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Nissan Versa Real World MPG

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  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    A reporter wants to talk with people who expected to get better gas mileage in their relatively new vehicle. Please email pr@edmunds.com by Tuesday, July 19, 2011 with your daytime contact information and a few words about your experience. Thank you.
  • hbfeverhbfever Member Posts: 13
    So…I have an '07 Versa SL hatchback, standard, just under 33,000 miles. I purchased it, new, in March of 2007. Like many posters here, I to was underwhelmed by the fuel economy…especially since I had the Versa with the "original" fuel estimates of 30/34…not the revised 28/34.

    My fuel economy has risen steadily over the years. 90% of my driving is intracity driving: no freeways, all surface streets, stop & go, rarely above 45mph. I have used the 1-2-5 shifting regimen (something I found on this forum) for 3.5 of the four years I have owned the car.

    From the data I have been able to chart and observe…I am getting, on average, about 315 miles per tank. Each time I fill up I put in approximately 11.3-11.8 gallons. This translates into 26.7 - 27.9 mpg. Considering the type of driving I am doing…that is about as advertised. Unfortunately, the MPG doesn't climb all that dramatically when I do venture on to the highways.

    This brings me to now. This last tank of fuel. I am at 210 miles with a quarter tank remaining. This is about 50-70 miles behind my averages (2-2.5 gallons off). I have been able to watch the fuel needle move like I was 16 and gassing a 289K. My question (besides WTF) is: Is this a bad fuel sensor (I haven't spotted any leaks or smelled gas)? I am waiting to fill up again and see if the volume is off, but I am more than a bit ticked off that after only 33,000 that there might be a fuel sensor issue. If anything, with my driving habits and below average annual usage, I have taxed the sensor less. Anyone else experience this?
  • formula353formula353 Member Posts: 3
    I picked up a 2012 SL sedan with the 1.6 engine and CVT. My first tank reported 37.6 mpg. Hand calculated it came out to 36.6. My second tank came in about 1 mpg lower. I commute into Boston and the temps dropped so I think that may be a factor. I driving is 50% city and 50% highway though half of my highway is stop and go traffic on route 93. I drive easy most of the time with occasional trips at 75 mph on the highway.
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    That's a good number to hear. I don't expect that our 4th Versa, 2012 that we pick up tomorrow (6-speed), will hit that number but we've consistently been getting 32-33. That WAS in the 35-36 mpg range until ethanol blends hit the pumps and stole 10% of the mileage, but that's another topic for another discussion over on the Automotive News board

    The Inconvenient Truth About Ethanol
  • pixel1pixel1 Member Posts: 14
    This past week we traded in our '07 Versa SL w/CVT on a 2012 Sentra with CVT (like that transmission!). Had 84,386 miles on the Versa so figured it was a good time to trade while value was still relatively high. The car was a delight and never gave us any problems, and I kept track of every fill-up....overall MPG was a very decent 31.4, and this was just about 50/50 city/highway in southern Oregon, which is definitely far from flat country! The best mileage was 40.2 on a run down I5 to Calif. with a favorable wind, and the worst was 24.6 with in-town driving during winter.
  • monti2000monti2000 Member Posts: 13
    Wha tis wrong? Well according to the Nissan dealership(s) and the "NIssan Technical Tean", - there is nothing wrong. Read the following carefully, and your conclusion should be not to buy this car or any other Nissan vehicle. The dealerships do not instill confidence, nor do the customer service divisions nor the Technical Experts in engineering. Shoddy product is being produced in Mexico, and then shipped to cold climates. The Versa which is produced in Mexico should stay in Mexico as it cannot perform in cold weather. The following have been my problems since the car was new, and the Nissan Tech Experts are lame. They have no solutions to these problems. They nactually tell me that these problems are normal for the Versa with CVT.

    1. It is normal that the CVT transmission makes a whining noise on coming to a stop.

    2. It is normal to hear the clunk, clunk, clunk, clunk noise after leaving the curb. This is the ABS self calibration that sets in every time after you start the car. This problem kind of makes you forget about how you feel in the car, and that the upholstery is pretty good. At this point you are worrying that you are losing the engine, - who cares about comfortable upholstery.

    3. The mileage I have gotten is 1/2 of what is in the brochure for a 2010 with CVT. The answer I get here is that it depends on how I have been driving the car. Let's face it, its only got a 1.8 l ENGINE so what could you possibly do with this tin can?

    4. Most current problem is that the car won't start at -15 degrees C. It was fine in the first year, but itlooks like the battery is going now at 11, 800 km.

    If I could do it all again I wouls never buy a Nissan product. :lemon:

    It appears that Nissan is making lemons, and they do not want to take their lemons :lemon: back nor repair them.

    I will never buy a Nisan again!!!!! :lemon: :lemon: :lemon:
  • jason108jason108 Member Posts: 1
    I just bought a 2011 Versa Hatchback a couple months back with the reg tranny, and I to have been averaging around 23 MPG. I have been driving it like a baby as well. Its only got about 800 miles on it, and I know about the whole "break in" thing but 23? Thats horrible for a 1.8L. Has your MPG improved?
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    So much depends on driving conditions you face and driving styles. Right now we have 3 Versas in the family. All are 6 speed manuals and we average about 31-32 MPG in mixed drving, about 33 on long highway trips. That number was up around 35-36 prior to the introduction of the ethanol boondoggle at the pumps.

    But back to my point... a friend bought a 6 speed Versa after having seen how much we like them. He lives in the same area as me, so we're driving basically the same roads, although he doesn't do as much long distance drving as we do. He's only getting 28-29 mpg. Driving style and habits HAVE to be the difference.

    I agree that 23 seems REALLY low, but it's hard to make a call on whether there's a mechanical issue with the car based on that alone. Winter driving conditions, things like living in a hilly area, all sorts of things can eat away at the number
  • cloud9inecloud9ine Member Posts: 6
    This one actually calculates average MPG. I am getting 39.2-39.5 MPG in the greater St. Louis area, and about 36 on the freeway at 70-75 speeds. Now, I haven't hit any big traffic jams in the 2 weeks I've had the car, but I have been driving carefully. I am in the fifth gear when the car is above 30 MPG, and I coast a lot.

    My daily driving is about 30 miles freeway at 60-65, 6 miles on a 45-50 mph parkway, and 5-6 miles on 40 mph streets.

    With 39.5, a tank gives me 400 miles. I always knew the EPA estimate of 27 city was wrong, and they have no business estimating city driving MPG on manual transmission cars.
  • dangeloj76dangeloj76 Member Posts: 1
    i'm trying to change my spark splugs in my 2007 versa, i need a 14mm extra long socket or a 14 mm deepwell socket. does any one have information on here i can get the tools, having a hard time . could someone please help me. and are these the corrct tool needed.
  • aldagaldag Member Posts: 81
    These are very preliminary results based on the first tank of gas in my new Versa (5 speed) and partial consumption of the second tank. Initially, the computer reported an average 35.7 mpg with mixed local and highway driving. This figure went to 39.2 mpg with an 84 mile highway trip to the casino. I reset the mpg meter to measure the return trip and the computer came up with 46.5 mpg for the all highway trip. I do not know how accurate that is, but that is a remarkable figure.
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    Not sure I'd judge the mileage on a first tank with any vehicle. I currently have a 2011 and 2012 Versa, both with 6 speed manuals and (with ethanol in the mix) they both get about 31-32 MPG in mixed driving. Same fo the 2007 that I sold to my daughter. If I manage to find a gas station without ethanol in the mix, the mileage will jump to about 35 on highway trips, but that's about the highest I've ever seen. I think if you do the calculation yourself by filling up, running most of the tank, filling up again and seeing how many gallons you used over those miles, you're going to see a number more int he low to mid thirties range.
  • aldagaldag Member Posts: 81
    Yes indeed pf_flyer, you make some good points about the first tank of gas. It is really too early to tell. But when I pulled into the gas station with 240 miles on the odometer, I could only put 6 gallons of gas in the tank. So maybe the computer is not that far off. Time will tell. Some additional info, the shore highway is flat and straight as a line, the AC was off. And I drove about 55 to 60 mph max as the car is still new.
  • aldagaldag Member Posts: 81
    Completed the second tank of gas today after combined local and highway driving. The computer reports an average of 43.7 mpg. There were 293 miles on the trip odometer and the car took 6.7 gallons of gas (using 89 octane, middle grade gas). So the computer figure looks to be fairly reliable. I am reminded of my 1986 Nissan Pulsar which also routinely yielded 40 mpg. That car had a 1600 cc engine with a five speed, but with a compression ratio of 8.5 to 1 it only produced 69 horsepower. The low weight of 1860 lbs. allowed reasonable performance. The Pulsar was fun to drive, I miss the flip up headlights. The Versa has so many technological improvements.
  • aldagaldag Member Posts: 81
    Nissan Versa 5 speed Sedan S with about 800 miles now and 3rd fill up. Computer reports 42.1 mpg, 253 miles and 6.5 gallons of 89 octane gas.
  • rcosrcos Member Posts: 4
    I'm on my last month of a 5-year lease. 2008 4-spd auto. started out getting about 26 mpg on 87 octane; many mileage readings taken and overall a 28 MPG average, 95% city use under a light foot. Not the best by any means, but better than our larger cars have provided. Car is being bought-out and going to a good home as I refuse to give the dealer the $5000 extra equity vs. current market value as it has only 22,000 mi on it :)
  • aldagaldag Member Posts: 81
    Obtained 89 octane gas yesterday in Monroe, Ct. The computer reported 43.5 mpg for mixed driving. Drove home and then round trip to the casino today, a combined total of 211 highway miles. Yet the gas bar graph indicated that I still had well over half a tank of gas, so I checked the computer mpg which now reads 47.7 mpg for these highway miles. I am very pleased by these results, significantly better than I expected.
  • paul0417paul0417 Member Posts: 1
    I bought a 2012 versa last month for a commuter. I wanted the best mileage in a affordable car. I've been feeling good because the computer has been telling me I'm averaging 35 mpg. After filling up a few times and figuring the actual mileage, I'm only getting 30. I’m trying to figure out the discrepancy and if it’s a programmed one. Anybody else having this issue? :confuse:
  • smalltownsmalltown Member Posts: 75
    I've had my Versa Note for a month now. Took a trip to Chicago, about 500 miles, mostly on two-lane highways, plus 80 miles in the suburbs. I reset the computer before the trip. According to the computer, the average is 39 mpg. In town previous to this trip, the mileage was on the low end, about 27-28. This is expected since most of my trips are under 3 miles, with 6 or 7 stop signs or traffic lights.
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372

    About 240,000 combined miles on the 3 Versas in our family and all three are still getting about 31 MPG in our combined driving (fair amount of highway) 32-33 on long highway stretches.

    Prior to ethanol, we would get 35 on the highway, but that's another story for another discussion :)

  • cubajoecubajoe Member Posts: 1

    2012 Versa hatchback 1.8SL
    My Versa was purchased in Feburary 2014 with 60 miles on it when delivered. Basically, it was a brand new car. It has CVT transmission. I lived in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and the weather this Winter/Spring is colder than normal. The car was purchased in Ottawa and when I drove the car back to Toronto through Hwy416 and 401, I could only guesstimate the mileage to be aroung 24.8 miles per US gal. becasue the first tank of gas was supplied by the dealer and I didn't know the exact mileage when it was filled up.
    Finally, I had the chance to top up this car. In order to get true amount of gas uses until the next fill up, I topped the gas right to the neck, that means I pumped the gas until I couldn't pump in anymore! When the fuel gauge empty warning light turned on, I filled up the gas in the same manner. I recorded the gas mileage to be 21.84 miles per US gallon. It is much worse than the 2009 Corolla I replaced although both cars have the same official gas mileages. I estimate the Versa would cost $2000 more on gas for 60000 miles driving than the Corolla. I am thinking to trade in this Versa for a newer version of Versa, such as 2012 or newer Versa sedan. I have read all the comments in this colummn, some reported good gas mileages some not too good. Besides all factors affecting the mileage consumption, I think it is about the quality control of the manufacturing of this car. Somehow, either the gas sensor or something else was not set correctly or have defects which greatly affect the mileage of the car. For consumers like us, it would be very difficult to find out what goes wrong and mostly likely will be waste our time to ask Nissan to look at our cars to find out what goes wrong. So, the best way to deal with it is trade for another car!

  • sobhallsobhall Member Posts: 1

    Perhaps my results were an aberration, based on the mpg reported here, but if so, it happened multiple times. I rented a Versa SV while my 2012 Ford Focus was in the shop. i drove the 90-mile round trip work commute five or six times in the Versa. According to the dashboard mpg gauge, my mpg for each trip (rounded off) were 48, 52, 44, 54, and 50. Very little of that was freeway driving. Most of it was routes with stop lights but long stretches in-between lights. Speeds averaged 50-55 mph.

    If the mpg gauge was accurate, then those mpg readings are nothing short of insane. Hybrid? I don't need no stinking hybrid. ;) I may have found my future next car. Most inexpensive car on the market, crazy-good gas mileage, a ton of interior room and a huge trunk...and contrary to what the automotive press says, it didn't drive badly either. Amazing.

  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372

    Those readings sound a bit on the high side since the dashboard gauge on our 2014 Versa Note seems really accurate when I compare it to doing the actual miles/gal calculation at fill ups. When you reset the avg mpg for each trip like that, you can get some wide variation given the driving conditions. (I love it when the instantaneous reading pegs at 99.9 mpg going downhill)

    Our Note averages 39.9 overall in mixed driving. When we've gone on longer trips that are mostly highway, I'll see an average like 40.7 for the trip.

    This is our 5th Versa in the family since 2007 (one was totaled when it was sandwiched in a hit from behind) and the wife and I, and each of the grown kids love them

  • alesndyalesndy Member Posts: 1
    I have a 2007 Nissan Versa automatic transmission hatchback. I filled it up until it was about to spill over and I drove it 363.3 miles. The needle was one orange line from empty. I filled it again until it was about to spill over. It only took 10.970 gallons to become full again. So either the tank really isn't 13.3 gallons or I could have gone over 400 miles. Not that I ever would, I wouldn't want to risk any problems. But I can deal with around 360 miles per 11 gallons. 32mpg is reasonable to me. That's 80% highway at 50-80 mph depending on traffic conditions and 20% street 15-40mph. Unlike others I haven't had any engine or transmission problems and I'm at about 168,000 miles. So knocking on wood I don't have to make any big repairs soon. But for my first car I think my dad chose well. 
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    edited April 2015
    My oldest daughter still has our 2007 Versa, although it's the 6-speed manual, and she's still getting about 32 mpg avg, maybe up to 34 on the highway, and I think it's up around 150,000 miles and still going strong. I think your Dad made a good choice as well B)
  • timbuctooscaltimbuctooscal Member Posts: 12
    okcmitchell said:

    I now have more than 1000 miles on my Versa SL with CVT. All with the A/C on and most going fast between OKC and Dallas. The cruise works great and holds 80 mph up and down the hills. Less than 30 mpg, but that is expected at that speed. Level ground the rpm is about 2800 @ 80. Goes up to about 3500 up hill, but a very smooth transition. Much more comfortable and quiet than the Scion xA I was driving. My only concern is that the A/C isn't as cold as I expected, but it has been over 100 here since I got the Versa last Wednesday. I'm taking it in tomorrow for an inspection of the A/C to make sure.

    I got 43 and 45 from Yucca Valley (near palm springs southern ca) to Redding Ca and back but kept it near 70 and only hillls were the tehachapi. That did include about 5 miles extra getting lost looking for a gas station or two.i took the 99 one direction and the 5 the other. Loads of traffic on the 99 but everyone going 75-80 out of and north of bakersfield

  • timbuctooscaltimbuctooscal Member Posts: 12
    timbuctooscal said:

    okcmitchell said:

    I now have more than 1000 miles on my Versa SL with CVT. All with the A/C on and most going fast between OKC and Dallas. The cruise works great and holds 80 mph up and down the hills. Less than 30 mpg, but that is expected at that speed. Level ground the rpm is about 2800 @ 80. Goes up to about 3500 up hill, but a very smooth transition. Much more comfortable and quiet than the Scion xA I was driving. My only concern is that the A/C isn't as cold as I expected, but it has been over 100 here since I got the Versa last Wednesday. I'm taking it in tomorrow for an inspection of the A/C to make sure.

    I rented a versa 2015 for 7 days . I got 43 and 45 from Yucca Valley (near palm springs southern ca) to Redding Ca and back but kept it near 70 and only hillls were the tehachapi. That did include about 5 miles extra getting lost looking for a gas station or two.i took the 99 one direction and the 5 the other. Loads of traffic on the 99 but everyone going 75-80 out of and north of bakersfield. From now on ill try and rent cars to see what they really are like. most models probably arent available,but just maybe enough are.You just cant believe advertisers,or politicians,car salesmen etal..

  • timbuctooscaltimbuctooscal Member Posts: 12
    timbuctooscal said:

    timbuctooscal said:

    okcmitchell said:

    I now have more than 1000 miles on my Versa SL with CVT. All with the A/C on and most going fast between OKC and Dallas. The cruise works great and holds 80 mph up and down the hills. Less than 30 mpg, but that is expected at that speed. Level ground the rpm is about 2800 @ 80. Goes up to about 3500 up hill, but a very smooth transition. Much more comfortable and quiet than the Scion xA I was driving. My only concern is that the A/C isn't as cold as I expected, but it has been over 100 here since I got the Versa last Wednesday. I'm taking it in tomorrow for an inspection of the A/C to make sure.

    I rented a versa 2015 for 7 days . I got 43 and 45 from Yucca Valley (near palm springs southern ca) to Redding Ca and back & kept it near 70 The only hillls were the tehachapi. That did include about 5 miles extra getting lost looking for a gas station or two.I took the 99 one direction and the 5 the other. Loads of traffic on the 99 but everyone going 75-80 out of and north of bakersfield. This was my first rental & from now on ill try and rent cars to see what they really are like before buying. Most models probably arent available,but just maybe enough are.You just cant believe advertisers,or politicians,car salesmen etal..

  • timbuctooscaltimbuctooscal Member Posts: 12
    PF_Flyer said:

    Not sure I'd judge the mileage on a first tank with any vehicle. I currently have a 2011 and 2012 Versa, both with 6 speed manuals and (with ethanol in the mix) they both get about 31-32 MPG in mixed driving. Same fo the 2007 that I sold to my daughter. If I manage to find a gas station without ethanol in the mix, the mileage will jump to about 35 on highway trips, but that's about the highest I've ever seen. I think if you do the calculation yourself by filling up, running most of the tank, filling up again and seeing how many gallons you used over those miles, you're going to see a number more int he low to mid thirties range.

    I rented a versa and drove from southern cal to northern cal 3500 approx miles total. i kept it at 65 to 70 and got 43mpg to Redding and on the return i got 45 returning to palmSprings. I also calculated the miles with actual gallons i put in .The computer showed I got 3 mpg less than i really did. BTW when i filled up I let the gas just start overflowing to be sure it was as accurate as possible.
  • timbuctooscaltimbuctooscal Member Posts: 12
    Error in miles driven. it was approx 1400 miles round trip,not 3500. brain fart?
    timbuctooscal said:

    PF_Flyer said:

    Not sure I'd judge the mileage on a first tank with any vehicle. I currently have a 2011 and 2012 Versa, both with 6 speed manuals and (with ethanol in the mix) they both get about 31-32 MPG in mixed driving. Same fo the 2007 that I sold to my daughter. If I manage to find a gas station without ethanol in the mix, the mileage will jump to about 35 on highway trips, but that's about the highest I've ever seen. I think if you do the calculation yourself by filling up, running most of the tank, filling up again and seeing how many gallons you used over those miles, you're going to see a number more int he low to mid thirties range.

    I rented a versa and drove from southern cal to northern cal 1400 approx miles total. i kept it at 65 to 70 and got 43mpg to Redding and on the return i got 45 returning to palmSprings. I also calculated the miles with actual gallons i put in .The computer showed I got 3 mpg less than i really did. BTW when i filled up I let the gas just start overflowing to be sure it was as accurate as possible.
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