I like my Versa but I wouldn't tow even a thousand pounds with it without brakes. It's really excellent to drive under most conditions but if you really push it hard then its vector starts to become slightly indeterminate. Mine is in fairly good shape, it's been gone over in some detail and the only thing very wrong besides the nonworking AC is that the front subframe bushes are starting to develop some slop, but they ought to have years in them even around here where it's lumpy and bumpy.
I think Nissan USA probably made the right call for this country. I've done some towing here and there, and I've driven the Versa a lot, and I don't want to imagine having a trailer back there and having things get hinky.