Automotive Reviews
Posts tagged Nissan
2011 Nissan Juke
Jul 16th
Nissan’s Juke seemed to come out of nowhere, looking like a biomechanical frog and dropping without much warning into the growing crowd of compact crossover vehicles and versatile mini-utes that are currently popular. But…what is it?
Nissan calls it a “sport cross,” and it’s a micro-SUV much like the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. No off-roader, the Juke is definitely petite–it rides the same platform as the Versa and slots into the lineup below the Rogue, which is already somewhat diminutive. What it brings to the table is fuel economy, entertaining performance in a package that can climb over curbs if need be, and a heaping helping of attitude and style. More >
2005 Nissan Pathfinder
Jan 8th
With the introduction of the all-new 2005 Pathfinder, Nissan moves its familiar sport-ute nameplate from the “They still make those?” category to “Gotta have one!” This ground-up redesign returns the Pathfinder to its off-roading roots with a new, truck-based chassis, larger body and a more powerful engine.
As the Frontier has become a mini-Titan, so the Pathfinder is now a mini-Armada. The familial resemblance isn’t accidental; underpinning the Pathfinder is a version of Nissan’s strong truck platform, making this mid-size SUV a direct descendant of the tough Titan pickup and Armada full-size sport-ute. The tougher platform marks a return to the Pathfinder’s roots; long before the SUV craze hit, the Pathfinder was crawling down gnarly trails and making a name for itself. Subsequent years softened the truck up, but the ’05 model is keen to remind you that its name is more than just hype. More >
2005 Nissan Quest
Nov 23rd
Nissan’s sexy Quest is still the most stylish minivan out there. You don’t hear that much, because getting a car guy to admit that a minivan is kind of cool is a lot like admitting that you really, really enjoy housework; it tends to make people look at you a bit strangely.
2006 model pictured
We’re not afraid to confess that we like this van, though. Nissan’s outside-the-box design and bold interior turned the conventional notion of minivans on its ear when the current Quest hit the streets almost two years ago. This is a fashion over function minivan, a mixture of workhorse and show horse, and this unlikely combination is both the best thing and the worst thing about it. The exterior and interior design throw away all of the conventions of minivan styling in favor of a bulbous silhouette and an airy, light-filled interior environment that hasn’t been matched yet. Unlike most vans, which tend to be conservative, the Quest is an in-your-face, love-it or hate-it design. For every upside, there’s a downside, but that’s part of its charm. More >