Description
Nissan introduced the Tiida/Versa in Japan in 2004 and sent it abroad in Europe and the North American continent in 2007 and 2008, respectively.
The compact vehicle was based on the Renault-Nissan B-platform, which was used by the French automaker for the Megane. Thanks to this, it scored high grades in the EuroNCAP crash-test program. But, unfortunately, it was priced too high for the world financial crisis that struck the automotive industry in 2008. It sported the Tiida nameplate in Europe, while Americans knew it as the Versa, and it was available either as a five-door hatchback or a four-door sedan.
Sporting a design that was far from being the most inspired one imagined by the Japanese automaker. The Versa featured small, vertical headlights and a three-slat grille with chromed surroundings, depending on the trim level. While the five-door version didn't look that bad, the sedan featured a bulky rear end and a tall deck. Finally, at the back, the taillights flanked the trunk's opening and were stretched over the quarter panels.
Inside, the Tiida was very simple on the base trim level. The air-conditioning was fitted as standard from the second level. The dashboard design was not that simple and clean anymore. The center stack, particularly, was crowded with a storage compartment on the upper side, audio controls, and climate unit. The three-round, binocular-style instrument cluster offered the basic info for the driver. At the front, the high-mounted seats were comfortable, while at the back, the wide benchseat was adequate for three adult passengers.
The Tiida/Versa was a replacement for both Nissan Sunny and Pulsar. It was fitted with engines ranging between 108 hp and 112 hp. The latter was a 1.8-liter gasoline powerplant with variable valve-timing system built for fuel efficiency. A diesel engine was on available for the specific markets.
