Rental car review... 2012 Nissan Versa

http://www.insideline.com/nissan/versa/2013/2013-nissan-versa-sedan-clings-to-cheapest-car-in-america-title.html

Talk about almost a complete opposite driving experience! I was on vacation in Honolulu this past week and was stuck with in a 2012 Nissan Versa. Granted it got over 30 mpg during my mostly city driving, and it did get me from point A to B, but it was probably the second worst car I've ever driven, the worst being a previous gen Versa. The interior was covered with the cheapest grade plastics this side of GM cars from the 90s and the powertrain was so anemic that I had a hard time keeping up with even the laid back Hawaiian driving style. The CVT had a rubber band-like effect, where the power was very soft at tip-in and then it was followed by a non-linear power input, although with just 100-some odd horsepower, the non-linearity was not all THAT obvious.

Despite all that, it seemed to be a very good fit for the application. Most days were spent on the beach, complete with sand everywhere and wet swimming trunks and towels. If it was my Genesis, I would've locked all doors and would not have let anyone or anything inside! For island living, a cheap, simple car is certainly good enough and there's less guilt over getting it dirty!

Oh BTW, it was still pretty awesome to return home to the quiet V8 burble and instantaneous acceleration.

Holiday travels

With what is quickly becoming an end of the year tradition for me, I made the long, 400-mile drive from sunny Southern California to the Bay Area. As usual, the drive was as effortless as it can be and the Genesis handled the high speed cruising without a sweat. The trip computer read ~25-26 mpg on the way up, which is right on with the EPA numbers, but on the trip back to LA, I got it to read 28+ mpg! I calculated 26.8 mpg on the return trip. There may have been some hypermiling mixed in there, but I was definitely going faster than 50 mph and a couple of hours with the A/C running (in early January!) when I got to the valley.

Back in the real world and commuting in typical LA traffic, I find the quiet and effortless driving as relaxing as it can be under the conditions. Sure, the ride could be better, which by the way, I realized, the suspension is very soft and it becomes harsh when the car encounters big bumps and the suspension crashes. If they had used progressive rate springs and dampeners, and/or longer suspension travel, I'd expect ride to be significantly improved. The interior looks as good as the first day and all the bits and pieces show minimal wear and tear. In the coming months, I'll go over some of the distinct features that come with the car, which will hopefully win over prospective buyers and also help current owners rediscover their Genesis.