Choosing a compact car isn’t as easy as it used to be. This is especially true since more and more manufacturers sell a hatchback option in addition to a standard sedan. For those looking for a powerful and economical alternative inside the Nissan lineup, it makes sense to compare the Nissan Versa vs Nissan Versa Note. After all, the two models do share a number of similarities. However, the Versa comes at a much lower start-up expense. Is the hatchback worth the extra money?
The Nissan Versa and Nissan Versa Note are the same in one main way: the 1.6-liter engine. This 4-cylinder engine delivers 109 horsepower and a torque of 107 pounds. The Nissan Versa starts with a 5-speed manual transmission but has the Xtronic CVT as an update. The Nissan Versa Note, on the other hand, comes standard with the Xtronic CVT. This disparity is just one reason why the Nissan Versa Note is more expensive.
Nissan Versa
With a price that is affordable for virtually anyone looking for a new car and an unrivaled amount of active safety features, the 2021 Nissan Versa is a capable and enticing sub-compact sedan. It also boasts spacious seating and a peaceful trip that will make your everyday journey a fun one. Although the little Nissan isn’t exactly fun to drive or zippy, it’s a really fuel efficient—especially on the highway.
The basic model costs less than $16,000 for manual transmission. But you’ll have to move up to one of the two higher trims to get common features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. They also come with some attractive options such as adaptive cruise control and heated front seats. Even, the 2021 Versa has the attractiveness and refinement to be regarded alongside classmates such as the Hyundai Accent.

Nissan Versa Note
The 2019 Nissan Versa Note is one of the most economical cars offered in America, although it is not the most desirable. Many mainly concerned with saving money and merely going from point A to point B would enjoy the easy ride experience and fuel economy. The handsome hatchback even looks a lot different than the boring Nissan Versa sedan. But that’s it. While the Nissan Versa Note is a checked offer, so are rivals with more attractive features and higher prices. Nissan’s slow-paced engine and poor handling are not helping the situation either. Even, it would please value-minded people who only want to pay as least as possible on travel.
Comparison of engine, transmission, and performance
Each Nissan Versa Note is front-wheel drive and features a 109-hp four-cylinder engine that pairs with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Unfortunately, the CVT also creates continuous noise during hard acceleration. This combined with the underpowered engine of the Nissan Versa Note is a lethargic and unrefined experience. Still, the hatchback powertrain has ample drive across the city and will go unnoticed—unless you’re in a rush.
The bad handling of the Nissan Versa Note was most noticeable when reaching the exit ramp at rising speed and feeling the body lean awkwardly. The hatchback’s attitude was calmer at a slower speed, where its compact size made it easy to drive in traffic and tight spaces. Unfortunately, now it will come only in the form of a sedan.
Every Versa is powered by a 122-hp four-cylinder engine that drives the front wheels. The 5-speed manual is the default transmission for the basic model. But the S can also have a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The latter comes standard for higher SV and SR trim levels. Though Versa sounds slow when pulling out of stoplights and during highway-passing conditions, its CVT helps avoid rough noise by mimicking real gear changes. It was also much easier to drive than the version it replaces. The Versa we were driving had a smooth ride that isolated road imperfections. It offers a precise steering feel and clear brake pedal feedback.

Difference between body styles
The greatest difference between Versa and Nissan Versa Note is their type of body. The Versa is a sedan, but the Nissan Versa Note is a hatchback. This difference in style means that the Nissan Versa Note is more spacious, providing a little more headroom and cargo room. When you compare the specifications, you will find that the Nissan Versa Note has more front headroom and more second-row legroom and headroom. It is also important to remember that since it is a sedan, the Versa has just 14.9 cubic feet of cargo within its trunk. The Nissan Versa Note hatchback configuration gives you 18.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats. Folding them down rises to 38.3 cubic feet.
We always think of the variations between these two models as simple as hatchback versus sedan, but they’re not exactly the same. The designs of the models are very distinct, even from the rear, with the Versa Note flaunting a sloping roofline and a contrasting B-pillar. Thanks to the higher roofline and rear hatchback, the 2018 Nissan Versa Note has more passenger and cargo space. Although still labeled as a compact model, it gives itself a far more spacious feel than a sedan.
What’s about the fuel economy? It might seem, at first, that the Versa Note is more effective, but that’s not the case. Rather, the CVT that comes with the norm is more powerful. The Versa Sedan is not available with the base model CVT and the 5-speed manual transmission lags behind the performance of the CVT. The Versa S Plus trim, the Versa mid-level trim, comes with the CVT, but its pricing is more closely associated with that of the Nissan Versa Note.
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