I seem to be a bit at odds with everyone else about the Versa.
I drove a 2007 Versa S hatch with convenience package last week and liked the ride and visibility.
I loved the fact that the power windows worked without having to have the key in the ignition, until the doors were opened.
The soft touch materials on the door were nice and I was very impressed by the suede door material, but I wonder how long these materials will last. I seem to have memories from somewhere in my childhood about such materials drying out and cracking.
![Roll Eyes ::)](https://www.autos.ca/forum/Smileys/CarTalk/rolleyes.gif)
I didn't like the central console - which I thought cheap and plasticy. That radio looks nasty and the slide lever governing the airflow is really cheap. The 'strap' releases on the rear seatbacks, used to collapse the seats, seem awkward to use and not very durable.
I hated the auto drivers up power window. I tried to stop it with my hand to see if it had an automatic cutoff (nothing like abusing the rental!), but I chickened out when it continued to close. That’s convenience overriding common sense IMO.
Reinforcing my opinion that the car is done ‘on the cheap’ is its poor toxic chemical report card from
http://www.healthycar.org/vehicle.searchclass.php?getclass=Small%20CarOverall, I thought that it was a well designed car, but that it is spoilt by a ‘more is better’ mentality. I would have preferred less, better executed. To my mind, the competition does better, admittedly with some obvious compromises (spartan interiors, older engines, suspensions, etc).