For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Nissan Versa Note are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Chevrolet Cruze doesn't offer height-adjustable seat belts.
The Versa Note SL has a standard Around View® Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Cruze only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn't help with obstacles to the front or sides.
Both the Versa Note and the Cruze have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control and electronic stability systems to prevent skidding.
The Versa Note's corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Cruze's (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).
From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports' April 2017 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 2 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.
The Versa Note SL has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle's integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Cruze doesn't offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.
The Versa Note has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Versa Note flat and controlled during cornering. The Cruze's suspension doesn't offer a rear stabilizer bar.
The Versa Note has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Cruze doesn't offer variable-assist power steering.
For better maneuverability, the Versa Note's turning circle is 3.9 feet tighter than the Cruze's (34.8 feet vs. 38.7 feet).
The Nissan Versa Note may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 450 pounds less than the Chevrolet Cruze.
The Versa Note is 1 foot shorter than the Cruze Hatchback, making the Versa Note easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces. The Versa Note is 1 foot, 8.7 inches shorter than the Cruze Sedan.
The front grille of the Versa Note uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Cruze doesn't offer active grille shutters.
The Versa Note has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and fuel theft. The Cruze doesn't offer a locking fuel door.
To shield the driver and front passenger's vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Versa Note has standard extendable sun visors. The Cruze doesn't offer extendable visors.
According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Versa Note is less expensive to operate than the Cruze because it costs $369 less to do the manufacturer's suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Versa Note than the Cruze, including $223 less for a water pump, $299 less for an alternator, $7 less for front brake pads, $2 less for a fuel pump and $339 less for a timing belt/chain.