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15th
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Charging the competition
The 2014 Nissan Versa Note is the Japanese maker's latest player, and although the smallest on our market, it should make the biggest impact on the company's market share and sales.
The previous Nissan Versa, introduced in 2007, was quite popular in Canada, particularly in Quebec where small hatchbacks are all the rage. This then explains why the national launch took place in Montreal.
Nissan's hopes are high for this car as the market is ripe for a small, economical and good looking car. More importantly, it's very ready for something affordable.
Nissan has aimed squarely for all of these aspects and on drive day, Matt and Miranda put them all to the test. They didn't buy one though...
The day began with a 5-speed (down one gear from the previous Versa H/B) manual SL Note. The drive took them through downtown Montreal, then to Ile Ste-Hélène. From there, they hit the countryside on to the lunch destination.
The 1.6L engine provided sufficient get-up-and-go on country roads and on the highway. The less than enthusiastic comments relate, more than likely, to the fact that there were three adults on board to go along with a fair amount of camera gear.
After lunch, a CVT-equipped SL was selected for the drive back to the city. It proved to be quite good. Continuously Variable Transmissions have a habit of nailing engine rpms at or near redline, but this is not so with the 2014 Nissan Versa Note.
Upon "kickdown," engine speed rises sharply but holds in the vicinity of 4,250 rpm or at peak torque. This is in sharp contrast to needlessly nailing throttle at or near the engine's 6,500 rpm max speed, or completely out of the powerband.
Throughout the day, both found the ride to be sporty-ish and even European. On some rougher stretches, a more supple suspension setup would have been appreciated, however, the drive was good.
The cabin is cozy, as are the seats. The Versa Note is spacious enough to accommodate four adults with much ease and in relative comfort.
All in all, Matt and Miranda were pleasantly surprised by how well sorted the 2014 Nissan Versa Note is. They fully expect that it will do very well in Canada and especially in Quebec.
And, as a final note, expect the "Versa" to be dropped in the near future, as this world car is simply known as the Note everywhere else.
Enjoy the video -- and try not to make too many negative comments about the video's concept...
The 2014 Nissan Versa Note is the Japanese maker's latest player, and although the smallest on our market, it should make the biggest impact on the company's market share and sales.
The previous Nissan Versa, introduced in 2007, was quite popular in Canada, particularly in Quebec where small hatchbacks are all the rage. This then explains why the national launch took place in Montreal.
Nissan's hopes are high for this car as the market is ripe for a small, economical and good looking car. More importantly, it's very ready for something affordable.
Nissan has aimed squarely for all of these aspects and on drive day, Matt and Miranda put them all to the test. They didn't buy one though...
The day began with a 5-speed (down one gear from the previous Versa H/B) manual SL Note. The drive took them through downtown Montreal, then to Ile Ste-Hélène. From there, they hit the countryside on to the lunch destination.
The 1.6L engine provided sufficient get-up-and-go on country roads and on the highway. The less than enthusiastic comments relate, more than likely, to the fact that there were three adults on board to go along with a fair amount of camera gear.
After lunch, a CVT-equipped SL was selected for the drive back to the city. It proved to be quite good. Continuously Variable Transmissions have a habit of nailing engine rpms at or near redline, but this is not so with the 2014 Nissan Versa Note.
Upon "kickdown," engine speed rises sharply but holds in the vicinity of 4,250 rpm or at peak torque. This is in sharp contrast to needlessly nailing throttle at or near the engine's 6,500 rpm max speed, or completely out of the powerband.
Throughout the day, both found the ride to be sporty-ish and even European. On some rougher stretches, a more supple suspension setup would have been appreciated, however, the drive was good.
The cabin is cozy, as are the seats. The Versa Note is spacious enough to accommodate four adults with much ease and in relative comfort.
All in all, Matt and Miranda were pleasantly surprised by how well sorted the 2014 Nissan Versa Note is. They fully expect that it will do very well in Canada and especially in Quebec.
And, as a final note, expect the "Versa" to be dropped in the near future, as this world car is simply known as the Note everywhere else.
Enjoy the video -- and try not to make too many negative comments about the video's concept...
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