It was a tough time for many of the Japanese automakers after the earthquake and subsequent tsunami, but Nissan has weathered the storm and offers one of the most unique lineups in the industry for 2012.
Starting things off is the Versasedan was redesigned this year and starts at just under $11,000. Combine that with 30/37 mpg city/highway and a roomy interior and you can see why the Versa represents one of the best bargains around. It is also available as a five-door hatchback which was not redesigned.
The compact Sentra sedan and its sportier SE-R variants are unchanged for 2012. Also standing pat is the midsize Altima which is still available as a coupe or sedan (the Altima Hybrid has been discontinued) and comes with either a fuel efficient four-cylinder engine or a powerful V-6 that produces 270-horsepower. Rounding out Nissan’s lineup of passenger cars is the flagship Maxima, which is actually slightly smaller inside than the Altima but comes with more premium materials and features, as well as a more powerful engine (290-hp vs. a maximum of 270-hp for the Altima).
For sports car enthusiasts, Nissan has two offerings: the 370Z and the world-beating GT-R. The 370Z is the latest incarnation of Nissan/Datsun’s long line of Z sports cars and is also available as a convertible. Nicknamed “Godzilla,” the GT-R is hands-down the best performance car you can buy under six-figures and this 530-hp rocket goes from 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds.
Redesigned last year, the Quest minivan offers unique styling and an upscale cabin for families on the go.
Unique is also the operative word for the next pair of cars from Nissan which defy categorization – the Juke crossover and the quirky Cube. The Juke features a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and sporty handling for a very engaging drive, while the Cube with its boxy shape and wraparound rear window will turn heads while offering extra cargo room.
Nissan features a pair of two-row crossover SUVs, the Rogue and the larger Murano. The Rogue can now be outfitted with Nissan’s Around View monitor which offers a top down view of the car while parking, while the Murano offers more power with its larger V-6 and both are available with all-wheel drive. Nissan also offers a convertible version of the Murano (you read that right) called the Murano CrossCabriolet. Truly like nothing else on the road today, this touring, convertible crossover comes essentially fully loaded with luxurious features and only has two doors.
If you’re looking to get off-road, the rugged Xterra SUV is one of the most capable vehicles around with a double-wishbone front suspension and a solid rear axle. A part-time four-wheel drive system is also available.
For those who need to carry more passengers and cargo, Nissan offers two three-row SUVs: the seven-passenger Pathfinder and the full-size, eight-passenger Armada which packs in the luxury features and a cabin that feels more Infiniti than Nissan.
A pair of pickup trucks wraps up the consumer portion of Nissan’s lineup. First up is the midsize Frontier which offers four-cylinder or V-6 power and is more than capable to handle most jobs. If you do need more, then the full-size Titan and its standard V-8 takes the Frontier to the next level, and offers two cab and three different bed configurations.
Nissan also debuts a series of work vans for 2012, the NV 1500, NV 2500, and NV 3500. These vans look very different than most work vans out there with an elongated nose and a boxy appearance.
The all-electric Leaf returns for 2012 and Nissan is hoping to ramp up production and expand the Leaf’s sales area throughout this year.
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