Nissan's bare-bones new Versa dives below $10,000

— -- Hoping to perk up sluggish sales, Nissan will offer a less-than-$10,000 model of its Versa economy sedan with fewer features and a smaller engine.

It also will offer 0% interest and 100%-plus financing on its five most popular Nissans, including the more expensive versions of the Versa.

The low-price Versa — on sale Nov. 18 — is "a new car with a warranty at a used-car price," says Al Castignetti, Nissan vice president. It is the lowest-priced new car in the U.S., according to auto shopping site kbb.com.

The bare-bones Versa's sticker price is $9,990 ($10,685 with shipping, however) and comes with a manual transmission, hand-crank windows, no air conditioning and a 107-horsepower, 1.6-liter engine. The least-expensive Versa sedan until now has been the 1.8-liter model that starts at $12,990 ($13,685 including shipping), is rated 122 hp. and has air conditioning and power windows.

Oddly, the new 1.6 engine gets the same fuel economy in town as the 1.8 — 26 miles per gallon. But the 1.6-liter is rated 34 mpg on the highway and 29 mpg in combined city-highway driving, vs. 31and 28 mpg for the 1.8.

The rival Toyota Yaris sedan starts at $13,685 with shipping and is rated 29/36/32. Honda Fit is $15,220 with shipping and rated 27/33/29.

The low-end Versa lets Nissan advertise a sub-$10,000 car. "People will be drawn to a vehicle at that price," says Jack Nerad, executive market analyst at kbb.com. "They'll be drawn into the showroom and decide, 'Gee, I'd like power windows and air conditioning,' and suddenly a $10,000 car is a $12,000 car — and that doesn't do the manufacturer any harm."

But Castignetti says, "We hope to sell 10,000 a year, which is one-third the (Versa) sedan volume. This is not a bait-and-switch vehicle."

There is no rock-bottom Versa hatchback.

Nissan's 0%/36-month loans and 100%-plus financing — for those with good credit — also apply to Nissan's Rogue and Murano SUVs and Altima and Sentra sedans. Loaning more than a new car's price helps buyers trade-in when they owe more than their old cars are worth, known as upside-down.