2012 Ford Fiesta vs 2012 Nissan Versa

2012 Ford Fiesta

2012 Nissan Versa

Select style

4-Door Sedan S

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Fiesta 4-Door Sedan S	28	38	$12,788	$13,200
Fiesta 4-Door Sedan SE	28	38	$14,170	$14,670
Fiesta 4-Door Sedan SEL	28	38	$15,984	$16,600
Fiesta 5-Door HB S	28	38	$13,634	$14,100
Fiesta 5-Door HB SE	28	38	$15,110	$15,670
Fiesta 5-Door HB SES	28	38	$16,830	$17,500

Select style

4-Door Sedan CVT 1.6 S

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Versa 4-Door Sedan CVT 1.6 S	30	38	$12,663	$13,120
Versa 4-Door Sedan CVT 1.6 SL	30	38	$15,423	$15,990
Versa 4-Door Sedan CVT 1.6 SV	30	38	$14,452	$14,980
Versa 4-Door Sedan Manual 1.6 S	27	36	$10,616	$10,990
Versa 5-Door HB Automatic 1.8 S	24	32	$15,307	$15,870
Versa 5-Door HB CVT 1.8 SL	28	34	$17,923	$18,590
Versa 5-Door HB Manual 1.8 S	26	31	$14,153	$14,670

Show Only Differences

Pricing

Invoice Price

$12,788

$12,663

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

$13,200

$13,120

Monthly Payment Estimate

$220 / month

$219 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating

7.6

Read Our Full Review

6.6

Read Our Full Review

TCC’s Bottom Line

You could do better if you most value space and comfort, but the 2012 Ford Fiesta packs in a lot of style and substance.

The 2012 Nissan Versa is a reasonably comfortable, well-equipped new car for used-car money—but if you're a stickler for the details it can feel as cheap as it is.

TCC Likes

Great styling—especially the five-door
Responsive, nicely weighted steering
Good safety ratings

Used-car price
Comfortable ride
Relatively quiet interior

TCC Dislikes

Cramped cabin compared to others its size
PowerShift automatic balkier than it should be
Odd dash layout

Appliance-like driving experience
Rear seatbacks don't fold on some Sedans
Sluggish CVT response

Fuel Economy

City

28 mpg

30 mpg

Highway

38 mpg

Vehicle

Number of Passenger Doors

EPA Classification

Subcompact

Compact

Interior Dimensions

Second Shoulder Room (in)

49.0

51.9

Front Leg Room (in)

42.2

41.8

Passenger Volume (ft³)

85.1

90.2

Front Hip Room (in)

50.6

48.1

Second Leg Room (in)

31.2

37.0

Front Head Room (in)

39.1

39.8

Passenger Capacity

Second Hip Room (in)

49.2

46.2

Front Shoulder Room (in)

52.7

51.7

Second Head Room (in)

37.1

36.6

Exterior Dimensions

Height, Overall (in)

58.0

59.6

Track Width, Rear (in)

57.7

58.5

Wheelbase (in)

98.0

102.4

Liftover Height (in)

- TBD -

28.0

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)

67.8

66.7

Track Width, Front (in)

57.7

58.3

Min Ground Clearance (in)

- TBD -

6.8

Length, Overall (in)

173.6

175.4

Cargo Area Dimensions

Trunk Volume (ft³)

12.8

13.1

Brakes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

Brake Type

Pwr

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)

7.9 x - TBD -

8.0 x - TBD -

Disc - Front (Yes or )

Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

10.2 x - TBD -

10.02 x 0.87

Drum - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Brake ABS System

4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)

12.0

10.8

Steering

Steering Type

Electric Rack & Pinion

Pwr

Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)

- TBD -

2.96

Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)

- TBD -

37.2

Steering Ratio (:1), Overall

14.3

16.8

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)

34.4

34.8

Tires

Spare Tire Size

Compact

T125/70D15

Front Tire Order Code

Spare Tire Order Code

Rear Tire Size

P185/65R15

Rear Tire Order Code

Front Tire Size

P185/65R15

Trailering

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)

2578

2410

Wheels

Rear Wheel Size (in)

15 x - TBD -

15 x 5.5

Front Wheel Material

Steel

Spare Wheel Material

Steel

Front Wheel Size (in)

15 x - TBD -

15 x 5.5

Spare Wheel Size (in)

Compact

15 x - TBD -

Rear Wheel Material

Steel

Cooling System

Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)

4.8

7.2

Electrical

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)

- TBD -

110

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)

- TBD -

470

Engine

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM

120 @ 6350

109 @ 6000

Engine Type

Gas I4

Fuel System

Electronic Fuel Injection

SMPI

SAE Net Torque @ RPM

112 @ 5000

107 @ 4400

Engine Order Code

99J

HR16DE

Displacement

1.6L/97

Mileage

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)

Transmission

Reverse Ratio (:1)

3.61

- TBD -

Eighth Gear Ratio (:1)

Second Gear Ratio (:1)

2.04

Trans Order Code

Drivetrain

Front-wheel drive

Front Wheel Drive

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)

4.07

3.75

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.95

Trans Description Cont.

Manual

Continuously Variable

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)

Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)

First Gear Ratio (:1)

3.85

- TBD -

Clutch Size (in)

- TBD -

Third Gear Ratio (:1)

1.28

Trans Type

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.76

Trans Description Cont. Again

Summary

Vehicle Name

Ford Fiesta

Nissan Versa

Body Style

Sedan

4 Door Sedan

Suspension

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)

w/Coil Springs

w/Stabilizer Bar

Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Front

MacPherson Strut

Independent Strut

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)

0.87

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)

w/Coil Springs

w/Stabilizer Bar

Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)

- TBD -

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)

0.9

0.91

Suspension Type - Rear

Twist Beam

Torsion Beam

Emissions

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year

5.7

EPA Greenhouse Gas Score

7 (2011)

- TBD -

Crash Test Ratings

Overall Rating

Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger

Overall Side Crash Rating

Side Barrier Rating

Side Barrier Rating Driver

Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat

Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Rear Seat

Rollover Rating

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