nissan

Nissan’s all-new 2020 Versa Sedan

Nissan’s all-new 2020 Versa Sedan - "The sedan is the middle finger *" * The above ‘analysis’ is attributed to Nissan design chief Alfonso Albaisa, in an article by trade publication Automotive News By Dave Boldt, Contributor, Car-ED.com | November 2019 Although the sedan may be DOA in Detroit – and is most certainly dead in Lordstown, Ohio – there’s still a 4-door pulse in Asian boardrooms; of course, having charted their rise in the U.S. with a commitment to competent sedans, you can’t blame Honda, Toyota and Nissan for riding this horse for as long as its upright. Recent research from the folks at Nissan, however, suggest that the 4-door sedan, long ignored by Boomers and their offspring, might be enjoying a revival in the 18-34 age group. And as Mr. Albaisa suggests, the historically prosaic sedan might be evolving into a generational statement relative to the folks’ SUV, crossover or minivan. To underscore its commitment, Nissan has recently unveiled redesigns of its midsize Altima and compact Versa, with a new Sentra waiting – probably breathlessly – in the wings. The recently driven Altima might finally be a reasonable alternative to those that reflexively shop Accord or Camry. While its mix of style, accessibility and efficiency doesn’t necessarily beat the Honda or Toyota, it’s now a viable alternative to those hoping for an alternative. I wish its turbocharged engine could be had with [...]

2019-11-28T02:54:14-05:00Nov 2019|Car Reviews|

First Impressions: 2018 Nissan Frontier Midnight

2018 Nissan Frontier Midnight This compact truck gets a little extra edge. By Cherise Threewitt, Contributor, Car-ED.com | June 2018 Tucked among the hundred or so vehicles available to drive at the 2018 Midwest Automotive Media Association Spring Rally, the Nissan Frontier Midnight wasn’t hard to spot. It’s hard to picture a compact pickup truck compared to a full size pickup — or even a full size SUV — until they’re right there in front of you, but then it becomes clear: Yes, this truck really is small. However, the Midnight Edition package gives the Frontier a distinctive look and feel, particularly compared to the bright and bold colors on most other vehicles in attendance. Can this special edition help the Frontier truly stand out from the crowd? Since the Midnight Edition is mainly an appearance package, let’s start there. The package is available on three exterior colors: white, gray, and black. It adds exclusive 18-inch black alloy wheels, body color bumpers, and black front grille, step rails, side mirrors, door handles, and Midnight Edition badges. Since the Frontier is a pretty understated truck to begin with, the Midnight Edition elements add visual interest without overdoing it. Our driving impressions of the Frontier Midnight Edition were solid. It’s known for being one of the older trucks in the segment, but in some ways, that works in its favor. For example, the simplicity [...]

2018-10-09T13:43:24-04:00Sep 2018|Car Reviews|

2018 Nissan Kicks

2018 Nissan Kicks Nissan’s smallest SUV joins the car world’s biggest craze. By Nick Kurczewski, Car-ED.com | June 2018 Small SUVs are the next big thing in the car world, and automakers are rapidly adding more of them to their lineups. The 2018 Nissan Kicks joins in as the latest entry in this growing range of subcompact SUVs, which includes similarly brand-new models like the Ford EcoSport and Hyundai Kona. More established competition in this segment – which Nissan expects to more than double in sales volume over the next 3-4 years – includes the Kia Soul, Chevrolet Trax, Honda HR-V and Toyota CH-R. What is this vehicle? In terms of its size, the Kicks is right in the thick of its competition. The Nissan stretches 169.1 inches in total length, making it slightly larger than the Kia Soul (163 inches long), a bit smaller than the Toyota CH-R (171.7 inches), and the exact same length as the Honda HR-V (169.1 inches). Helping the 2018 Kicks stand out from the crowd is an aggressively low starting price of $18,965, including the $995 destination fee. A fully-loaded Kicks SR, such as the one we recently test drove in San Diego, California, still came with an affordable as-tested price of $22,025. Our test car included features such as a 7-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay and Android compatibility, blind spot monitors, surround-view camera, rear cross-traffic warning, leather-wrapped [...]

2018-06-12T22:58:38-04:00Jun 2018|Car Reviews|