A p ril 6. 2011
^ o r t l a n b (O b s e rv e r H O U S IN G s p e c ia l e d itio n
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P o r é la m il O b s e r v e r A .u f o R m e w
2011 Nissan Versa 1.8 SL HB
by
K athleen C arr
The 2011 Ford Fiesta is an all-new
subcompact available in hatchback
and sedan body styles. It's entry-
level car comes as a 4-door sedan or
4-door hatchback. It affordable, safe
and now com es with anti-lock
brakes.
The SL hatchback has a continu­
ously variable transmission (CVT)
that behaves much like an auto­
matic, a segmented belt rides up and
down on cone-shaped pulleys to
vary the speed ratio between the
engine and the drivetrain.The 1.8-
liter engine produces 122hpand 127
lb-ft of torque. Its suspension is
tuned for a softer ride and for com ­
fort on poor road surfaces. It still
allows responsive handling with
little body roll in normal driving. The
electrically-assisted power steering
feels right, it is a little tighter than I
would have thought. If you are look­
ing for speed this is not the vehicle
for that, but great for everyday driv­
ing to get you around.
Every Versa comes standard with
front side airbags and side curtain
airbags. Antilock brakes are optional
on the base car and standard on all
other trim levels. Stability and trac-
tion control are optional on the 1.8
S and standard on the 1.8 SL. De­
pending on the Versa that you se­
lect you may also have an option of
manual transmission.
The 1.8 SL has 15-inch alloy
wheels, a height-adjustable driver
seat, upgraded cloth upholstery,
with audio controls with six-way 180
watt audio system. The Hatchback's
Premium package adds 16-inch al­
loy wheels with the same basic stan­
dards. An auto-dimming rearview
mirror and interior ambient lighting
are optional on 1.8 SL; the hatch­
small touchscreen, real-time traffic,
an iPod interface and satellite radio
our tested vehicle came equipped
($610).
The Versa is affordalbe for those
on a budget. It has great passenger
room and the hatchback offers more
Tested Vehicle Information: 1.8L Doch 4 Cylinder engine; Xtronic CVT transmission; 2 8 City MPG, 34 Highway MPG- MRSP
$16,900Tested Vehicle MSRP $18,405.
a five-speed manual transmission is
standard, while a four-speed auto­
matic on the 1.6L and on the 1.8asix
front and rear center armrests, and
60/40 split rearseat. Bluetooth and
a leather-wrapped steering wheel
back can also be equipped with a
sunroof. It can be equipped with a
navigation system that includes a
storage capaticity. It loaded with
conveniences for the new genera­
tion looking for more than j ust a car.
Joyce Washington H igh S chool C lassic
The 11 th Annual
Basketball Game
Saturday, May 21 at Portland Community
College, 705 N. Killingsworth
Doors open at 12 p.m.
Girls Classic at 1 p.m.
Boy’s Classic at 3 p.m.
Tickets available at
The Portland Observer
4747 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Looking for High School Boys & Girls to Participate
fo r more information contact Tony or Mark Washington at 288-0033
“Dedicated to our mother, whose purposeful life
is our family inspiration. ” — The Washington family
Sponsoredby:
Bashor’s
(USAFEWAY INC.
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TEAM ATHLETICS
-
Portland
Community
Commui
College