The gas prices of last summer and the economic doldrums of this year have got Canadians thinking prices and operating costs as their greatest car buying decision.

There are a lot of sound, economical and very competitively-priced cars on the market and one worth taking a look at is the entry-level 2009 Nissan Versa 1.6 S sedan.

The Versa was initially offered as a hatchback with its 1.8-litre engine with a choice of a six-speed manual or CVT transmission.

The sedan offers the same 1.8-litre as the hatchback but it is also available with a smaller, 1.6-litre, DOHC inline four-cylinder producing 107 horsepower and 111 pound-feet of torque.

Drive on the 1.6-litre is to the front wheels through a five-speed manual transmission or an optional ($1,000) four-speed automatic with overdrive.

Fuel consumption for the automatic as tested is 7.8L/100 km (36 m.p.g.) city and 5.9L/100 km (48 m.p.g.) highway.

The manual is slightly better at 7.7L/100 km (37 m.p.g.) city and 5.8L/100 km (49 m.p.g.) highway.

What this sedan has going for it is a 2,800 mm wheelbase.

With its high roofline there is more than enough room for four adults, five if everyone is friendly.

The interior isn’t one of those charcoal-coloured pits you find on some Japanese entry-level cars.

The instrument panel has three large gauges for the tach, speedo and fuel level/odometer.

The rest is left to warning lights. One of these is a blue icon when the engine is cold that disappears when the Versa comes up to temperature.

I still remember back when cars would overheat regularly, so I would prefer a temperature gauge.

The centre stack has nice, big round knobs for the heating and cooling.

Both front seats are four-way adjustable while the back seat is a 60/40 split for access to the trunk.

There are six airbags and the front seats have active headrests, a nice feature on such a low-priced car.

Lastly, the three-spoke steering wheel tilts.

If you want air-conditioning, it comes with the $1,800 value-option package that also includes remote entry power windows and locks, power/heated mirrors and AM/FM/CD sound system.

The starting price of the Versa sedan is $12,498. With the automatic, Value Package and $135 for metallic paint, the price comes to $15,433.

Tack on the $1,325 shipping fee and the as tested price was $16,758.

Suspension is coil springs over gas struts at the front with a torsion beam at the back with both ends getting a lower stabilizer bar.

The power brakes are discs front and drums rear. There is ABS with brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution available as part of an option package, but it was not fitted to my tester.

Nissan needs no lessons on handling with even the bottom basement priced Versa sedan showing remarkably good cornering thanks suspension geometry that suits the car and the electric power steering that did not have that mechanical feel of such systems in the early days.

Like the Versa Hatchback, this car’s interior volume belies its outward size.

I was wondering how good 107 horses would be trying to get on the highway heading home, but it did just fine with the engine coming up to speed nicely and the automatic shifting crisply.

I only had it for a weekend, but the other thing that stood out was the big driver’s side door that made it easy to just hop in and take off.

I wish I’d spent more time with the Versa sedan as I’m sure would have discovered more of its attributes.

Simple to operate, easy on gas and room for the front four of the B.C. Lions — what’s not to like?