My family purchased a 2011 hatchback and it's a nice little car. Of course it's not for those of us who actually enjoy driving, but surprise surprise, there are actually people out there who just need an inexpensive, efficient, trouble-free car, and in this respect the Nissan excels
I have a hundred fifty thousand miles on my Note in average 41 miles per gallon I love it all I did was simple oil changes definitely buying another one most reliable car I have ever owned
for that money I'll take a Corolla any day, even with its 4 speed auto, it feels like you can actually control the gears somewhat and it gets close to the same highway mpg's and it is reliable for sure.
The Versa Note's CVT is fine; the car needs the following: 1) Direct Injection, 2) Turbo Option that adds 40 to 50 additional hp, 3) Discs in the back, 4) a Manual Trans. That would make the car great!
Remember Roman get a faster lap time in a accord with CVT than a mazda6 with 6speed auto? That proves CVT is just a lot easier to use for most of the drivers.
My cousin bought a 08 Versa SL brand new.....It has a factory body kit and spoiler which I think makes it look a lot better than the standard one....When the Versa was redesign to me they went cheaper on the car than it really was....Lets just say I like the 08 better than the New Versa sedan!
I love CVT’s because I love technological progress and for now, CVT is the most advanced transmission there is! Nissan Maxima has 290 horsepower and of course a CVT. I am not the one reweaving them CVT cars and if I were, the conclusion about the CVT would be much different.
The Fit is excellent at carving corners. TONS of fun. Plus you can get the top-spec model with a very nice shifting manual transmission. I average 37mpg in my '13 Fit. That being said, it looks like this new Versa Note gives you quite a bit of standard equipment for the money.
The Versa Note loaded is a touch over $19k. For the same price with a Sentra you get the mid-level spec SV trim. You can't touch an Altima for $20k. It starts at over $22k.
definitely gonna be one of the under rated cars out there, got one myself a little over a week ago and have to totally disagree with roman, this car handles turns way better than what he describes and who know since the one he was driving was a pre release version they may have revised a few things last minute and like someone else said this car is sold as the note around the world, not the tiida...anyone that wants to see what a body kit can do to the Note just look up the IMPUL Note
The previous Versa hatchback & sedan were sold as the Tiida in other markets, and there is a new Tiida that is a more conventional hatch and is considerably more sporty than this. This car is NOT called Tiida. This car is sold as simply "Note" outside of the U.S.; it was introduced to this market under the Versa name.
Mechanically speaking, CVTs are far superior. Most people don't understand them and their applications to economy cars don't help. Most CVTs keep the car within the most efficient RPM of the engines, but everyone forgets they also can be tuned to keep the car at peak horsepower. That's what they were banned from Formula 1
Do these come with a manual? How much of a pain are they to maintain? I am thinking about getting a new but used car but my only intent is using for getting to and from work. I may not even put more than 3000 miles on it all year long. I am wondering if it will be worth investing in.
Not all CVTs are created equal. Some people got used to the 'drama' of loud engine sound increasing revs with a traditional transmission more than the actual acceleration. Forget that the torque curve is not flat enough an is 0 at 0 RPM to make 4, 5 and even 6 speeds would yield less than peak torque most of the time, whereas CVT can keep you at peak torque for fastest acceleration. That said, naive CVT implementations exhibit rubber-band effect, where down shifts happen as you press the pedal.
Jaime has a point, he was a bit of an ass about it but he still has a point. The Tiida is nothing more than the U.S market 4 door Versa but with a hatchback. If you ask me the guy who you interviewed was more of a Marketing person contracted by Nissan than anything else. It is not uncommon for the marketing guy to not know what he is saying the problem is with youtube being Global these types of mistakes are easily caught by your foreign audience.
this nissan versa or tilda is certainly the renault clio in europe because nissan and renault are allied since 2000 ( with some pieces changed for the look in the front and inside )
A CVT is not a detriment when implemented well. (EG in the 2014 Forester 2.5i/XT as well as the 2013 4-cylinder Honda Accord). It becomes an issue, like any automatic, when it's mated to an underpowered engine for a given car. They keep you in the power band while managing RPM and "gear" selection more efficiently than a traditional automatic. When simulated shift points are not included, they can take some time to get used to, but they have the potential to be smooth while returning great FE #s
Yep, I have hear of the GT hatchback, although it's a miniscule proportion of Elantra sales. Take a look at Edmunds and compare the Elantra HB, Fit, Yaris, and Sonic HB, and you would see that the Elantra clearly less like the Fit and Yaris than the Sonic specification wise.
It's definitely a nice looking car. I'm on the fence about CVT transmissions. I've never actually driven one, so I really don't know what to think about 'em. I've heard so much good and bad things about them.
Poor people? This car isn't targeted for "poor people". It's targeted towards people looking for their first car or those who want a spacious, efficient, and cheaper option.
Lol, looks like I'm the one who struck a nerve. Anyone who has the Lamborghini logo as an avatar is never actually going to get near one. Anyone who can afford one would not be so classless as to advertise it. Which one are you?
People wan tot act stupid and compare this to cars out of its class. Compare this to cars in its class such as the Honda Fit, and Toyota Yaris. Id take this car over all in its class. MPG and Looks are perfect for an everyday commuter.
So basically it`s a Honda Fit but without the fun to drive or nicer styling. It looks like it has an extremely cheaply made interior. But as a commuter I guess it`s better than a Toyota Yaris.
I was kind of encouraged when I first saw photos of the Note, the new exterior design seemed more stylish than the last-gen hatch, if a bit derivative. I see a lot of Ford Fiesta in the profile, even a little of the last-gen Hyundai Elantra GT. Not great, but not bad either. One look at the ultra-cheap hard plastic interior turned me off instantly though, despite the all the available high-tech goodies. As for the gutless CVT drivetrain, I'm not even gonna go there. Sorry Nissan, but no sale.
you also forget the TSX weighs over 1000lbs. more than the Note....curb weight 2013 acura TSX base: 3479lb. , curb weight Nissan Note with SL tech package: 2460lb.....so yeah that 90hp more gets eaten up really quickly by that extra weight on the TSX...and real world driving just so you know i have a Note and not even broken in yet and i get 48mpg on the highway, well over the EPA estimated 40mpg
It's OK that you get more mpg than my car ,but...I don't trust those digital mpg estimators on the dash cluster. To the gentleman that claimed 48 mpg , The best I've gotten is low 46mpg and that was driving like grandma. Fill the tank and divide next fuel fill amount into miles driven and that will tell the true sh*t. And I purchased the Grey color Note because I park under trees often and the gray hides the tree sap until the next wash. Steering is great. Nobody mentioned the powerband button
Yes, this is a nice car with 40 MPG (it should be 70 MPG) and the base cost needs to be $11,000 and the fully loaded price of $15,000.00 (that would sell this car) above the REST! VW and many others are MUCH less than this car loaded! The METRO LSI gets above 40 MPG and is 20 years old!
With that being said it is not uncommon for Latin America to be numerous model generations behind the U.S. and Europe. Heck here in Venezuela we are still working off of the facelifted Mk IV Ford Fiesta while the rest of the world is on the Mk VI platform I believe. Sort of like what happened in the U.S. with the original Focus. While the model evolved in Europe the U.S. got stuck with face lifted variants of the original until the latest one Ford model.
umm dual clutches are more advanced. And why do you think nobody buys Maximas? the CVT might be part of it. No one wants an engine whining in an expensive car.
Hello? The note compares to the Elantra...no. The Elantra is bigger, has a much bigger engine and has no hatchback. Come on now...get it together. The Note's competitors are the Fit, the Yaris HB, and the Chevy Sonic HB.
This report seems to confirm that Nissan has done a good job on a cost conscious basic transportation unit. When it gets loaded up to the 20k mark then the car is non-competitive and totally out of the market for which it is intended. Had to laugh when the Nissan guy spoke of the styling generating passion in the buyer. The only passion I can imagine this car generating is impatience and anger with the CVT, that and some choice X rated language.
VW is cheaper? Where the hell do you live? This car is actually pretty economical for what you get with it, including blue tooth and so on. I looked around...ALOT.
lol it`s all subjective. To me the this Note is actually trying to copy the Fit and doing a fairly poor job of it. I would rather have a Fiesta than either of the aforementioned cars especially if I lived in Colorado and with the introduction of the 1.0 Ecoboost next year I believe. But in comparison between the fit and the Note I like the Fit more.
My family purchased a 2011 hatchback and it's a nice little car. Of course it's not for those of us who actually enjoy driving, but surprise surprise, there are actually people out there who just need an inexpensive, efficient, trouble-free car, and in this respect the Nissan excels
I have a hundred fifty thousand miles on my Note in average 41 miles per gallon I love it all I did was simple oil changes definitely buying another one most reliable car I have ever owned
Great, realistic review. Not everyone is an enthusiast.
for that money I'll take a Corolla any day, even with its 4 speed auto, it feels like you can actually control the gears somewhat and it gets close to the same highway mpg's and it is reliable for sure.
I love these videos, Roman is such a dork!
The Versa Note's CVT is fine; the car needs the following: 1) Direct Injection, 2) Turbo Option that adds 40 to 50 additional hp, 3) Discs in the back, 4) a Manual Trans. That would make the car great!
Leonardo da Vinci was the first one to invent CVT. It’s one of the biggest inventions in car history
Remember Roman get a faster lap time in a accord with CVT than a mazda6 with 6speed auto? That proves CVT is just a lot easier to use for most of the drivers.
My cousin bought a 08 Versa SL brand new.....It has a factory body kit and spoiler which I think makes it look a lot better than the standard one....When the Versa was redesign to me they went cheaper on the car than it really was....Lets just say I like the 08 better than the New Versa sedan!
Welcome to my hometown TFL
I love CVT’s because I love technological progress and for now, CVT is the most advanced transmission there is! Nissan Maxima has 290 horsepower and of course a CVT. I am not the one reweaving them CVT cars and if I were, the conclusion about the CVT would be much different.
The Fit is excellent at carving corners. TONS of fun. Plus you can get the top-spec model with a very nice shifting manual transmission. I average 37mpg in my '13 Fit. That being said, it looks like this new Versa Note gives you quite a bit of standard equipment for the money.
Note seems to be a great daily car.
Great review Roman.
When are you guys going to drive the ecodiesel RAM??? I been waiting for that vehicle since the plans were originally planned then scrapped.
The Versa Note loaded is a touch over $19k. For the same price with a Sentra you get the mid-level spec SV trim. You can't touch an Altima for $20k. It starts at over $22k.
definitely gonna be one of the under rated cars out there, got one myself a little over a week ago and have to totally disagree with roman, this car handles turns way better than what he describes and who know since the one he was driving was a pre release version they may have revised a few things last minute and like someone else said this car is sold as the note around the world, not the tiida...anyone that wants to see what a body kit can do to the Note just look up the IMPUL Note
The previous Versa hatchback & sedan were sold as the Tiida in other markets, and there is a new Tiida that is a more conventional hatch and is considerably more sporty than this. This car is NOT called Tiida.
This car is sold as simply "Note" outside of the U.S.; it was introduced to this market under the Versa name.
Mechanically speaking, CVTs are far superior. Most people don't understand them and their applications to economy cars don't help. Most CVTs keep the car within the most efficient RPM of the engines, but everyone forgets they also can be tuned to keep the car at peak horsepower. That's what they were banned from Formula 1
Do these come with a manual? How much of a pain are they to maintain? I am thinking about getting a new but used car but my only intent is using for getting to and from work. I may not even put more than 3000 miles on it all year long. I am wondering if it will be worth investing in.
I'm more curious about the manual & how it performs , CVT's are "OK"they will do the job fine but not much feel.
Not all CVTs are created equal.
Some people got used to the 'drama' of loud engine sound increasing revs with a traditional transmission more than the actual acceleration. Forget that the torque curve is not flat enough an is 0 at 0 RPM to make 4, 5 and even 6 speeds would yield less than peak torque most of the time, whereas CVT can keep you at peak torque for fastest acceleration.
That said, naive CVT implementations exhibit rubber-band effect, where down shifts happen as you press the pedal.
San Diego!? Yeah Baby - where was my invite?
Roman - don't you mean Hyundai Accent (add Kia Rio) as well for comparison instead of the Elantra?
So, you're sayin it doesn't handle like the GT-R....
The real question is would you get this over either a sentra or even an altima for 20k?
Jaime has a point, he was a bit of an ass about it but he still has a point. The Tiida is nothing more than the U.S market 4 door Versa but with a hatchback. If you ask me the guy who you interviewed was more of a Marketing person contracted by Nissan than anything else. It is not uncommon for the marketing guy to not know what he is saying the problem is with youtube being Global these types of mistakes are easily caught by your foreign audience.
I got one of these as a loaner. I am pretty sure this is what you drive in hell.
this nissan versa or tilda is certainly the renault clio in europe because nissan and renault are allied since 2000 ( with some pieces changed for the look in the front and inside )
A CVT is not a detriment when implemented well. (EG in the 2014 Forester 2.5i/XT as well as the 2013 4-cylinder Honda Accord). It becomes an issue, like any automatic, when it's mated to an underpowered engine for a given car. They keep you in the power band while managing RPM and "gear" selection more efficiently than a traditional automatic. When simulated shift points are not included, they can take some time to get used to, but they have the potential to be smooth while returning great FE #s
The Nissan sales representative was good I have to admit!
Being bigger on the inside than on the outside isn't a Japanese trait. That comes straight out of the British TV amazingness of Doctor Who.
Yep, I have hear of the GT hatchback, although it's a miniscule proportion of Elantra sales. Take a look at Edmunds and compare the Elantra HB, Fit, Yaris, and Sonic HB, and you would see that the Elantra clearly less like the Fit and Yaris than the Sonic specification wise.
Have u tested the honda fit?or are u waiting for the 2014 model year?
Its thoughtful, its efficient, ...its OK. That is about all you can say about this car. There is a market for OK commuter cars.
Dude, show me where you can get a VW Jetta for $20K that has all the features of the Versa. No way, not even close.
crash Specifically what features? I just left the lot with my Jetta Sport for ~20k.. I can list features my Jetta has that my friends Versa doesnt..
This is kind of off topic but may I ask what is the name of the lake you drove past in the video?
It's definitely a nice looking car. I'm on the fence about CVT transmissions. I've never actually driven one, so I really don't know what to think about 'em. I've heard so much good and bad things about them.
Versa note, is Nissan now working with Samsung?
Times are definitely changing and in 10 years from now, most cars will be 100 mpg hybrids with CVT
Poor people? This car isn't targeted for "poor people". It's targeted towards people looking for their first car or those who want a spacious, efficient, and cheaper option.
Lol, looks like I'm the one who struck a nerve. Anyone who has the Lamborghini logo as an avatar is never actually going to get near one. Anyone who can afford one would not be so classless as to advertise it. Which one are you?
2:01 OMIGOSH. lol that guy made me laugh.
He had nothing to say in terms of improvement. because there really arn't anyXD
my comment on the nissan brand warrants a personal attack? lol guess i struck a nerve my low income friend
People wan tot act stupid and compare this to cars out of its class. Compare this to cars in its class such as the Honda Fit, and Toyota Yaris. Id take this car over all in its class. MPG and Looks are perfect for an everyday commuter.
Ever heard of the Elantra GT? It's a hatchback....
This is almost like the Honda FIT. Same shape. Flat rear and short pointy front.
I sure like the 40mpg
So basically it`s a Honda Fit but without the fun to drive or nicer styling. It looks like it has an extremely cheaply made interior. But as a commuter I guess it`s better than a Toyota Yaris.
I was kind of encouraged when I first saw photos of the Note, the new exterior design seemed more stylish than the last-gen hatch, if a bit derivative. I see a lot of Ford Fiesta in the profile, even a little of the last-gen Hyundai Elantra GT. Not great, but not bad either. One look at the ultra-cheap hard plastic interior turned me off instantly though, despite the all the available high-tech goodies. As for the gutless CVT drivetrain, I'm not even gonna go there. Sorry Nissan, but no sale.
omg look at that F-type at 3:53
you also forget the TSX weighs over 1000lbs. more than the Note....curb weight 2013 acura TSX base: 3479lb. , curb weight Nissan Note with SL tech package: 2460lb.....so yeah that 90hp more gets eaten up really quickly by that extra weight on the TSX...and real world driving just so you know i have a Note and not even broken in yet and i get 48mpg on the highway, well over the EPA estimated 40mpg
Knowing that the CVT isn't the most reliable transmission, I'd skip this car for other cars.
That's a personal attack??????? I don't read it that way at all.
It's OK that you get more mpg than my car ,but...I don't trust those digital mpg estimators on the dash cluster. To the gentleman that claimed 48 mpg , The best I've gotten is low 46mpg and that was driving like grandma.
Fill the tank and divide next fuel fill amount into miles driven and that will tell the true sh*t. And I purchased the Grey color Note because I park under trees often and the gray hides the tree sap until the next wash. Steering is great. Nobody mentioned the powerband button
I'm sure that the car is fine for daily day to day use, but I would much rather be driving a Chevy Sonic or Honda Civic for the same money.
Yes, this is a nice car with 40 MPG (it should be 70 MPG) and the base cost needs to be $11,000 and the fully loaded price of $15,000.00 (that would sell this car) above the REST! VW and many others are MUCH less than this car loaded! The METRO LSI gets above 40 MPG and is 20 years old!
You should try to build a car with the numbers you propose to see what nonsense you are babbling!
I would think the fuel economy would be better. I got 30/40 with my 2007 civic.
With that being said it is not uncommon for Latin America to be numerous model generations behind the U.S. and Europe. Heck here in Venezuela we are still working off of the facelifted Mk IV Ford Fiesta while the rest of the world is on the Mk VI platform I believe. Sort of like what happened in the U.S. with the original Focus. While the model evolved in Europe the U.S. got stuck with face lifted variants of the original until the latest one Ford model.
It actually competes with the hyundai Accent not elantra.
umm dual clutches are more advanced. And why do you think nobody buys Maximas? the CVT might be part of it. No one wants an engine whining in an expensive car.
What is that cabriolet in the background at 4:10 ?
I'd take the slight hit and go with the 5 speed, but then I'm biased :P
Where is Nathan?
I hate it when people make idiot comparisons. "this car has more rear leg seat room than a bmw m5. You don't really buy an m5 for rear leg seat room.
COOL!
Hello? The note compares to the Elantra...no. The Elantra is bigger, has a much bigger engine and has no hatchback. Come on now...get it together. The Note's competitors are the Fit, the Yaris HB, and the Chevy Sonic HB.
there are many cars that dont use cvt's and get better gas mileage then nissans with one
This report seems to confirm that Nissan has done a good job on a cost conscious basic transportation unit. When it gets loaded up to the 20k mark then the car is non-competitive and totally out of the market for which it is intended. Had to laugh when the Nissan guy spoke of the styling generating passion in the buyer. The only passion I can imagine this car generating is impatience and anger with the CVT, that and some choice X rated language.
I can get 50mpg on a golf tdi with a 6 Spd, heck I can get 36mpg on the highway in an Acura tsx with 90 more hp
I also felt sorry for myself when my gas bill was $350 a month more that what it is now.
My 2010 Fusion gets 34MPG with NO CVT!
what I can't stand is the flat engine rev from a cvt
I'll have to check it out. I've had. 2010 versa. Great. Now a.,2010. Altama. Really. For. New. Oneness (
It doesnt conpete with the Elantra, it competes with the Accent from Hyundai
interesting car.
perhaps Nissan should change the name to the tardis? (bigger on the inside)
NISSAN please change those AC/HEATER knobs to a rotary modern switch like HONDA and TOYOTA please.
VW is cheaper? Where the hell do you live? This car is actually pretty economical for what you get with it, including blue tooth and so on. I looked around...ALOT.
jaguar F-type in the backround at 3:54
At the top fully loaded package it should be ALL soft plastic touches!
fully loaded does not have anything to do with a memory foam mattress.
It kind of looks like my Mom's '12 Yaris.
Of all the salesmen...
4:10 jaguar f-type :)
i'm gonna lease one for $99 a month.
Unless you're in the market for used cars, buying a truck or sports car isn't very smart and it"s expensive.
lol it`s all subjective. To me the this Note is actually trying to copy the Fit and doing a fairly poor job of it. I would rather have a Fiesta than either of the aforementioned cars especially if I lived in Colorado and with the introduction of the 1.0 Ecoboost next year I believe. But in comparison between the fit and the Note I like the Fit more.
only 109hp they got to step up there competitor has 140hp in the civic
ummm because nissan makes cheap economy cars....thats why
the first generation versa was much better looking...
"50 mpg with a gold TDI."
No shit Sherlock, its diesel.
Its good looking? 2:34 i say nop.. not even close dude
Looks like a Jaguar F-Type
So that poor people like you can actually afford to have reliable transportation.
IF SOMEONE SAYS THIRD AFTER THIS COMMENT I HURT YOU!
Hahaha, I agree.
Judging by your disastrous command of the English language I doubt you would know what's safe and what's not.
i would say lease it and dont go on highway it will ruin the engine
Sedan looks better.
How can anyone say the Honda Fit has a nicer styling? That car looks like a turd on wheels.
Nissan has destroyed the hood design. The line should have followed up to the grille.
$14k is too much for this car.
This is a really nice car, but I can't deal with Nissan, none of their cars are really built for tall/larger people.