Nissan Versa Fuel Economy Observations

[achr]

There has been much controversy over the Nissan Versa's fuel economy. From the outset, I have logged every fuel receipt into an Excel Spreadsheet so the numbers I am about to quote are an accurate reflection of my Versa's capabilities.

I have converted all figures to American mileage since the Imperial gallon = 1.2 American gallons and we Canucks use an obscure measurement system called KiloLiterage which is based on how many liters of fuel you use in 100 kilometers. By this measurement system, the LOWER the number, the better.

At any rate this is my data:2007 Nissan Versa SL with CVT and Technology Package.

Total Accumulate Mileage is 1358.1 milesTotal Fuel Consumed is 45.18 U.S. GallonsOverall Average MPG = 1358.1/45.18 = 30.06 Miles Per Gallon

The new 2008 EPA estimates for a Versa with CVT are:26 City33 Highway

As you can see, I am pretty much smack in the middle of the new numbers.

Other observations along the way

1) The Versa is capable of handily exceeding the highway rating under ideal conditions. I just completed a 518 mile expressway trip at a constant speed of 100 kph (62.13 mph). Temperature was about 75 degrees F., roads were dry, almost nil stop & go, and virtually no wind of any kind. Fuel consumed was 13.76 gallons for an mpg average 37.64 Not only does that exceed the NEW EPA highway rating but the old one as well. That mileage about matches a previous 2003 Toyota Corolla automatic we owned and I must say there is NO COMPARISON in how the Versa drives and feels compared to that Corolla. From a comfort and stability standpoint, the Versa just totally blows the Corolla away.

2) The Versa is also capable of delivering abombinally poor mileage in LESS than ideal conditions. Two weeks of knocking around with a lot of cold starts, driving mainly on gravel roads but with a couple of moderate two lane blacktop trips delivered a measley 23.54 mpg over 157.1 miles. That is way below the NEW city rating and I certainly wasn't driving in any cities. By way of comparison, I don't think I ever saw below 27 mpg under ANY circumstances with that old Corolla.

In short, I can't remember ever owning a vehicles with such WIDE discrepancies in mileage based on driving conditions. I know the CVT equipped Versas rev REALLY low on the highway for a 1.8 liter and that probably helps the highway figure a lot. It certainly pushes the noise levels to a new low for ANY vehicle in this size category. However, I would have also thought that the CVT would help city mileage as well by keeping engine rpms at the most efficient standpoint.

Bottom line: It will be interesting to see if the mileage improves as the my Versa wears in more.

A
Modified by achr at 4:31 PM 5/26/2007

[Martini]

Good information!

Curious, what are optimal driving conditions? What tempatures are best suited? Would it not be best to let the car heat up in a garage (assuming proper ventilation of course) before driving?

[Ever Victorious]

Good information!

Curious, what are optimal driving conditions? What tempatures are best suited? Would it not be best to let the car heat up in a garage (assuming proper ventilation of course) before driving?

Yes and no. It's better to start your car from being inside a garage on a cold day, as the engine will start at least a couple dozen degrees warmer than outside. However, letting the car IDLE up to temperature nets you precisely 0 miles per gallon for the whole time you let it sit there. It's a catch 22... suffer decreased fuel economy while the engine is cold until it warms up, or warm it up but suffer decreased fuel economy by burning fuel and not moving the car with the energy created.

As a point somewhat of a sidenote to achr, I also tracked my mileage fanatically when I had my V. CVT Versas may have an extremely wide range of fuel economy under different conditions, but 6MT Versas are much more controlled. Under the worst conditions, I got 28 MPG, and under the best 34 MPG. It almost always got 30 in normal conditions, with only a +/- 0.5 MPG fluctuation in average from tank to tank.

[KimberKenobi]

My previous Camel was starting to get consistent 33mpg... I hope the new one can get that as well... *hopehope*

[kc5f]

Bottom line: It will be interesting to see if the mileage improves as the my Versa wears in more.

I've also always been fanatical about keeping records on my cars. My CVT Versa averaged about 32 mpg from the time I got it in September until they changed to the winter fuel formulation. It averaged about 30.5 over the winter, and now that we're back on summer fuel it's averaged 33 for the last few thousand miles. (It's now got 26,000 miles on it.)

My last few cars have been the same, with mileage going down in the winter by 2-3 mpg, but no distinct rise in mileage after any particular beakin period. My last car was a manual Probe which averaged 1-2 mpg better than the Versa overall, but I'll happily give that up for the advantages the Versa has!

[sambot]

Can you post the stats in litres per 100 kilometers? I'm not mathematically competent to figure.

Did have a road trip on the weekend. Driving in a stiff wind, I got 5L per 100 Km. with a MT. Drove most of the way with cruise, at 112 km/hr until I hit the rain, then the speed wobbled up to 135. I didn't want too much hail hitting the car.

[jacksan1]

Actually, Honda Fit is also notorious for being sensitive to driving conditioins, not just in NA but with JDM Fits too. Outside of the Fit I have never seen such a wide variance in the fuel efficiency for the same car, especially in Japan among the 1.3 L models.

On the other hand, some cars seem remarkably consistent. The Yaris appears to get a good mileage just about anywhere.

[GoodbyeCavalier]

Since hitting about 8500 miles, ive been consistently hitting 33+ mpg. Even 35 something on the way home from the appalachins (mostly down slope)