allow the images to speak for themselves. Experience the odd sensations of the Xtronic continously variable transmission. Hear the engine drone. And, once again, allow a profile shot of the Nissan Versa sedan to convince you of...