2012 Nissan Versa Tops Sub-Compact Segment
Despite less-than-glowing reviews, Nissan‘s Versa sub-compact continues to dominate its segment. In December, Nissan moved 9,939 Versas, nearly double that of its nearest competitor, while giving the Versa an incredible 24.2 percent market share dominance in a segment that is populated by 13 models.
Thanks to the addition of the new Versa sedan, sales for the sub-compact hit a record in 2011 with 99,730 units moved in 2011.
The Versa’s main competitors in the sub-compact segment include the Chevy Sonic, Hyundai Accent, Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, Ford Fiesta and Fiat 500. Compared to the Versa’s impressive 9,939 December sales figure, Chevy sold 5,743 Sonics, Hyundai sold 5,316 Accents, Honda came in with 5,138 Fits, Toyota’s Yaris sold 4,514 units, while Ford moved 3,673 Fiestas. Coming in last for Nissan’s comparison was Fiat’s 500 with 2,325 vehicles.
Along with a 30-mpg city rating and 38-mpg highway number, perhaps the biggest reason for the Versa’s success is the lowest MSRP in the market, starting at just $10,990.
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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