Nissan’s no-frills and bare-bones approach with the Versa continues with its 2013 offering. Consider the 2013 Nissan Versa, much like the Versa versions that came before it, as a taking-care-of-business vehicle that boasts of being fairly roomy and appeals to anyone looking for value and not caught up in worrying about much in the way of design, performance or features.

The 2013 Nissan Versa fits that bill and, coming off a 2012 redesign that did tweak its look and make it a little more curvy last year, has added to the plus-side of the ledger a bit by improving its fuel economy.

Still, reviewers often tend to define the 2013 Nissan Versa by what it lacks and how it trails other cars on the market. The point remains that at about $15,000 to start, Nissan can market it as one of the most affordable cars in America, along with entries such as the Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio and Toyota Yaris.

The experts point to a paucity of engine power from the Versa, cite the less-than-impressive quality of interior materials, are not fond of its navigation system and call the exterior design “forgettable.” So yes, Nissan takes the front-wheel-drive Versa against the grain some in comparison to automakers who have fancied up their compacts and subcompacts.

The Versa counters with its large trunk, a comfortable ride and relatively wide back seats that can accommodate passengers better than most cars of its size and some that are even larger. Nissan likes to call the Versa a “Big Little Car.” It also appeals to folks who find they really don’t need the punch on the highway that some rivals bring.

For them, the 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine that delivers 109 horsepower and 107 lb-ft of torque will suffice. They appreciate that the 2013 Nissan Versa bumps up its fuel economy numbers to 30 mpg city/40 highway with a new continuously variable transmission (CVT). A 5-speed manual transmission comes standard in the base S trim. The CVT is standard in the SV and SL trims and available to the S. Mileage numbers dip to 27/36 with the manual transmission.

Nissan has added some niceties through the years to the Versa, too. The base 2013 Nissan Versa S gets air conditioning, an AM/FM/CD stereo with a couple of speakers and an auxiliary audio input jack, and a trip computer. In true no-frills mode, though, the base version has windows that roll up manually and manual locks. The S Plus includes a cruise control package.

Moving up to the SV brings a couple more speakers, an upgraded trip computer, power windows and locks, cloth seats of a higher quality and other interior upgrades.

The 2013 Nissan Versa SL tops things off with 15-inch aluminum alloy wheels, Bluetooth phone integration, a radio-data system and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls. The SL Tech Package is a new option and includes a rear-view monitor.

The 2013 Nissan Versa comes with stability and traction control systems, antilock brakes, a tire pressure monitoring system and dual front, side and side-curtain airbags.