Nissan 200SX 1995-98

     For a small coupe, the 200SX offers a great deal of room inside.  It isn't huge by any means, but even the back seat is actually comfortable for adults, unlike most sports coupes.  The dashboard and controls are ergonomically designed and placed.  Engines are not powerful, but the 200SX is light in weight, mitigating the low power of the engines. Handling is above average, even in tight turns and unusual maneuvers.  Visibility is good, except when looking directly to the rear.  The suspension is stiff, and steering is firm, but the ride can get somewhat jumpy over uneven surfaces.  The power is adequate with the base engine, but not spectacular, especially with automatic transmission; the 2-liter engine offers a big increase in power without spiking the fuel consumption too much.

Nissan 240SX 1995-98

     This sports coupe is not outstanding in performance, but it is less expensive (RL) than the 200SX.  Takeoffs are strong, but acceleration falls off at about 60 kph (Com Mov 83), and acceleration to 100 kph (Com Mov 139) takes 10 seconds.  Under hard acceleration, the engine can develop a loud snarl.  The steering and agility are first-rate, however; unfortunately, the tires tend to lose their grip on very wet or slippery pavement.  The ride can also get a bit rough, bouncing over things as small as tar strips at high speed.  Interior space is a lot less than the exterior dimensions would suggest, with limited headroom for all, and even children might find the rear seats restrictive.  At least the seats are comfortable.

Nissan 300ZX 1990-96

     This was designed to be a sports car that is more refined than its competitors.  Several versions are available, including a convertible, hardtop coupe, T-top coupe, T-top with back seat, and a Turbo version with a very powerful 300 horsepower engine.  From 1990-93, the 300ZX is equipped with the awful door-mounted seat belts in the front, a system that is not as effective in stopping forward momentum and tends to tangle up the occupants when they get into and out of the vehicle.  Antilock brakes were optional in 1990 and standard after that, and the 300ZX is equipped with a driver's airbag from 1991-94, and dual airbags after that.  Accessories range from average to excellent, depending on what package the buyer picks.  The handling is superb, and despite this, the ride is not bad either.  In the case of the T-Roof 2+2, the rear seat is a joke; designed for two, one adult might be comfortable if he puts his legs across the entire seat. 

Nissan Altima 1993-97

     This is a midsize sedan, a good compromise between power, size, and fuel economy.  Passing engine response is good, but maneuvers requiring quick power mean usually mean the accelerator needs to be floored, and sometimes pumped.  The Altima has a wide stance and tires that help it keep to the road during aggressive maneuvering, and crisp steering helps handling.  The interior can get a bit loud, particularly when aggressive use of the engine is required.  The interior provides good headroom and legroom, and the trunk is wide, flat, and with a low opening.

Nissan Maxima 1989-94

     This is a larger, more powerful sedan, with more luxuries and better performance than the Altima.  The car overall size is a compact, but the interior room is on par with a midsize sedan, due to the longer wheelbase than most compacts. It matches up well with European sedans that cost much more.  It has a softer ride than the Altima, but this means it leans a bit more in turns and is less sure in hard maneuvering.  Steering control is precise.  The interior room is ample, as is trunk space, and appointments are plush.  Older (1990-91) models are actually more strongly built than later models, and do better in crash tests despite the lack of airbags; a driver-side airbag was optional on the 1993 model and standard on the 1994 model. 

Nissan Maxima 1995-99

     A standard 190 hp engine combined with a 140-kilogram decrease in weight makes the newer Maxima an even better performer than previous models.  Engine noise is only modest, even with the gas pedal floored, and other noise is far less than earlier models.  Despite the decrease in weight, the new Maxima is virtually the same size inside and out (even a few centimeters larger) than the older model of the Maxima.  The automatic transmission is still a little balky, but improved over the 1994 model.  The ride, handling, cornering, and road grip are similar to previous models, that is to say, generally good with moderate body lean in turns and passing. 

Nissan NX 1990-93

     This is a more powerful version of the Pulsar.  It is still a small car, and even in the front seats, the fit will be tight, especially for tall or large people.  Handling and ride both improve as models get later, starting at the 1990s so-so quality.  The options package also increases as the years go by. Most models were fitted with T-Tops, while the rest were fitted with hardtops. The 140-horsepower model, the NX2000, had some additional improvements over the 110-horsepower model, such as larger brakes and more aggressive tires. The NX2000 also had a center armrest, a larger two-core radiator and rode slightly lower than the 110-horsepower (NX1600) model. Both benefitted from a light weight, stiff chassis, and limited slip differential.  NXs could take a variety of more powerful engines with minimum modification.  They are known for their excellent handling; Road & Track included the NX2000 in a test of the World’s Best Handling Cars in 1992. They are kept alive by interest groups today, and are popular for their ease of modification.

Nissan Pathfinder 1987-95

     Popular when they first came out, the Pathfinders suffered from competition from vehicles like the Ford Explorer and Jeep Cherokee in later years, and were redesigned for the 1996 model year.  The early Pathfinder rides smoothly, with less bounce and a more carlike ride than comparable models, but low-end torque hampers hill climbing and towing capability.  The engines offered lack any real power, and the 106-horsepower I-4 is an absolute dog in a vehicle the size of the Pathfinder. The more options present on the vehicle, the less likely you will find it in a manual transmission version; the high end LE model is not even available in a manual transmission model.  The Pathfinder of this period also lacks a shift on the fly ability for its 4-wheel drive, which was acceptable in 1990 or 1991 when such a feature was rare and expensive, but not on later models.  Handling is safe and predictable, but by no means nimble.  The narrow rear doors and high step up make climbing into this Pathfinder difficult.  The Pathfinder is a very rugged vehicle, however, sustaining bumps, shocks, and crashes that would send occupants of other SUVs to the hospital and put the vehicle out of action.  Towing capacity for the Pathfinder is 1.59 tons.

Nissan Pathfinder 1996-00

     This is a Pathfinder redesigned to compete with the ever more carlike rides and accessories of competing vehicles.  The high suspension has been lowered to allow an easier entry into the vehicle.  The rear doors are larger, but are narrow and do not open a full 90 degrees, and still can be difficult to enter for large people.  The new engine is more powerful, and sounds like it -- perhaps too much when high power is called for.  Ride and handling are among the most carlike of the SUV field.  Rear seat legroom can pose a challenge to even average height males. Cargo space is good, and the rear seat can be folded, but folding this seat is a complicated procedure taking at least 10 minutes.  Towing capacity is 1.73 tons.

Nissan Pickup Truck 1988-97

     Like the Mitsubishi Mighty Max, this is a compact pickup truck whose design has not changed much since the 1980s.  Unlike the Mighty Max, however, the Nissan Pickup has had many features added through the years, and though its cargo capacity and towing are below average, the set of options and amenities has steadily increased as time has gone by.  The latest ones have a good stereo setup, and things like air conditioning, power steering, airbags, and antilock brakes.  The Nissan Pickup is also available with a variety of engines and in a King Cab version.  Like many Japanese pickups of this time period, the ride quality is not the best, and can get downright uncomfortable off-road.  Towing capacity is 1.59 tons with the 4-cylinder engine, and 1.88 tons with the 6-cylinder engine.

Nissan Pulsar 1988-90

     This odd car is something of a kit car: the rear hatchback lid is detachable, and it can be taken off, left on, or replaced with a Sportbak that makes it into a sort of mini-wagon.  Newer Pulsars also have a T-top with removable panels.  A wide variety of trim levels are available.  The weak points of the Pulsar are its engines; the base engines barely make the vehicle move, while the most powerful of the three gives the vehicle decent performance.  A driver's side airbag is available as an option starting in 1989.   These lightly built cars fold right up in a wreck.  Automatic transmission is not available on the Pulsar.

Nissan Quest 1993-98

     This minivan was the result of a technology transfer between Ford/Mercury and Nissan.  One of the things Nissan got in this transfer was the plans to the Mercury Villager, and they added a few more luxuries and accessories and then sold the minivan as the Quest.  The Quest is otherwise similar to the Villager of the same time period.

Nissan Sentra 1991-94

     These are some of Nissan's better cars, mid-size vehicles with large interiors for their size, good fuel economy, and engines that are a compromise between performance, cost, and fuel needs.  Though they don't perform as well with the automatic transmission, performance with it is still adequate with the 140 horsepower engine and not too bad with the 110 horsepower engine. 

     The 1994 model of the Sentra remained on sale well into 1995.  This is known as the 1994 ½ model year.

Nissan Sentra 1995-99

     This redesign moved the Sentra from the middle of the subcompact class to near the top, with a more aerodynamic design, dual front airbags, optional antilock brakes, better fuel economy, and a far better ride than most cars of its class.  Engine noise is low, though wind noise can get quite loud at speeds over 95 kph.  The interior is larger than previous models, but is still a squeeze in the back seat for adults, and the seats are a bit flat and hard, uncomfortable for long trips.  Unlike earlier models, this version of the Sentra is available only in 4-door sedan configuration.

Nissan Stanza 1990-92

    In 1982, the Stanza was the first car sold exclusively under the Nissan name, instead of the Datsun name.  By 1990, the Stanza had been restyled twice, and had added some luxury features as well as optional antilock brakes.  The handling of the Stanza is excellent, more in the vein of a sports sedan than a regular sedan; however, ride is correspondingly poor.  The back seats can be uncomfortable for tall or large adults, and trunk space is average at best.  The Stanza was replaced in production by the Altima.