2007 Nissan Versa in Costa Mesa, California

Small cars are back in favor, which is not surprising considering the price of gasoline. Nonetheless, many people still desire to own a car with a decent amount of interior space and adequate performance, all for a reasonable price, of course. There's nothing new about this for Europeans, as they have been used to high fuel prices for many years.

The all-new 2007 Nissan Versa arrives as an addition to Nissan's lineup and is now the smallest model you'll find in its showroom. The fact that it's partly based on the Renault Megane, a successful European small car, is a good start.

If you haven't driven a small car in some time you'll likely be pleasantly surprised at how big the Versa feels. There is decent head room, and even tall passengers will find rear seat leg room as good as that in many much larger cars or SUVs. Handling is crisp and parking is a breeze.