Everyone needs a first car, and there are quite a few options out there for them as they search. And increasingly, folks aren’t going to just accept any old tiny ride -- they want something with a little bit of room.

Nissan is one of the companies clearly going after this audience (first-time buyers and those who just want a low-cost new vehicle), and the 2014 Nissan Versa Note is their offering in this realm. I recently spent some time behind the wheel of one and am back with my thoughts on how well it performed.

LOOKS
From the exterior, the 2014 Versa Note looks very small, but that’s because the trunk and engine areas are pretty tiny. Inside the car, where you actually sit, you have a surprising amount of room; more than I imagined when I first saw it.
The design isn’t exactly breathtaking, but I wouldn’t call it ugly either. It’s a fine balance that had to be struck here to maximize cabin space.
To keep costs down, materials in the vehicle are pretty basic and unspectacular, but when you’re marketing a car at an entry-level audience, you’re not getting folks looking for fancy so this shouldn’t be a major concern for most trying out the Versa Nate. The champagne and caviar crowd isn’t going to be shopping for this vehicle (they’ll be in the Infiniti lot).

ENGINE, HORSEPOWER
The Versa Note features a 1.6-liter, 4-cylinder engine that packs just 109 horsepower;

This is the point at which people will decide whether to even consider a car like the Versa Note; If that’s just not enough power for them, they’ll move on to a higher level of vehicle options.

For many though, just getting around town is all that matters, so they don’t mind being a little down on power if they can save some money. I found this level of power tolerable some of the time, but also somewhat annoying on occasion when I really wanted to get going.

And it must be mentioned that the engine is a bit noisier than I would have preferred. I got used to it after a few days driving the vehicle, but it a factor potential buyers will definitely have to consider.

MPG
The official mileage numbers on the 2014 Versa Note are pretty impressive, roughly 35 mpg average (31 city/40 highway); I didn’t quite get to these levels, but wasn’t far behind. These are decent numbers for a vehicle like this.

SAFETY FEATURES
The Versa Note features anti-lock brakes, child seat latches, traction control, vehicle dynamic control, a tire pressure monitoring system, electronic brake force distribution and brake assist, and the usual list of airbags (driver, passenger, side impact and curtain).

TECH FEATURES
Just because you’re going on the lower end pricewise, you don’t have to skimp on everything, and the Versa Note has options for those who want some creature comforts in their ride.

Features than can be added via the $1,700 SL package include: 16-inch wheels (as opposed to the standard 15-inch), push-button ignition, heated front seats, fog lights, 4.3 inch color display with iPod control, satellite radio and a rearview monitor.

On top of that, the technology package can be added for a reasonable $800, and includes: NissanConnect with Navigation System to help you get where you need to go; a bigger 5.8-inch color touchscreen display; Nissan Voice Recognition for audio and navigation; NavTraffic and NavWeather; Google Send-to-car compatibility; Streaming audio via Bluetooth; Hands-free text messaging assistant; an AroundView Monitor (an improved backup camera system which is very helpful when backing up by showing what is on all sides), and heated side mirrors.

PRICE
The Versa Note I tested (the Versa Note SV) has a base price of just under $16K, but rose to about $19.5K with all the options added.
The most basic Versa Note starts at just under $14K. Hard to beat that price on a new car, but be aware of what you are getting before committing -- it’s an entry-level ride, so you shouldn’t expect it to be more than that.

BOTTOM LINE
Getting hold of a first-time car buyer and making them loyal is what all automakers are trying to do with their lower-cost models. Nissan doesn’t necessarily hit it out of the park with the Versa Note, but they’re still solidly on base and have the right price point to try to get some customers with this vehicle.

There’s enough to like on the Versa Note in terms of design, features and overall style that it should capture the eye of some on the hunt for an inexpensive ride, even if the power isn’t going to knock anyone’s socks off.