The flexible and versatile interior space of the 2015 Nissan Versa Note make it an ideal choice for everyday life. Despite the small looking exterior, passengers are provided lots of legroom and plenty of storage areas. The Note is the 5 door hatchback version of the Versa and uses under floor storage in the cargo area for greater cargo space flexibility. With an entry level price tag and most of today’s technology, the 2015 Nissan Versa Note is a great vehicle for daily driving while also having the versatility to carry passengers, cargo or whatever else presents itself.
ENGINE AND DRIVE
The zippy drive of the 2015 Nissan Versa Note SR could use a bit more refinement, but gets its passengers and cargo to their destination with comfort and ease. The smooth, constant acceleration uses the infinite gear ratios of the continuously variable transmission paired with a 1.6L four cylinder engine outputting 109 horsepower.
Although the horsepower rating is low, the drive feels much faster even with four passengers. On the flip side, the engine is quite loud through a full acceleration.
One worrying concern was the noise the engine made when stopped and in the drive gear (ie. at a red light). The faint knocking sound would appear more often than not, bringing to mind the sound of an idling diesel engine. Although this didn’t seem to affect the drivability or cause any abnormal behaviour while idling, it could become an issue in the future.
The 2015 Nissan Versa Note SR’s published fuel consumption numbers of 7.5 L/100km in the city and 6.0 L/100km on the highway were slightly off from our test drive which came in at 7.6 L/100km of combined city and highway driving over 250 kms. Although we expected a slightly better combined consumption for a small 109 hp car, 7.6 L/100km is still great mileage considering most of the driving we did was quite spirited!
INTERIOR/EXTERIOR DESIGN AND FUNCTIONALITY
Although the 2015 Nissan Versa Note SR may look small from the outside, it does have a very spacious interior with ample room for front and rear passengers and plenty of headroom. The many stylish curves and lines of the exterior create a pleasing design and give the Versan Note a lot of character.
When sitting inside the 2015 Nissan Versa Note, the driver is perched higher than you would think and the windows all around offer a brightness to the interior and a great field of view for ideal visibility.
The interior trim of the 2015 Nissan Versa Note SR was in line with what is to be expected from an entry level vehicle. The materials used for the dash and trim were above average quality and the use of plastic was kept to a minimum. The curvaceous and shapely design of the dash provided a unique personality, and combined with the dual tone orange and black seats, added some flair to an otherwise plain looking interior.
Despite the lack of a center console, there are still plenty of covered and uncovered storage spaces around the interior and in the floor. The seat mounted armrest for the driver serves as a better solution than resting your arm on the center console, but why is there no matching armrest for the front passenger?
The 2015 Nissan Versa Note SR comes equipped with many of today’s conveniences like Bluetooth, a 5-inch color screen with backup camera and power heated side mirrors with turn signal. I would have liked to see heated front seats as this feature is offered as standard with many other comparables.
The flexible rear cargo area of the 2015 Nissan Versa Note has storage space under the floor, which can also be adjusted to a lower height to fit awkward sized cargo. We tested the versatility of the cargo area with 3 adults and 3 sets of golf clubs and the result was a comfortable ride without feeling cramped.
SUMMING IT UP
I found the 2015 Nissan Versa Note SR to be an all-round average performer with a bit of flair to the exterior design. But where the Versa Note truly shines is in its spacious, flexible and well thought out interior. With a base price of $14,298 ($18,698 as tested) for this versatile vehicle, it’s a great choice for both individuals and families alike.
