2011 Nissan Versa

The 2011 Nissan Versa starts out as one of the least expensive vehicles a person can buy today in the United States. It is available in four flavors that range from the unbelievably low price of $9,990 to the more expected price of $16,490 at the high end. At the low end, the first version of the Nissan Versa available is the 1.6 Base. It includes a 1.6 liter, 4 cylinder power plant that delivers its power through a manual transmission. The combination of the modest engine and modest vehicle size contribute to a city mileage of 26 and a highway mileage of 34.

For your money, you also get to take advantage of side and curtain airbags. If you are willing to spend a little more, at $11,260, the standard 1.6 offers a few more features; the most notable of these is an automatic transmission instead of a manual one. It does not affect the mileage of the vehicle, though it does add to the price. For still more money, you can purchase the 1.8 S at $13,940. For this price, you get a slightly larger engine at 1.8 liters instead of 1.6.

The mileage suffers as a result, however, and EPA estimates for highway mileage are lowered from 34 to 31. For slightly more still, you can buy the 1.8 SL, which is available for $16,490 and offers the most features but the worst fuel economy.