Nearly drowned out amid the launch of the
Note compact and rumors about a
new sports car was Nissan's recent announcement of several updates to the Versa Sedan for the 2013 model year. These include a retuned CVT that helps increase highway fuel economy by two mpg and a newly available four-speed automatic.
The automaker states that the mileage increase is due to variety of small tweaks, including a reprogrammed CVT with a wider ratio spread, a new decklid spoiler and revised underbody ducting. The CVT-equipped 2013 Versa is rated at 31 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway, which compares with 27/36 mpg for the standard five-speed manual.
The addition of the four-speed automatic is likely intended to offer clutch-averse buyers a cheaper way to get into a self-shifting Versa; the CVT is a $2,130 option, while the four-cog unit will likely cost close to the $1,000 it commanded as an option in the last-gen sedan. Nissan expects the automatic, which will become available this fall, to return 26/35 mpg.
Look for official pricing information to be released closer to the 2013 Versa's launch in August.
