2007 Nissan Versa Review: Not 2007’s Best Compact, but One of the Better Budget Hatchbacks

The 2007 Nissan Versa stands out from the crowded budget compact market by virtue of simply offering a hatchback model at a time when that body style was falling out of fashion in favor of compact crossover SUVs. With prices averaging around $5,000, the Versa is priced to move and built to last.

Is the 2007 Nissan Versa a Good Used Car?

• Overall Rating 8/10 – In all fairness, the Versa is kind of a mediocre car overall. But the low price and the spacious interior earn it an extra point.
• Interior, Comfort & Cargo 8/10 – One of the most spacious compact cars on the market. The backseat is a bit tight at just 47 inches across, but you’ve got 50 cubic feet of cargo space in the hatchback model.
• Reliability 7/10 – Nissan built the Versa to last, but the SL model is one of those early CVT cars, meaning that the previous owner might have been skipping transmission fluid changes, putting undue wear and tear on the powertrain.
• Safety 6/10 – The Versa’s crash test scores are pretty good across the board, but anti-lock brakes cost extra, even in the high-end SL model, and there’s no excuse for that in 2007.
• Gas Mileage 7/10 – 30/36 miles to the gallon is acceptable for a compact, but it’s on the low end of acceptable for this model year.
• Value 7/10 – The Versa is priced fairly and it’s cheap to maintain. It’s not exactly the deal of the century, with many standard features missing, but, at an average listing price of $5,000, you won’t feel like you got taken for a ride, either.

What Do Critics Say About the 2007 Nissan Versa?

Consumer Reports found the 2007 Nissan Versa to be comfortable, quiet, well-furnished, roomy, and quick to accelerate. They also report that the handling, though adequate, could be a bit more agile, and the fuel economy isn’t great.

Kelley Blue Book name the Nissan Versa an industry leader when it comes to spaciousness in small cars, reporting that the car is an excellent choice for anyone who carries lots of passengers. But, it’s still a small car, and adult passengers will need to be on the slim side to fit more than two at a time in the back.

Edmunds had just as much praise for the car’s interior space as anyone. They also noted the intuitive control layout, comfortable seating, and the build quality being a bit higher than you expect in this price range. Wide handling and noisy powertrains earned the Versa a few red marks.

What Common Problems Does the 2007 Nissan Versa Have?

The 2007 Nissan Versa has generated 351 complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Of these, 149 are for airbags, with drivers reporting the airbag warning light blinking despite six recalls intended to correct problems with the airbags, the last one being in 2022.

There are 54 complaints on file for suspension issues, with drivers reporting the front coil springs snapping while in motion and slicing through the front tires. This is typically the result of premature corrosion. The issue was recalled in 2015, with complaints being registered as late as 2020.

The 2007 Versa has 30 engine complaints on file with drivers reporting noise coming from the muffler, and discovering cracked flanges. There have been no recalls for this issue, and drivers report it may cost around $400 to fix.

As of the time of this writing, the Versa has generated 9 complaints with the NHTSA. That’s within the median range for a car of this age, but it’s on the higher end of the median range. 6 of these are for ruptured/exploding airbags, a problem Nissan have struggled to get under control.

How Long Will the 2007 Nissan Versa Last?

Nissan Versa drivers typically report a minimum lifespan of 200,000. This is the average. With excellent care you can probably reach 250,000, even in a used model. If you decided to save money on a “mechanic’s special” you might be lucky to pass 150,000 miles on the original engine.

Repairpal estimate an annual maintenance cost of just $311, with the most expensive common repair being a new heater core, starting at around $911.

How Is the Technology?

Entertainment technology in the Versa is pretty basic, even by 2007 standards. The base S model features a CD player with 4 speakers, and the high-end SL adds a 6-disc CD changer. An optional package adds Bluetooth connectivity.

Safety technology is underwhelming. Neither trim level has anti-lock brakes as a standard feature. That’s only available in an optional package, and you might not even be able to find a model that has them equipped.

Is the 2007 Nissan Versa a Good Value?

The 2007 Nissan Versa is a pretty good value. At the low end, an entry-level sedan should list for around $4,940, while an SL hatchback lists for around $5,200.

There are more fuel-efficient compacts out there, and there are certainly compacts that come with a longer list of standard features. But, the Versa is one of the more spacious hatchbacks on the market, and your maintenance expenses should be nice and low. At around $5,000, it’s not the best deal out there, but it’s not a bad one.

What are the Different Models of the 2007 Nissan Versa?

The 2007 Nissan Versa is offered in two body styles, being hatchback and sedan, and two trim levels, being S and SL. You can mix and match these however you like, for four models total.

With the entry-level S you’re getting:

• Suede and cloth seating
• Manual air conditioning
• CD player with 4 speakers
• 4-way manual adjust driver seat

The high-end SL adds:

• Woven cloth seating
• 6-disc CD changer
• Cruise control with steering wheel mounted controls

What Engines Come In the 2007 Nissan Versa?

• The 2007 Nissan Versa comes packed with a 1.8L inline-four engine delivering 122 horsepower and 127 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired to a one-speed continuously variable transmission in the SL model, averaging at around 30/36 miles to the gallon, city/highway. The S model features a 4-speed automatic transmission delivering 30/35 miles to the gallon.

What Colors Does the 2007 Nissan Versa Come In?

How Comfortable Is the 2007 Nissan Versa?

The hatchback version of the 2007 Versa is one of the more spacious compact cars on the market with lots of headroom. In some ways it feels more like a small SUV than a big compact car.

But, the back row is a bit tight at just 47 inches across, and the car has an issue with corroded shocks and struts, so you’ll want to hit some speed bumps and see how it handles them on the test drive.

How Much Storage Space Does the 2007 Nissan Versa Have?

The 2007 Versa starts you off with 14 cubic feet of trunk space, enough to pack five medium sized suitcases. You can fold the seats down in the hatchback and expand that to 50 cubic feet, which is outclassed only by wagon-style compacts like the Chevy HHR.

What Are the Differences Between Years?

The 2007 Nissan Versa was the first model year in the the car’s 1st Generation, which would retire in 2012.

2007: The Versa launched in the US as a rebranded Nissan Tiida, a Japanese-market compact launched in 2004.

2008: 2008 was a facelift year for the Versa, adding new front ends featuring redesigned bumpers and grilles.

2009: For 2009, Nissan added independent MacPherson strut front suspension to the car.

2010: The Versa got a round of cosmetic improvements in 2010, including new seat covers, a modernized front grille, and tastefil white and orange interior illumination.

How Does the 2007 Nissan Versa Compare to the Competition?

Many compact automakers were dropping their hatchback models in 2007, owing to the rise of compact crossover SUVs. But Hyundai stayed true to the vision with the 2007 Accent, which typically sells for a few hundred dollars less and delivers a solid 29/35 miles to the gallon, but only offers a meager 110 horsepower.

Wagon-style compacts like the Chrysler PT Cruiser had their moment in the 00’s, but the Cruiser is pretty mediocre overall. It offers more storage space than almost any compact on the market, but the engine’s a bit weak at just 150 horsepower, and fuel economy is mediocre, at 22/29 mpg.

There are better used compacts on the market than the 2007 Nissan Versa, but if you’re looking for a roomy budget-friendly hatchback, it’s better than most.

Do Owners Recommend the 2007 Nissan Versa?