News & Reviews- Make: Nissan

There has always been a lot to like about the fourth-generation Pathfinder, unless you're one of those still lamenting its metamorphosis from body-on-frame 4x4 to car-based crossover. Still, even these off-road purists can't argue against the model's increased popularity since, as sales numbers don't lie.

The larger, more refined and altogether more livable mid-size SUV arrived on the scene as a 2013 model in May of 2012, with sales growing from 1,880 units the year before to 2,666 during the changeover year, but it wasn't until calendar year 2013, the reimagined Pathfinder's first full year on the market, that it would truly gain traction with 7,936 units delivered, this followed up by 9,688 sales in 2014, 9,898 in 2015, and 9,670 last year. Together with the more recently redesigned five-seat Murano, which just has its best year of 13,834 sales, Nissan's assault on the mid-size SUV market totaled 23,504 units, which makes it the fourth most popular brand in the segment behind Read Full Story

Like what you see? You're looking at the nicely updated Altima, a car that took on a number of Nissan's new brand-wide design enhancements last year for a mix between the subtle Sentra and sultry Maxima. I suppose it makes sense for any mid-size family sedan to find the middle ground with respect to styling, something the Altima also does with respect to performance.

The more wildly penned Maxima, Nissan's self-proclaimed 4DSC (four-door sports car), is the Japanese brand's four-door performance leader, and while a new Sentra with more get up and go has just hit the streets this Altima is more competitive within its mid-size family sedan segment.

The Altima is only one of two mid-size models that have already surpassed their 2015 calendar year totals after just 11 months of year-to-date sales, with 7,458 down the road compared to 7,293 all of last year; the other car is the redesigned Chevy Malibu. Even so December's sales won't be able to push the Altima near the 9,475 Read Full Story

Nissan has made an extremely bold and highly unusual move with the introduction of its completely redesigned 2016 Titan. Rather than merely flashing new styling, improving everything it can and increasing the full-size truck's dimensions like Toyota did when it brought out its most recent Tundra, Japan's number two automaker one-upped its primary rival by making its initial offering a diesel-only, heavy-duty half-ton, otherwise called a 5/8-ton or heavy-half by old-school truckers.

Gasoline-powered engines would (and will) follow, a V8 already available and a V6 on the way for 2017, plus other body styles, a regular "Single Cab" just announced, but filling a niche that isn't openly addressed by its competitors was a great way to get noticed when the updated truck hit the market last year.

Kudos to Nissan management for taking the risk, as they were smart to create some social media buzz and grab headlines with stump-pulling torque and enviable long-haul tow ratings Read Full Story

The Murano is mostly unchanged for 2016, having gone through a complete redesign last year. This is no bad thing, because it's still one of the more exciting mid-size five-passenger SUVs on the market. It delivers a complexity of curves, angles, and an overall wow factor that none of its volume-branded crossover SUV rivals come close to offering, the Murano showing premium grade style and fortunately following that up with a premium level of substance.

This is most evident inside where it rivals luxury utes in design and execution. OK, it doesn't offer as many soft touch surfaces as its competitors, leaving a premium dash top off its list of mollycoddling indulgences like its larger Pathfinder sibling, although it gets a contrast-stitched and padded leatherette hood overtop the primary gauge package while the instrument panel boasts a supple synthetic treatment all the way down to where it disappears below the knees, as do the front and rear door uppers, the door panels also Read Full Story