While I'm OK with the mileage I'm getting from my Versa, I DO wonder where mileage performance has gone. My '81 Sentra got about 44mpg drving around town here and would get over 50 on the highway. My'96 got 36-38 around town and 42-44 on road trips. I'm talking vehicles that are sort of in the same niche. What did I gain over time giving up that mileage?
We also used to have an old sentra ('82) with a 1.6 liter and MT. It could also get close to 50 mpg on the highway. Of course the speed limit was 55 back then, so that probably helped.
It does seem to me that most car makers are pushing relatively small gains in performance at the cost of more substantial gains at the pump. I would gladly trade 10% of my hp for 10% better mpg. Both my cars are quicker than they need to be, but gas keeps going up.
Again, I don't think the Versa is bad, just that there seems to be potential for it to be so good. Potential that is not being realized.
yeah... I did... I didn't want to spend lots of $ modding a car with a crappy headliner... so I spent lots of $ getting a new car with a correct headliner...
I just don't understand the Versa fuel comsumption. This is a small engine in a light car. When you put those two together how does that equal poor gas mileage? My sister just purchased a Dodge Magnum with a Hemi. Her city mpg is 17, mine in a versa is 23. Something is inherently wrong with the Versa setup. Even if my mpg goes up to 29 after 5000 miles, that's still extremely poor for a car of this type.
I just don't understand the Versa fuel comsumption. This is a small engine in a light car. When you put those two together how does that equal poor gas mileage? My sister just purchased a Dodge Magnum with a Hemi. Her city mpg is 17, mine in a versa is 23. Something is inherently wrong with the Versa setup. Even if my mpg goes up to 29 after 5000 miles, that's still extremely poor for a car of this type.
It is paradoxical. The Versa (Tiida) was originally designed for an 1.5 L engine, and in the world ex-Americas, that is the standard engine still. And the 1.5 does get a good mileage, if a little slow due to the bulk of the Versa (Tiida).
I know that Nissan decided to throw in the 1.8 L because they were afraid of being accused of selling a slow car. What they really should have done is to bring the younger brother of the Versa, the NOTE, with the 1.5 L engine, to the North American market. The NOTE gets at least 10% better mileage, is pretty quick with 1.5 because it is much lighter than the Versa, and, while not as spacious as the Versa, it is still plenty roomy, and in fact, much more versatile in the seat arrangements (because it is a Fit-wannabe).
After reading this thread I was a bit concerned about what to expect for gas mileage. Just filled the tank for the first time. 357 miles, 10.5 gallons, 80% highway. That's 34 mpg. It's an SL with CVT. Absolutely love the car and no complaints about the fuel consumption.
Ok my 3rd filled and again over 30, this time 32.2 mpg, again 70/30 highway/city...
Just curious about your "city" - is that a true downtown/neighborhood traffic where you have to stop, e.g., every few blocks and your mean speed never gets much higher than, say, 20 mph? Or is it really suburban?
I am just curious, that's all. When people say "city," they mean a lot of different things. When I say city, it is pure stop and go, since we live in a major metropolitan area with millions of people with lousy traffic conditions.
I currently live in downtown PHX, so yes, its stop and go traffic, with traffic lights and all. On the freeway I'm doing 70 w/the windows down (most of the time)
MY driving is not city, per se, but more suburban. The usual traffic lights every mile or less. So far I have gone 175 miles and the fuel guage is reading between 1/2 and 1/4. This can't be normal.
Yep, it would be interesting to have everyone post a detailed description of the roads they are driving on daily so we could more accurately compare numbers and what we each mean by "around town" or "mostly highway".
MY driving is not city, per se, but more suburban.
Yikes, for you I was kinda hoping that your driving conditions were pure downtown (type) trafic, in which case a low MPG would be more or less normal. I don't know what to tell you....
Flightnurse, thanks. I live in Minneapolis-St. Paul, and in the morning our freeways are parking lots. We live in-town, not in a suburb, so there is a stop sign or traffic light every few blocks when driving "city."
I just took delivery of my Versa SL with CVT this past Friday. Today I topped off the tank and did a 310 mile round trip to Miami Beach on I 95 doing 75-80 the entire time except for a 1 hour traffic jam in West Palm Beach where I went about 3 miles. When I returned home I topped off the tank again with 9.5 gallons. That's 32.6 mpg. I think thats remarkable for the speed I was going (AC on all the way) and the fact that it's just beginning it's breaking-in period. What do you think ? I'm very impressed with this car so far - coming from a Toyota Camry.
Today I filled up my Versa after 12 days. Went 213 miles on 10.35 gal. thats under 20.6 mpg. Aparentely no one has any concrete answers as to why my mileage is so poor.
If that is your fist tank, expect it to improve somewhat after break-in, but keep your expectations low. You can throw a party if you manage to ever exceed 30 mpg in that car. Looks at other people's posts over the last year.
Only two possible explanations for a number like that as I see it. Either there's something terribly wrong with the car, or a combination of driving conditions and driving style are leading to horrible numbers.
What's your typical driving day like?
Something has to explain a number that low, because I would REALLY have to work at it to kill the mileage that much based on the experience I've had with my Versa.
..same here. I just took an 8 hour trip with the AC on and averaging 75-80mph and still got 29.9 mpg. My next fillup I took it a little easier, no AC and averaged 33 mpg. I'd wait a few tankfuls and then check again.
I'm just trying to think of things mechanically that could be the cause. But everything I think of would lead to something obvious. For example, my daughter was helping juggle cars in the driveway the other day and had an alarm come on when she tried to drive with the emergency brake not fully released. Let's say that alarm failed... you'd still wind up with that hot brake smell in a short time if the brakes were dragging. You couldn't miss that. Same for extremely low tires (would affect handling and tire wear). Anything I can think of would exhibit other symptoms.
So I'm back to wondering about driving style forced by driving conditions. Say I was using my Versa to deliver a coupleof hundred newspapers house to house each day. An extreme example, but the kind of thing that would probably get my mileage a lot lower. Or if I lived in NYC and was using it to get around, I can't imagine I'd get anywhere near the sticker numbers.
The answer almost HAS to be drving conditions. :confuse:
I tend to agree that there must be something going on for a Versa to get a mileage like 20 or lower. While that kind of mileage is not inconceivable in some situations, most anyone would be able to identify such clear variables if he or she were in those situations.
I'm just curious whether lanny can find a near-ideal condition to drive in, which would be a flat terrain, a speed of, say, 55 mph constantly, which can continue for an hour. Everyone could agree that such a driviing condition should produce a good MPG. If lanny's car did not, we would have a very likely answer (mechanical).
The best way to diagnose mpg problems is with a scangauge. I know they are not cheap ($170), but if mpg is a big problem it will provide a lot of answers in a short time.
I am in the market for a small car. I currently drive a Jeep but with driving sometimes 250-300 miles a day the 50 bucks to fill it is eating away at the wallet. I have been looking at used toyotas,hondas and I looked at a focus (cant bring myself to buy one) I stumbled across the Versa and it intrigued me to investigte further. I do a majority or highway miles 70-80 % but where I live in NC has mountains. Anyone have info on how it goes up and down them and the gas mileage drop? The price on used rigs are about the same as a new Nissan. I do about 30k+ miles a year and I plan on driving whatever I buy until it falls apart. Thanks in advance for the info.
I enjoy driving my versa, but if you are looking for good gas mileage too, don't even consider this car. Some people say they get over 30 mpg. I have 980 miles on mine and my last tank I got abit over 20 mpg. The tank before that I got 23 and change. The car drives very good, but I would have never got this car if I knew the gas mileage would be this bad. Everyone says wait until it breaks in to see the gas mileage improve, but it will never improve in my estimation, to the point of being acceptable to me (30+mpg)
How are you going to use the car? If it's just you, then get a manual transmission Civic or Corolla and you should be able to get 40mpg on the highways. Cars like the Versa, Fit, Matrix are all more spacious inside, but if you're main concern is MPG, then get a Civic or Corolla if they meet your space needs.
Because the Versa is a hatchback, it let's you load bulkier objects than will fit in a Corolla or Civic, but the car doesn't seem bigger overall otherwise. There doesn't seem to be any justification for the low mpg. It's not like it is particularly powerful and sporty either.
I have been reading all the post from different people on here about the mpg. Well I can tell you that it really depends on how and where you drive. I have had my Versa SL CVT for 8 months now. It has 23K on it. I drive mainly highway driving. But this is through a major City to get to where I am going. I drive from Homestead Florida to Ft. Lauderdale. 62 miles distance each way. It takes me about 1.5 hours to get there and 45 minutes of it is in bumper to bumper driving. That is 1/2 the time I am driving.
Now I drive normal in my view I don't jack rabbit start. I always drive with windows closed (Car gets allot better MPG with them closed). Highway when it's clear I go at 65MPH.
I have been getting over 32 mpg mostly combined. When My wife drives the car she only is able to get about 27 mpg. She has what I call a in and out foot. When your in the car you feel her go fast then slow, fast then slow. I call it hunting. It's very bad for gas usage.
On a 675 total miles trip to Orlando I got 36.8 mpg going mostly at 70. So in my view it's the best over all car for gas usage I have owned. And I have had Accords, Corolla and even an VW Bug. None of them gives me the room and road feel like the Versa. It's also gets better mpg then all the others. I have no idea how you can get over 23mpg on an Accord in the city. Highway I got 27 sometimes.
I feel you need to look at the way you drive and if the tires are at least 33 psi yes that is 33psi. I have seem many people put them at 28 to 30. This will waste gas in this car.
Yes I find it hard to believe that 30mpg is hard to get with the Versa but I can see driving style being the big big problem there. I could live with a corolla or civic but for a used one that is not over 100k in miles you are looking at 10 thousand and up. The Versa brand hammer new is 12-13k. I can get a used sentra (06) for less than 10.
It depends on how much you drive. It may not be a big deal. You may save more on the purchase price than you spend on it's extra gas usage vs a Civic or Corolla if you don't drive much. 25 mpg is pretty good mileage for most cars, but is bad for a car of this size and class.
You can get a brand new Corolla for about $14,500 or less. That is with A/C cruise, power windows, keyless etc. Look at www.fitzmall.com No need to spend too much on a used one.
Just bought car over a week ago and have a bit over 600 miles on it. 1st tank it got 28 MPG, but that was the tank that had been sitting in the car at the dealer.
VERY happy so far especially since it only cost me $28 to fill it up tonight!!
Thought I would miss the minivan, having 2 small children, but $28 sure beats the $50 (to the tune of 20 mpg)it would have cost me to fill the van!
Plus, now I have a good reason not to be able to car pool!!
But you'll never find a Corolla CE with all of the standard safety features you'll find on the Versa. And they won't put them on CEs as options because the price will be too high, so you'll end up having to spend about $18K to find one with all the safety features, unless you're able to special order.
My oldest kid graduates high school this weekend, and I had to make a run to pick up my mother and bring her up for the event. So I got to fill up in the morning, make the 123 mile run each way and fill up again. Most of the highway was at 75 mph+ with the AC on.
246 miles, 6.99 gallons, 35.1 mpg
Was the first time I really got to test a strictly highway run, so I'm pleased
6-speed. 50 miles of the roads are through the mountains of central PA with some fairly steep grades. The rest was a bit of up and down but relatively flat.
I'm guessing that if I had been able (or wanted to :P ) back down into the 55-60 mph range, of if I had been able to run with no AC, I would see a bit more mileage.
After reading this thread I was a bit concerned about what to expect for gas mileage. Just filled the tank for the first time. 357 miles, 10.5 gallons, 80% highway. That's 34 mpg. It's an SL with CVT. Absolutely love the car and no complaints about the fuel consumption.
OK, 2nd fill up. 80% city, 20% highway. 27mpg. Lookin good.
With 5295 miles on our SL with CVT transmission, overall mileage is a fine 32.6. Figure about 50% highway 50% city driving. Needless to say we're extremely happy with the car!
My 6-speed versa now has just over 1000 miles on it, and i am consistently getting 30-32mpg. This is combined city and highway. I try to always start and shift smoothly, not rev the engine, and on the highway i could probably get better gas mileage if i went 60-65 mph. Instead i go about 70-75 with traffic. I am very happy so far with my gas mileage, and hope to improve it over time and with improved driving skills!
With 13K miles on my versa, I have to say the mileage is getting better, I was getting between (26-28) with my SL CVT versa, currently I'm getting Low to Mid 30's, I just return from Flagstaff AZ, drove up and back and I have 398 miles and the yellow light just came on about 4 blocks from the house, so I have about 50 miles left on this tank. I'll be I'm sure this puts it at about 34-36 miles per gallon.. This was going 75 going up (started at below sealevel and climbed up to 7300Ft, and back down at 75mph...
Yep, it was the first time I got to figure mileage where all the miles were long distance highway miles. Back to my normal everyday driving on the next fillup and was back to 33.3mpg :shades:
We have 15,000 odd miles on our 6-speed S model now. I spent some time talking to my wife (the primary driver) regarding driving habits and how they effect mileage. Between that and break-in we hit 31.1 on the last tank. Predominanly suburban driving and we have yet to talk a major interstate trip. Very pleased with the car as a whole and mileage is more than satisfactory.
OK last tank 415 miles and it took 12.3 gallons to fill up, that is 34 MPG, this is strickly freeway at 70 with the AC on, soI'm very happy with my versa..
Now this talk about Honda and Toyota vs Nissan. Both the Honda and Toyota dealers here in town have one way to sell cars, with pressure. I have no idea why, since the car should sell itself..
There was no pressure when I bought my Honda Fit. Maybe just your local dealers...and congrats on your good mpg for your Versa, although I get about 38-39mpg on strict highway 70mph with AC driving on my Fit
OK, time for my second report. First report stated I got 32.6 mpg on a round trip to Miami on I 95 doing 75-80 mph. My second tank was totally around town - stop and go traffic. This time I got 28.2 mpg with the AC on full blast at all times. The AC is not nearly as strong as my Toyota Camry, but I think it's going to be OK. I love this car. :shades:
When I was car shopping, I found it frustratingly difficult to find accurate real-life mpg figures for big city urban and hilly terrain locations. Historically, my cars get 10% or so less mpg than the EPA city rating due to traffic congestion and the need to climb steep hills on nearly every trip.
Over the six months with by CVT SL, I have averaged 28 mpg for my commute. The lowest I ever measured was 26.5, which included a lot of city driving and slow moving high density traffic. I haven't had a chance to try the car on a long trip. The mpg has improved an average of 1 mpg since it was new, but I don't know how much of that change is due to break-in versus "getting the hang" of driving with the CVT.
For calibration purposes, I should point out that I live in an area with high traffic density, closely spaced traffic lights and 4-way stop signs, steep hills, and relatively high highway speeds. Using the same driving patterns, I have gotten 22 mpg with a 2004 VW Golf auto, 20 mpg with a BMW 3-series auto (premium fuel), and 15 mpg with an old Audi 100 auto (premium fuel), which we thankfully sold before gas prices went through the roof. I used to get 24 mpg with an 88 Saab 9000 Turbo (160 HP) with 5-speed and premium fuel. Neighbors with hybrids report mpgs in the 30's.
Years ago, I had an 88 Civic with a manual 5-speed transmission and no AC; the car weighed something like 2000 lbs. Living in the same neighborhood, the best I could get was 29 mpg.
I test drove the automatic transmission versions of the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris and found them too underpowered to be viable. They are fine on flat earth, but their small engines are nearly red-lined just to slowly accelerate up a steep freeway on-ramp. I don't think that I have ever seen my Versa's rpm above 4500.
I think that it is important to realize that the Versa isn't that small nor that low-powered. The 28 mpg that I obtain isn't going to save the planet, but it is a good result for driving under conditions that are not at all favorable to obtaining high gas mileage.
Comments
FOR A BRAND NEW SAPPHIRE BLUE VERSA HATCHBACK!!
... why? my aftermarket sunroof screwed up my headliner...
yeah... so I was finally getting consistent 33m/g and now I get to start all over again...
But I've got one-touch sunroof, audio package, and Sirius.
It does seem to me that most car makers are pushing relatively small gains in performance at the cost of more substantial gains at the pump. I would gladly trade 10% of my hp for 10% better mpg. Both my cars are quicker than they need to be, but gas keeps going up.
Again, I don't think the Versa is bad, just that there seems to be potential for it to be so good. Potential that is not being realized.
I didn't want to spend lots of $ modding a car with a crappy headliner... so I spent lots of $ getting a new car with a correct headliner...
some people juggle geese... (--Wash, Firefly)
It is paradoxical. The Versa (Tiida) was originally designed for an 1.5 L engine, and in the world ex-Americas, that is the standard engine still. And the 1.5 does get a good mileage, if a little slow due to the bulk of the Versa (Tiida).
I know that Nissan decided to throw in the 1.8 L because they were afraid of being accused of selling a slow car. What they really should have done is to bring the younger brother of the Versa, the NOTE, with the 1.5 L engine, to the North American market. The NOTE gets at least 10% better mileage, is pretty quick with 1.5 because it is much lighter than the Versa, and, while not as spacious as the Versa, it is still plenty roomy, and in fact, much more versatile in the seat arrangements (because it is a Fit-wannabe).
Just curious about your "city" - is that a true downtown/neighborhood traffic where you have to stop, e.g., every few blocks and your mean speed never gets much higher than, say, 20 mph? Or is it really suburban?
I am just curious, that's all. When people say "city," they mean a lot of different things. When I say city, it is pure stop and go, since we live in a major metropolitan area with millions of people with lousy traffic conditions.
Yikes, for you I was kinda hoping that your driving conditions were pure downtown (type) trafic, in which case a low MPG would be more or less normal. I don't know what to tell you....
Flightnurse, thanks. I live in Minneapolis-St. Paul, and in the morning our freeways are parking lots. We live in-town, not in a suburb, so there is a stop sign or traffic light every few blocks when driving "city."
Ron
Looks at other people's posts over the last year.
What's your typical driving day like?
Something has to explain a number that low, because I would REALLY have to work at it to kill the mileage that much based on the experience I've had with my Versa.
So I'm back to wondering about driving style forced by driving conditions. Say I was using my Versa to deliver a coupleof hundred newspapers house to house each day. An extreme example, but the kind of thing that would probably get my mileage a lot lower. Or if I lived in NYC and was using it to get around, I can't imagine I'd get anywhere near the sticker numbers.
The answer almost HAS to be drving conditions. :confuse:
I'm just curious whether lanny can find a near-ideal condition to drive in, which would be a flat terrain, a speed of, say, 55 mph constantly, which can continue for an hour. Everyone could agree that such a driviing condition should produce a good MPG. If lanny's car did not, we would have a very likely answer (mechanical).
www.scangauge.com
There doesn't seem to be any justification for the low mpg.
It's not like it is particularly powerful and sporty either.
I have been reading all the post from different people on here about the mpg. Well I can tell you that it really depends on how and where you drive. I have had my Versa SL CVT for 8 months now. It has 23K on it. I drive mainly highway driving. But this is through a major City to get to where I am going. I drive from Homestead Florida to Ft. Lauderdale. 62 miles distance each way. It takes me about 1.5 hours to get there and 45 minutes of it is in bumper to bumper driving. That is 1/2 the time I am driving.
Now I drive normal in my view I don't jack rabbit start. I always drive with windows closed (Car gets allot better MPG with them closed). Highway when it's clear I go at 65MPH.
I have been getting over 32 mpg mostly combined. When My wife drives the car she only is able to get about 27 mpg. She has what I call a in and out foot. When your in the car you feel her go fast then slow, fast then slow. I call it hunting. It's very bad for gas usage.
On a 675 total miles trip to Orlando I got 36.8 mpg going mostly at 70. So in my view it's the best over all car for gas usage I have owned. And I have had Accords, Corolla and even an VW Bug. None of them gives me the room and road feel like the Versa. It's also gets better mpg then all the others. I have no idea how you can get over 23mpg on an Accord in the city. Highway I got 27 sometimes.
I feel you need to look at the way you drive and if the tires are at least 33 psi yes that is 33psi. I have seem many people put them at 28 to 30. This will waste gas in this car.
Hope this helps...It's a very good car.
25 mpg is pretty good mileage for most cars, but is bad for a car of this size and class.
VERY happy so far especially since it only cost me $28 to fill it up tonight!!
Thought I would miss the minivan, having 2 small children, but $28 sure beats the $50 (to the tune of 20 mpg)it would have cost me to fill the van!
Plus, now I have a good reason not to be able to car pool!!
Most of the highway was at 75 mph+ with the AC on.
246 miles, 6.99 gallons, 35.1 mpg
Was the first time I really got to test a strictly highway run, so I'm pleased
It has the updated, more conservative mileage figures based on more aggressive modern drivin, more air con usage.
Lanny said he drives 95% city with airon on.
I "customized" the EPA ratings to reflect this percentage of city driving.
Result? EPA predicts 24 mpg combined city/highway.
Lanny reports 23.
Looks like he's like the rest of America.
Lighter footed drivers who spend more time on the freeway can meet or exceed the revised EPA mileage figures. I know. I do.
I'm guessing that if I had been able (or wanted to :P ) back down into the 55-60 mph range, of if I had been able to run with no AC, I would see a bit more mileage.
OK, 2nd fill up. 80% city, 20% highway. 27mpg. Lookin good.
David
Tony
Now this talk about Honda and Toyota vs Nissan. Both the Honda and Toyota dealers here in town have one way to sell cars, with pressure. I have no idea why, since the car should sell itself..
Over the six months with by CVT SL, I have averaged 28 mpg for my commute. The lowest I ever measured was 26.5, which included a lot of city driving and slow moving high density traffic. I haven't had a chance to try the car on a long trip. The mpg has improved an average of 1 mpg since it was new, but I don't know how much of that change is due to break-in versus "getting the hang" of driving with the CVT.
For calibration purposes, I should point out that I live in an area with high traffic density, closely spaced traffic lights and 4-way stop signs, steep hills, and relatively high highway speeds. Using the same driving patterns, I have gotten 22 mpg with a 2004 VW Golf auto, 20 mpg with a BMW 3-series auto (premium fuel), and 15 mpg with an old Audi 100 auto (premium fuel), which we thankfully sold before gas prices went through the roof. I used to get 24 mpg with an 88 Saab 9000 Turbo (160 HP) with 5-speed and premium fuel. Neighbors with hybrids report mpgs in the 30's.
Years ago, I had an 88 Civic with a manual 5-speed transmission and no AC; the car weighed something like 2000 lbs. Living in the same neighborhood, the best I could get was 29 mpg.
I test drove the automatic transmission versions of the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris and found them too underpowered to be viable. They are fine on flat earth, but their small engines are nearly red-lined just to slowly accelerate up a steep freeway on-ramp. I don't think that I have ever seen my Versa's rpm above 4500.
I think that it is important to realize that the Versa isn't that small nor that low-powered. The 28 mpg that I obtain isn't going to save the planet, but it is a good result for driving under conditions that are not at all favorable to obtaining high gas mileage.