2013 & 2014 Nissan Sedan Reviews & Ratings

Nissan has been producing sedans since at least 1957 when their famous Nissan Bluebird first hit the market. There is even still a plaque above their main factory commemorating the first one that rolled off the assembly line showing its high regard in Nissan culture. Nissan Sedans have until recently always been built with functionality and endurance in mind. More recent Nissan Sedans have started to incorporate the latest technological breakthroughs and have focused, in the upper range mo... (full review continues below)

Nissan has been producing sedans since at least 1957 when their famous Nissan Bluebird first hit the market. There is even still a plaque above their main factory commemorating the first one that rolled off the assembly line showing its high regard in Nissan culture. Nissan Sedans have until recently always been built with functionality and endurance in mind. More recent Nissan Sedans have started to incorporate the latest technological breakthroughs and have focused, in the upper range models, on taking on the luxury Sedan market traditionally dominated by western carmakers.

The Sedan market is the biggest market in the US and no self respecting carmaker would be without 2 or 3 Sedan models covering the different classes which start from about $13,000 and go up over $200,000 at the top end. Interestingly the Nissan Versa is widely regarded as the cheapest sedan with competitors in the budget end of the market including the Ford Fiesta, Chevrolet Sonic and Hyundai Accent. Nissan Sedans top out in the under $40,000 category with the Nissan Maxima. It faces competition from the likes of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Volvo S60, Buick Lacrosse, Dodge Charger and the Chrysler 300.

Overall Nissan Sedans perform very well against the competition and enjoy a good reputation for reliability and comfort. Nissan has in total four different models on offer in 2012: Nissan Versa, Nissan Altima, Nissan Sentra and the Nissan Maxima which basically roll into one another pricewise to ensure it has all budgets covered up to $40,000.

The cheapest Nissan Sedan, the Versa starts at $13,000 with the 1.6 S and has 2 other trims, the 1.6SV and the 1.6SL. The 1.6 S develops 109 horsepower and 107 pound-feet of torque with 30mpg in the city and 38mpg for highway. The 1.6SV and SL are very similar however except that the 1.6S is the only model to offer a manual transmission. The next Nissan Sedan is the Sentra which has six trims starting with the 2.0 at $16,000 delivering 140 horsepower with 24 miles per gallon for city and 31mpg for highway, and ranging up to the top end Sentra SE-R Spec V Sedan boasting 200 horsepower and lower fuel economy of 21mpg for city and 34mpg on the highway for just over $18,000.

That leaves the two higher end Nissan Sedans starting with the basic model, the Nissan Altima attractively named the Base sedan starting at $20,500 with a 2.5 liter 175 horsepower engine and fuel economy of 23mpg for the city and 32mpg for highway. In between, Nissan offers the S Sedan and the top trim the SR sedan that has a 3.5 liter engine with 270 horsepower 20/27 miles per gallon. The luxury Nissan Sedan is the Nissan Maxima with the S sedan priced at $32,000 and the SV at $34,700. Both trims have a 3.5 liter 290 horsepower engine and enjoy similar fuel economy of 19mpg in the city and 26mpg on the highway.