Base Nissan Versa's so stripped that it feels cheap

— -- In its attempt to reinvent basic, affordable, fuel-efficient transportation, Nissan might well have reinvented the cheap car — in every sense.

Nissan NSANY announced last year that it would field a $9,990 base version of the Versa small car, stripped of almost all accessories and powered by a smaller, cheaper engine and transmission.

The test car was $10,990 because it included air conditioning. Even the base car, thanks to $685 shipping, isn't really less than $10,000.

Distressingly, the test car was a riot of creaks from the instrument panel, worse when cold, less so as the outside temperature rose or the car's heater got busy. A center panel atop the dashboard was loose, but holding it down didn't bring quiet.

Nissan fetched the car for a look-see. A dealer — bet you've never heard this one — couldn't duplicate the noise, a rubbing-plastic sound the auto industry colorfully refers to as "itching."

"If it was prevalent in the lineup we'd hear about it. I'm not hearing it," says Al Castignetti, Nissan brand's U.S. general manager. "It's one of our most trouble-free cars."

Still, be sure your test drive is when the car's cold.

A combination squeak/clunk also came from the vicinity of the rear suspension near the end of the test. The clutch threw in its own groan now and then.

The upholstery looked like a threadbare couch cover. Sharp plastic edges made it dangerous to grope in the instrument panel's cubby. The back seat was as uncomfortably firm as a park bench.

Big disappointments, because the idea of a new car — warranty, fresh smell and all — at a used car price appeals. Especially in these uncertain times.

In its favor, the Versa 1.6 was pleasant to drive, even satisfying, if you ignore the noises.

The inelegant front seats, for instance, were remarkably comfortable. Cheap-looking climate-control knobs nonetheless worked with a snappy click. The turn-signal lever moved with the premium feel of a fancier car's. The brittle-looking steering wheel had just enough "give" that it was pleasant to grip.

As long as you didn't mind a bit of body lean, the base Versa snapped around corners like a machine with sportier credentials. Steering, hard for most automakers to get just right, was close to dead-on. There was enough feel that you weren't a stranger to the road, enough power assist that you didn't feel put-upon.

And, an advantage of all Versas sedans, base and otherwise, legroom in back was adult-sized. That's been a reason to pick the Nissan instead of its rivals since Versa was launched as a 2007 model.

The five-speed manual transmission shifted easily, but the throw from gear to gear was long.

The clutch took longer to master than expected, penalizing the driver with jerks and jumps until a smooooooth left-leg manner was developed.

Things of importance, rather than indulgence, that you sacrifice on this stripped-down vehicle have "power" in their names.

•Power windows. Nope, crank only. More than a mere nuisance, at least in urban/suburban areas where you often pass through toll booths or drop a window on the passenger's side to shout a final instruction as Junior dashes toward the school.

Sometimes getting a window up or down fast is a safety issue, as when you're approached in a parking lot by an unsavory sort and you can't squirm and reach back far enough to crank up the passenger-side window your kids left down.

•Power locks. Nope again. And what a pain. Lock or unlock each one individually. Locking's not so bad. Open each door, flip the lock lever and close. (And, yes, the driver's door works that way, too, so you easily can lock the keys inside the car, which is tough to do with today's power locks.)

Unlocking's awkward. The only keyhole is on the driver's side, so you have to start by opening that door with the key. Then reach in and back in the narrow space between the seat and the door pillar to fumble for the lock on the back door. Flip it and open the door to toss in your briefcase. Get in and stretch clear across the interior to unlatch the passenger doors so the other passengers can climb in.

Park at work, circle the car to open, lock and close each door. It's such a bother you're tempted to skip it. Then it's a safety issue — that unsavory character now can lurk inside your car to mug you.

•Power mirrors. If you are the only driver, fine. You'll push and tug the mirrors into place once and leave them. But if others use the car, they probably won't bother — another potential safety issue.

•Power. The 1.6-liter engine has a modest 107 horsepower. That's plenty for driving alone with not much baggage, but marginal when you add several riders or lots of cargo and try to merge onto an interstate. Not like the old Volkswagen microbus of the '60s, but an exercise in physics and forethought nonetheless.

Nissan's idea was good, it's execution not so much, judging by the test car. But even with top-drawer execution, a feature-challenged sedan might be a tough sell, even these days, because lots are full of nearly new, well-equipped used cars.

The late Roger Smith, CEO of General Motors in the 1980s, was ridiculed when he said back then that the right rival for an inexpensive import car "is a two-year-old Buick." He might have been right.

ABOUT THE NISSAN VERSA BASE MODEL

What? No-frills version of the small, front-drive, four-door sedan. No bare-bones version of the Versa hatchback is available.

•When? On sale since November.

•Where? Made in Mexico.

•Why? Advertise a low price, and pick up some used car shoppers who'd rather have a new car with a factory warranty.

•Who? So far: 56% women, 62% married, $51,000 median annual household income. Also looked at Toyota Yaris and Corolla, Ford Focus, Honda Fit.

•How much? $9,990 is advertised — for the lure of less than $10,000 — but $695 shipping makes it $10,685. With air conditioning: $11,685. With automatic transmission, available only with AC: $12,685.

•How many? Just 10,000 a year, Nissan forecasts. "Available through dealer order, limited dealer inventory in stock," its website cautions.

•How powerful? Not very. Engine's smaller than in other Versas, a 1.6-liter four-cylinder, rated 107 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, 111 pounds-feet of torque at 4,600 (vs. a 1.8 with 122 hp, 127 lbs.-ft in other Versas). Five-speed manual transmission.

•How lavish? Hah. No radio, no power accessories beyond steering and brakes, no anti-lock brakes, no cruise control, no floor mats, etc. Surprisingly, though, you get adjustable steering column, interval wipers and rear defroster.

•How big? As with other Versa sedans, small outside, big enough inside to qualify as midsize: 176 inches long, 66.7 in. wide, 60.4 in. tall on a 102.4-in. wheelbase. Passenger space, 94.3 cubic feet, trunk, 13.8 cu. ft. Weight listed at 2,516 lbs.

•How thirsty? Rated 26 miles per gallon in town, 34 highway, 29 combined. (1.8-liter manual in other Versa sedans rated 26/31/28). Test car: 28.8 mpg in suburban use.

Regular fuel specified, 13.2 gallon tank.

•Overall: Remarkably smooth, comfy, roomy, astonishingly inconvenient.