Nissan: Home of the Supreme Sedan
On any given day, on any given road, you are bound to see an assortment of Nissan sedans. These sedans have gained popularity and seen steady sales for many good reasons. Nissan is well known for building quality vehicles at an affordable price, and having that reputation gets a brand noticed. Walking around Northside Nissan, your Nissan dealer, Beaumont drivers can see an expanse of the aforementioned popular sedans: the Versa, the Altima, the Maxima and the Sentra. Each one has unique attributes that make it one of the best in its class. Stick around for a deep dive into Nissan sedans that may have you wanting to drive off our lot in one.
What Makes Nissan Sedans Special?
Nissan is one of the oldest automakers still operating today, and its history is rich with innovation and a steady determination to build the highest quality vehicles and parts for its customers. Founded in 1928 in Japan, the company got the name from Nissan founder Yoshisuke Aikawa. The company that originally dealt in auto parts grew rapidly, becoming part of the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 1933. A few decades later, in 1958, it launched the Datsun to an international market. With cars like the Skyline and Datsun, Nissan grew its reputation in the sedan segment of the automotive market. These cars quickly rose to popularity due to their ingenuity and aesthetic appeal.
It was the 1990s when Nissan really hit its stride. By the early 1990s, the Sentra was selling in record numbers across Canada. The first ever Altima was rolled off the assembly line in 1993 and carved out a place for itself among the others. The following year in 1994, the one-millionth Maxima was sold. It seemed everyone wanted to get their hands on one of these sedans. So what makes each of these sedans so special?
Nissan Maxima: Nissan's Flagship
If Nissan had to name certain models as pillars of success for the brand, it would certainly count the Maxima as one of those pillars. It has long been a top performer for the brand and a flagship vehicle. The Maxima was rated the segment's top performer in J.D. Power's 2021 Quality Study and was also awarded the best overall car by the same study. A very impressive feat when you consider how many brands Nissan is up against. Awards for the Maxima keep stacking up. It has also won a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) every year since 2016. Considering safety is often one of a customer's top priorities, this track record for excellence in the category contributes to the high numbers of sales for the Maxima.
Over the years, the Nissan Maxima has changed with the times. Innovation has paved the way for a Maxima that is more stylish than ever, with more performance, better safety technology, and loaded with fun extras. The 3.5-litre V6 engine is standard on every 2022 Maxima, delivering a hair-raising 300 hp out of its DOHC 24-valve powertrain. As a V6, the Maxima is fun to drive, and the acceleration does not hesitate. It's the practical car that packs a punch. The 2022 model's lineup has luxury touches on every trim: leather-appointed seats, NissanConnect Services by SiriusXM, and Door-to-Door Navigation.
And finally, the Maxima earned its safety rating because it didn't skimp on safety technology. Every 2022 Maxima comes with Nissan Safety Shield 360, a package that includes Intelligent Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, High Beam Assist, and Rear Automatic Braking. With so many reasons to feel good about this car, we expect it will keep outperforming competitors in its class for years.
Nissan Versa: Small in Stature, Big on Features
As the subcompact of the Nissan family, the Versa is small in stature but big on features that keep its drivers satiated. Think "little engine that could." The Versa is stacked with the Nissan Intelligent safety technology of the Maxima, but due to its smaller size, it is the more fuel-efficient sibling. This generation's Versa is equipped with a 1.6-litre I-4 engine that produces 122 hp. It can be paired with a 5-speed manual or an Xtronic transmission that gets up to 5.9 L/100 km on the highway. While this size engine may sound small, it zips around quickly and smoothly.
Don't let the size fool you; the Versa can fit plenty. Its rear seats fold down 60/40 when you need some extra cargo room. It's a great car to drive passengers around with its Apple CarPlay integration and ability to connect to Siri and other voice controls. It's equally compatible with Android Auto and Talk to Google for all your entertainment needs. Plus, the Nissan Versa can be customized with tons of choice accessories. Configurations include a centre armrest with storage, interior accent lighting, illuminated kick plates, frameless Prizm rearview mirror with universal remote, portable trunk organizer, shopping bag hooks, and Nissan license plate frames. Nissan designed this newest generation of Versa to sit lower, look wider, and have a more imposing grille. All that being said, myriad options exist to make the Versa look and feel like a million bucks.
Nissan Altima: Affordable Sophistication
The Altima is a special car in Nissan's lineup because it merges the efficiency of the smaller Versa with the higher-end touches of the Maxima. If you line up Nissan's main four sedans, the Altima is priced lower than the Maxima but higher than the Versa and Sentra due to its inclusion of a wider range of features than the two aforementioned smaller sedans. All the latest Altimas come loaded with a 2.5-litre DOHC I-4 direct injection engine that produces 182 hp. It has more spring to its step than the Versa but still impresses with a fuel economy of 6.5 L/100 km on the highway. Speaking of the engine, Nissan Altima models have the Xtronic transmission standard and are available with paddle shifters on the SR Midnight Edition grade.
When it comes to appearance and comfort, the Altima has tons to offer. It is packed with modern and sleek feeling design and near-luxury materials. Take the SR Midnight Edition, for example, featuring LED fog lights, gloss black painted sport grille, gloss black painted spoiler, satin black Midnight Edition badging, and 48 cm aluminum alloy wheels. Each grade of the Altima feels sophisticated with its "gliding wing" instrument panel and soft interior lighting.
The cabin is enhanced by a number of convenience and connectivity features. The dashboard hosts an 18 cm Advanced Drive-Assist Display and a 20 cm touchscreen compatible with your favourite Apple or Android device. As for comfort, the seats are designed with NASA-inspired Zero Gravity seat architecture with dual-density foam and added bolstering for improved holding and support, available perforated leather upholstery, and standard 8-way power driver's and passenger's seats with available memory. The Altima has us wanting to drive but also just hang out in one for a while.
Nissan Sentra: Sporty and Smart
Last but not least, the compact sedan in Nissan's lineup is the Sentra. This car is adored for its lightweight build and remarkable fuel efficiency. The Sentra's 2.0-litre I-4 has an estimated fuel efficiency of up to 8.0 L/100 km in the city and 6.0 L/100 km on the highway. The Sentra's aesthetic is sporty and smart. The latest models are configured with Nissan's signature V-motion grille, a lowered body that's wider than the previous generation, and Intelligent Auto Headlights and High Beam Assist lighting. Nissan lowered the roofline and added width to the shoulders, making the wheels look more flush with the body.
For the second year of the eighth generation, Nissan loaded the base model with extras for which many competitors upcharge. Heated front seats and heated exterior mirrors are standard. Adding heated touches is a compelling extra for Beaumont drivers escaping the cold and dealing with frosty mirrors. Entertainment is standard, too. The Nissan Sentra pairs well with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and NissanConnect. The cabin design shows off an intuitive placement of buttons and controls and a standard, easy-to-grip D-shaped steering wheel. The overall package makes for a quality car that exceeds expectations.
Four Stellar Sedans to Choose From
Whatever your needs as a driver, Nissan has designed a fleet of sedans that go above and beyond. For those needing a smaller, more efficient car, the subcompact Versa and compact Sentra come stacked with extras that cost far more in other cars in their class. For drivers seeking out more power and more luxurious touches, the Altima and Maxima exceed expectations inside and outside the vehicle. The overall consensus is that Nissan has dominated in the sedan segment, and if these four sedans are any indication, it will continue to do so in the future.