Nissan car reviews
July 27, 2011
2011 Nissan Murano keeps good qualities and feels comfortable for families
The 2011 Nissan Murano made me feel at home. I used to drive a 2006 Murano, and in the 2011, there were some changes, but I was also happy with what hadn't changed. There's not a whole lot to improve upon with the 2011 Murano because it fits families well.
July 28, 2011
2012 Nissan GT-R review: Already gone
Rarely is one afforded the opportunity to pilot a car that can reach speeds of nearly 200 mph and hit 60 from a dead stop in the 3-second range. Doing so changes the way you think about modern transportation, given the rest of it goes by so slowly in comparison.
Car review: 2012 Nissan Altima
The 2012 Nissan Altima sedan is a lesson in competence: It's passably attractive, sufficiently nimble, tolerably outfitted, satisfactorily safe and reasonably priced.
December 24, 2010
Can Chicago warm up to the Leaf?
The attraction of a battery-powered electric car is that it doesn't consume one drop of gas, drain the planet of petroleum, or produce harmful exhaust people inhale.
December 23, 2010
Test Drive: 2011 Nissan Leaf SL
Poring over the new Leaf
Although the all-electric Nissan Leaf went on sale in December in Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona and Tennessee, the rest of the country will have to wait until late in 2011 to see how well-suited it is for colder climes.
3:28 PM PST, December 8, 2010
Nissan Leaf: A revolutionary vehicle that drives like a car
No one loves lofty rhetoric and prosaic hyperbole more than car manufacturers. With a dollar for every time a mundane car was described as "exciting," "revolutionary" or "race-inspired," you could pull an Oprah and buy everyone on your block a Lamborghini.
November 2, 2010
Test Drive: 2011 Nissan Leaf review
Why go electric? Nissan Leaf makes its case
The Nissan Leaf isn't for everybody. I could say the same of any car I review, yet for some reason it seems necessary to remind consumers of this fact when detailing electric cars like the Leaf and Chevrolet Volt.
November 29, 2010
Test Drive: 2011 Nissan Juke review
Nissan Juke feints at SUV, delivers like sports car
Judging from its initial unfocused advertising campaign, Nissan doesn't seem to know exactly what to do with the 2011 Juke. And after a week testing it, I see the problem: It doesn't fit into conventional categories.
1:31 AM PST, December 3, 2010
FFWHEELS
2011 Nissan Juke: light trail duty, heavy road fun
Even in a cool climate for car buying, crossover utility vehicles remain a hot destination. So many buyers have migrated from traditional sport utility vehicles to these car-based alternatives that crossovers are currently the fourth largest segment in the auto industry.
4:03 PM PST, November 12, 2010
Test Drive: 2011 Nissan Rogue SUV review
Restyled Nissan Rogue a right-sized SUV
Nissan was a little late to the compact crossover SUV party -- with only its truckish Xterra to battle car-based products like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Mitsubishi Outlander and Ford Escape -- until the 2008 Nissan Rogue was introduced. The fact that the Rogue was based on the Sentra platform was not encouraging -- the Sentra was fine as an entry-level car, but how would it work as the basis for an SUV?
12:33 PM PDT, August 12, 2010
2010 Versa delivers economy, sensibility
Shortly after man began walking he probably began dreaming of going places while sitting down, and the Nissan Versa fulfills that ancient goal with minimal fanfare and expense.
July 1, 2010
Test Drive: 2010 Nissan Altima 3.5 SR Coupe review
Altima coupe is fun, but more sporty than sports car
Two-door coupe versions of popular four-door sedans have been fading in popularity since designers figured out how to make four doors look sexy. Gone is the Toyota Solara, a two-door Camry. Ford has never sold a two-door version of the Taurus or Fusion, and Chevrolet's Monte Carlo, essentially a two-door Impala, lives on only in the memories of NASCAR fans. Honda still has a two-door Accord, but sales pale compared to the sedan.
April 15, 2010
Well done Nissan Versa hatchback is no econobox
The 2010 Nissan Versa hatchback is an attractive car, with one downright gorgeous feature: The window sticker. At most any trim level, the Versa is one of the best buys in the entry-level category.
March 4, 2010
Test Drive: 2010 Nissan Altima 2.5 S sedan
Jim Mateja: Revamped 2010 Nissan Altima retains good looks, affordability
A variety of vehicles have enjoyed their day in the sun: Wagons until they gave way to minivans, which gave way to SUVs, which bowed to crossovers.
March 6, 2009
Nissan's Cube is coolness in a box
The science of aerodynamics tells us that air is a fluid with its own viscosity and inertia. When an object such as an automobile moves through it, the object is enveloped in a thin layer known as a laminar flow. Where the laminar airflow shears away from the surface it quickly degrades into a chaos of disordered air, or turbulence, which results in energy-sapping drag. The longer and smoother a surface -- the more it approximates a perfect teardrop shape -- the more aerodynamically efficient an object will be.
August 23, 2009
Test Drive: 2009 Nissan Cube S
Jim Mateja: Nissan Cube aims at young buyers from right angle
Move over, Aztek. You've lost the ugly crown to the Cube.
May 31, 2009
Test Drive: 2009 Nissan 370Z coupe
New 370Z flashes Japanese muscle
Chevy has the Camaro; Ford, the Mustang; Dodge, the Challenger.
April 16, 2008
RUMBLE SEAT
Rumble Seat: 2009 Nissan GT-R
I know what you want from me. You think I'm just your little word slut, that I'm here just to arouse you with steamy descriptions of the new and instantly legendary Nissan GT-R. You want me to parade around in frilly verbiage, like: "The acceleration of the twin-turbo, all-wheel-drive, 480-hp GT-R is much like a 50-yard field goal in the NFL, wherein your butt is the football." Sigh. I feel so used.
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