Is Versa baby-friendly?

[boomerang257]

Hi all,

Does anyone has any experience with driving around with a baby in a Versa? Things like ... trunk space for stroller, bag (baby's stuff), ease of getting the baby in/out of the car, etc.

I am seriously thinking about getting a Versa SL (hatch-back), its on the top of my list among all other subcompacts.

Thanks!

- Boomerang
Modified by boomerang257 at 12:36 PM 8/6/2007

[matt_a]

Does anyone has any experience with driving around with a baby on a Versa?

I strongly suggest putting the baby in the car.

Our son is 14 now, so I don't have any "real" baby experience with this car. BUT, it does seem to me that it would work out quite well. Here are a few reasons why:

1. Mulitple safety features.

2. Exceptional cargo space.

3. Roomy rear seat area.

4. Wide opening doors.

Have fun shopping!

[vpnavy]

Hi all,

Does anyone has any experience with driving around with a baby on a Versa? Things like ... trunk space for stroller, bag (baby's stuff), ease of getting the baby in/out of the car, etc.

I am seriously thinking about getting a Versa SL (hatch-back), its on the top of my list among all other subcompacts.

Thanks!

- Boomerang

We just took the Grandkids out (4 and 1). We used one seat (facing the rear) and other (facing forward). Both snap'd right into the children buckles. The stroller fit into the trunk (and we have the Sedan).

Now, I would go up to the dealer with stroller in hand - pop it into the Versa(s) you are looking at. I'm sure they won't mind. If you are going to spend the bucks - make sure it meets your needs.

[srellim234]

My youngest is 5 so no stroller but she is still in a car/booster seat. Putting the baby and car seat in/out is going to be extremely easy in the Versa.

Based on my experience there are a lot of options inside the hatchback. If the baby is the only person in the back seat, you can fold down one side of the 60/40 back seat and have tons of room for anything you want to haul. That configuration allows for more cargo room than many small station wagons.

If you need both seats in the back you will have room for the full size stroller and other things, but you might have to pop off the cargo cover in the back and stand the stroller on its side. It all depends on how deep the stroller is after it is folded up.

Since you re considering cars, take a stroller with you to the car dealers and fit it in. See for yourself how well things are going to fit.

[br4dysays]

i personally have no idea, but my brother and nephew went to eat with me one day, the boy is 4 months old, and he was impressed with the amount of rear room compared to his 2005 golf, he said in his car he'd have to have his knees in the dash if the carseat was behind him.

not the case with the versa.

[phikapbob]

Even with a rear-facing child seat behind it, there is more room in the front passenger seat in my Versa than there is in our Pathfinder. I have a smaller stroller in the trunk that lays flat, and no trouble with bags, grocery shopping, etc. I can't sit up front in the Pathfinder when my wife is driving, because the seat is too close to the glove box - I ride in back with the boy.

[boomerang257]

Thanks for all the responses (so far).

I wish I have a stroller with me now but we have not decided on the stroller yet (buying a stroller/car-seat these days is like buying a car , so many to choose from , the features/options, the crash rating, the weight, the ease of use, etc etc ...) . Yes, as you can probably tell, we are expecting our first child!

About the leg room at the rear, we did noticed how much room a Versa comes with (compared to a lot of other bigger cars), the only thing that we are unsure of is the trunk space, but I hope it will fit a standard size stroller with room to spare for some of the other stuff that normally go with an outing with a baby.

[Ever Victorious]

I would absolutely trust my son in the V. They are very well built cars. The car is designed so its body takes damage, the occupants do not. Any accident you get in wil LOOK ugly, but that's just the design taking the energy of the impact and spreading it away from the passengers.

As far as car seats... Britax Marathon Platinum. It's compatible with the V (it's even listed on the Nissan official car seat list for the V), and it's one of only a couple car seats that passed Consumer Report's first test this last year... you know, the one where they found out later they were accidentally going 70mph instead of 35? Extremely impressive that a car seat can hold up at those speeds. That, and the amount of padding for comfort, sold us on that seat.

[srellim234]

I just took a tape measure to my hatchback and did a quick 'net search of the folded dimensions of various strollers.

With the cargo cover on, you have a "cube" of 17.5" tall x 24" deep x 39" wide. Take the cover off and the height changes from 17.5" to 34.5". There is some additional space available back there, but that is the clear, unencumbered cube between the wheel wells and vertically to the cargo cover or the lowest point back there of the head liner.

Most full size strollers seemed to have folded dimensions of about 15-17" x 20-22" x 39-42". They'll fit, but the larger ones will have to go in at an angle and then you'll have to pack the other things around it.

Many of the good strollers do have folded dimensions that will let you put it straight across back there, but I do think most of them are going to require the cargo cover be off when the stroller is back there. Again, not a big thing while you're driving and you can easily pop it on when you are at your destination.

I would suggest narrowing down your choices of strollers like you've narrowed down your choice in cars, look up the folded dimensions, then head to the various car dealers with your tape measure.

If you aren't carrying a fourth passenger, you can fold down part of the 60/40 rear seat and you'll have more room than you know what to do with.

I hope this helps.

[matttail]

I had a 5 year old in car seat in the versa with me this weekend. It was easy getting the car seat in and out, and I didn't feel any legs kicking the back of my seat which was nice.

The back seats have plenty of space - I'm a big guy and I've sat comfortably in the back for several hours in a stretch. There's lots of storage space too, 4 of us have piled into the veras and headed off with luggage. It was my wife and I, and my two parents - 2 of us had luggage and clothing for 3 days, the other two had luggage for 6 days and C-pap machine.

[KimberKenobi]

I have a 2 year old... big stroller fits great (one of those evenflo ones that have the snap in baby seat - even though she has now outgrown the baby seat).

There's lots of floor room (so the kid isn't kicking the back of your seat... even when I have my seat all the way back... You have no concept of how much this matters until you take an eight hour car ride with a little one.)

As EV mentioned, this is an extremely well-made vehicle that protects the passengers in the accident, at expense of it's own life ;oD

Three adults plus baby seat fit nicely, if you really squeeze you can get four (if two of them are skinny). I love my V as a family car (and hate having to sit in my mom's Forester now that I've ridden in my own back seat).

I think it's a wonderful choice!!

[srellim234]

..... C-pap machine.

That reminds me of one of the very minor complaints I have about the Versa. No "hot" plug-in unless the car is turned on.

I travel with a CPAP machine, too, and have a car adapter for it. Great for catching a quick nap in a rest stop when travelling alone. My Buick has a plug that is always on, so I can hide the keys while sleeping; someone walking by the car sees the ignition off and no key there. With the intelligent key you still have to turn the Versa to ACC and light up the dash.

[coxcj]

I've got a 4 year old and an 8 month old. Both of them fit great in the back seat. The car seat for the little one fits rear facing and there's still plenty of room for the passenger seat to be at a comfortable position. As for stuff, I've got the hatchback, and we have a double stroller that fits in the back. It's a little tight and we have to remove the cargo cover, but it fits without too much work. We have room for the diaper bag, toys for the older one, and still don't feel like we're crammed in the car.

I've had my V for just over 2 months now, and I would have to say that this is the best little car for a family that I've owned yet.

[Versajoe]

Just wanted you to know that I have just installed two forward-facing car seats in my Versa. There was plenty of room - at least as much as my old Saab had. Of course there is not enough room for someone to sit in the middle, but that's to be expected with almost every vehicle.

[boomerang257]

Ahem ... greetings from the owner of a new 2008 Versa SL HB (Blueberry) !

Thanks again to all for your valuable feedbacks, they are very helpful !

[matt_a]

Ahem ... greetings from the owner of a new 2008 Versa SL HB (Blueberry) !

Thanks again to all for your valuable feedbacks, they are very helpful !

Woo-Hoo!! Congrats and welcome to "the family".

[irsa76]

I'm just about to order a Tiida sedan here in Australia, pending lease approval. We decided on the Tiida sedan because it was the only car in our price range that could fit 2 car seats, we have a 2 year old and a 8 month old, and the stroller, the huuuge pram could probably fit in a pinch. I was amazed at the amount of cabin space the car has, and the feel. Another plus is all the safety features the car has, I'm going for the ST-L sedan so it has all the airbags and ABS, sadly Nissan Australia doesn't give us stability control, some, smaller, rivals have. The next few weeks before approval is going to be hell.Oh yeah, this will replace my 1991 Diahatsu Charade beater, which is going to be shredded.
Modified by irsa76 at 4:06 PM 8/18/2007

[Ever Victorious]

Well, another Ozzie to welcome onto the board then!

Nissan doesn't offer traction/stability control here in the States either. It would be nice if they did, that would just be one more reason that it would beat all of its competitors. After 2 years with the Tucson and it's standard ESP, I certainly see the system's merits.