Cars.com Reviews the 2009 Nissan GT-R

Hold on to your hats … senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder calls the much-heralded 2009 Nissan GT-R not fun to drive! Can you believe it? The audacity. The sacrilege. The gall. 

Well, really he’s just talking about the daily driver’s meaning of fun. Those who live and die for track time, on the other hand, might have found the perfect vehicle for their right-footed flights of fancy. Check out his full review of every aspect of the GT-R, from track-day companion to comfortable real-world vehicle.

2009 Nissan GT-R Expert Review

Video: 2009 Nissan Murano

Senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder reviewed the new Nissan Murano a few weeks ago, but now he gets the new crossover in front of the camera for this video. The rundown shows off the Murano’s features, including a slightly odd cover for the rear cargo area and power-raising rear seats. Very nifty.

Video: 2009 Nissan Murano
2009 Nissan Murano Expert Review

Chrysler, Nissan Team Up on Trucks, Small Cars

Chrysler builds a good truck — the Ram. Nissan builds a good small car — the Versa. The two companies are now acknowledging their own strengths and tapping the other’s to boost their respective lineups.

In an agreement announced yesterday, Chrysler will build a full-size pickup for Nissan at its Mexico assembly plant. The resulting Nissan truck will replace the current Titan and go into production in 2011.

In exchange, Nissan will build an all-new (“all-new” meaning “not based on the current Versa”) fuel-efficient small car that is based on a “unique Chrysler concept.” It will be sold in North America and will hit the streets in 2010. Just because the agreement says “Chrysler” does not mean the small car will be branded a Chrysler; it could be a Dodge or Jeep.

Currently, Chrysler is still working with Chinese automaker Chery on a global small car. There’s no word on how the Nissan agreement may impact that deal or if the two models will overlap. Check out a number of recent Chrysler small car concepts below and let us know which one you’d like to see make it into production.

Midsize Cars Improve in Side Crash Tests

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently concluded crash tests on seven midsize sedans and discovered that while they had improved in side crash tests, they still lacked enough head protection to earn top marks in rear crash tests.

Tested were the 2008 model year Chevrolet Malibu, Dodge Avenger, Infiniti G35, Kia Optima, Mitsubishi Galant (which was updated for the 2009 model year on sale now), Nissan Altima and Saturn Aura.

Only the Kia Optima did not earn the top score of “good” for side impact crash tests – it received the second highest nod, “acceptable.” However, the Optima was the only car in the test to receive a “good” score in rear crash tests.

The difficulty in scoring the top rank in rear tests involves head and neck protection for those rear-end collisions that produce whiplash. The IIHS claims that those types of accidents and injuries lead to losses of $8.5 billion annually. Most vehicles need to equip active head restraints to pass this test.

The Audi A3, A4, Honda Accord, Saab 9-3 and Subaru Legacy – with optional stability control – earned good ratings in all tests previously and earned the IIHS’ Top Safety Pick designation for midsize cars. 

A full chart of how the cars scored is below.

Nissan to Stop Building Quest, Armada and Infiniti QX56

Nissan has announced that it will stop producing the Quest minivan, Armada and full-size SUV and its Infiniti sibling the QX56 when the Mississippi factory they’re made in switches to building commercial vehicles in early 2010..

The company has confirmed it will build not said if it will build future versions of the slow-sellers they just don't know where. The only word from Nissan is that final decisions have not been made, but there is the “intention” to build them.

“When we get to the end of each vehicle's cycle, we look at the market,” a spokesperson said. Sounds to us like company speak that Nissan will not build new versions of the three two. If it actually announced that fact today, though, it could impact sales of the 2009 models that will still be built and sold on new-car lots.

All three Both vehicles were either aging in their segment or poor performers, so seeing them go probably won’t hurt Nissan, which has seen better success with new smaller offerings like the Versa and the Rogue compact SUV.

What do you think? Would the Quest, Armada and QX56 be missed?

Nissan plans to change Mississippi plant's focus (USA Today)

Driving the Nissan Cube

The Nissan Cube has the distinction of being the Japanese box on wheels that didn't come to the U.S. first and become a surprise hit. That honor goes to the Scion xB, which appeared in 2004 and unexpectedly outsold its more conventionally shaped stablemate, the xA, thereby launching a whole new brand.

Nissan has committed to selling the Cube here starting in the spring of 2009. Now, to be clear, that model will be a whole new generation, not the version Nissan let us play with for a day. All the same, I thought you'd like to get a feel for the Cube, and I never miss an opportunity to wipe the windshield every time I make a turn. You see, this is a Japanese-spec model, which means the steering wheel's on the opposite side of the car and the turn signal stalk is on the opposite side of the steering column. If you've ever switched to a right-hand-drive car, you know exactly what I mean. Fortunately, it was raining when the Cube came, which gave me a day of "I meant to do that”s.

Other aspects were decidedly Japanese — most notably the engine, a 1.4-liter four-cylinder that comes admirably close to producing 100 horsepower.

Season Recap: The Best SUVs

We’ve already recapped our favorite efficient cars and hybrids, but what about the SUVs? Even with sky-high gas prices, new SUVs of all sizes are coming to market. This year brought some of the best interiors and fuel efficiency yet in this segment, but what glorified station wagon took our staff’s hearts?

Joe Wiesenfelder: 2009 Volvo XC60
Put simply, there were some impressive redesigns this year, but I have to go with an all-new entry — especially when it's a smaller alternative to an existing SUV: The XC60 is a handsome vehicle with a high-quality interior and all the safety features you could possibly want. It isn't too small in practical terms compared to the XC90, but it is smaller. These days, smaller is better.

Cars.com Faceoff: Dodge Grand Caravan, Honda Odyssey, Nissan Quest

While most requests we hear from families involve wanting a car that has all the capabilities of a minivan but isn’t actually a minivan, there are still minivan shoppers out there. Cars.com’s Joe Wiesenfelder and Mike Hanley took on three popular models, including the newly redesigned Dodge Grand Caravan and slightly tweaked Honda Odyssey. Can the Nissan hold its own against such tough competition? Check out the Faceoff to find out.

Cars.comparison: Family Workhorses

Do Large Sedans Have Big Future?

In an age when crossover SUVs and fuel-sipping small cars are all the rage, some may wonder why automakers still pursue large, relatively gas-thirsty sedans. No slowdown is in sight: Ford reportedly will debut a redesigned Taurus early next year, and Nissan took the wraps off its seventh-generation Maxima at last week’s New York auto show.

That’s in spite of the fact that the market for such cars is stalling: J.D. Power reports that large-car sales dropped 21% over the past two months. Automakers are committed to sticking it out because they say the cars represent flagships for their brands, and they’re confident the road ahead won’t be quite so rough.

Maxima's Face Leaves Some Qs

We've been scratching our heads at the Maxima's new front-end styling. The more we look at it head-on, the more we see a resemblance to a certain flagship from Nissan's luxury division. Maxima, meet Q45, the full-size Infiniti sedan that was axed from the automaker's lineup in 2006. In its swan song year, the luxury sedan cost some $58,000, a figure that put it up against the Lexus LS and Audi A8.

The resemblance is more than passing, so we asked Nissan design VP Bruce Campbell if the late Q had provided any inspiration. He chuckled — apparently we weren't the first to ask him that.

"In short, no," Campbell said. "But, you know, that's thinking of it in retrospect. There was no picture up there on the board, [with us] thinking 'Oh, that was a nice car.'"

The Maxima's head designer, in fact, might have been "too young" to remember the Q's glory years, Campbell said. That's a shame, because it would seem fitting that Nissan's latest flagship would follow in the footsteps of Infiniti's former top dog. Or maybe not — given the Q's demise, the Maxima might just as well do without its ill-fated legacy.

Video: 2009 Nissan Maxima

We knew when we saw the first images of the new Nissan Maxima that it would be one of the most-talked-about debuts in New York. The big-mouthed sedan has won over nearly all of us, including Kelsey Mays, who delivers an up-close look at the Maxima live from the show floor.

More on the 2009 Nissan Maxima

Up Close: 2009 Nissan Maxima

Nissan calls its latest Maxima a four-door sports car, a description that once graced previous generations of the car. I’ll have to wait until I drive one to see if that’s true, but after poking around in the all-new car at the auto show today I can say it wouldn’t be such a bad thing if Nissan simply called the car a full-blown luxury sedan. Cabin quality is palpably better than in the latest Altima — not a quality-lightweight itself — and the leather seats would feel at home in any Infiniti product. Both the front and rear seats have considerable side bolsters to hold you in during turns, but their cushioning is forgiving enough that I didn’t feel squeezed. (That also postpones my diet — woot!)

The dash combines the Altima’s wraparound panels with the center controls and navigation system from Infiniti’s G and M sedans. Cabin storage is abundant, with a decent-sized center console and a huge glove compartment. One complaint: Like in the Rogue, the compartment’s cover opens right onto passengers’ shins. The dashboard materials are low-gloss and soft to the touch.

I wish I were as jazzed about the exterior as I am about the interior. The rear is the one high point — it looks much better in person than the pictures show, and I can see bits of the Altima coupe and Mercedes S-Class. Up front, though, the grille seems too low and wide, and the lower air dam looks a bit busy. Oh, and don’t get me started on those headlights.

Our gallery of live and manufacturer photos is below.

Related:
2008 New York Auto Show: 2009 Nissan Maxima

Nissan Will Debut New Cube This Fall

At today’s unveiling of the redesigned Maxima, Nissan division general manager Al Castignetti said the next-generation, U.S.-bound Cube will arrive at this November’s Los Angeles auto show. The Scion xB-fighter will come as a 2010 model with a gasoline engine; no hybrid or plug-in electric version, like the Denki Cube concept on display at Nissan’s stand in New York, has yet been specified. Castignetti did say, however, that Nissan plans to have an electric vehicle commercially available by 2012.

The current Cube’s styling out-boxes the xB — even the wheels have a cube-ish design — and we’d expect the next one to not stray far from this formula. Castignetti said he expects the car to cost something near the Versa sedan, whose 2008 prices run from $12,710 to $15,460. Provided the Cube boasts an ample list of standard features, it could prove quite a bargain compared to the $15,650 xB. More photos of the Denki Cube below.

2008 New York Auto Show: 2009 Nissan Maxima

• Competes with: Toyota Avalon, Buick Lucerne, Chrysler 300
• Looks like: One really miffed Altima
• Drivetrain: 290-hp (est.), 3.5-liter V-6 with CVT automatic
• Hits dealerships: Early summer 2008

The Nissan Maxima, a car whose future was once precarious, is evidently alive and well. Nissan will unveil the seventh-generation Maxima at this week’s New York auto show, and it says its aim in redesigning this car was nothing less than to create the best-performing front-wheel-drive sedan in the world. There are tall orders, but this one seems like a veritable Everest.

To work, then: The car’s width has been increased, but its wheelbase has been shortened, which should bode well for handling. The brakes are larger, and Nissan has uprated its venerable 3.5-liter V-6 to 290 hp, up from 255 hp last year. A continuously variable automatic transmission continues to be standard — in the outgoing Maxima, it proved surprisingly responsive — and has manual and Sport modes. Paddle shifters are optional.

We can’t say we’re crazy about the car’s styling. It’s something of an angrier Altima in front and (here comes the hate mail) a larger Toyota Yaris sedan in back. Like with the earlier Maxima, though, we figure the shape will grow on us. There’s plenty of eye candy inside, where the dashboard borrows themes from the Altima sedan and various Infiniti models. The navigation system uses the setup from the Infiniti M35/M45 and G35 sedans rather than the Altima’s simpler system, and that’s a good thing. Loaded Maximas (Maximae?) boast everything from a backup camera and heated steering wheel to a panoramic moonroof with power-retracting sunshades. That should put the car on par with full-size sedans like the Toyota Avalon and Buick Lucerne, if not entry-level luxury cars like the Lexus ES.

The ’09 Maxima hits dealerships in just a few months. We have the first shots from the auto show floor below and will be updating the gallery throughout the day.

2009 Nissan Maxima Ready for New York

Nissan will unveil its seventh-generation Maxima sedan at the New York auto show next week. Today the company provided us with some teaser images that really don’t reveal much — if any — of the car’s overall design. We’re not allowed to reveal anything more, but let’s just say this could be one of the most-discussed vehicles of the entire show when the full monty is dropped.

Reader Review of the Week: 2008 Nissan Versa SL Hatchback

In this week's reader review, Brad of Colorado gives the 2008 Nissan Versa hatchback his nod, citing its reliable handling, ample legroom and loads of cargo space. He also notes the very decent gas mileage and comfortable interior design. Read Brad's full review below. You can also submit your on reader review here.

Honda Still on Top in U.S., Says Consumer Reports

For the second year in a row, Consumer Reports has named Honda the automaker selling the best vehicles in the U.S., based on factors ranging from reliability to vehicle comfort.

Toyota and Subaru ranked second and third, followed by BMW, Mazda, Nissan and Volkswagen. No domestic nameplate appeared on the list.

Nissan Murano Earns Top Safety Pick

The redesigned 2009 Nissan Murano has earned a Top Safety Pick rating among 10 midsize SUVs crash-tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The Murano was the only SUV to get a Top Safety Pick honor by scoring Good in all three crash tests. (Results in front, side and rear crash tests by IIHS are rated as Good, Acceptable, Marginal or Poor.) The 2008 Mazda CX-7 and Mazda CX-9, as well as the 2008 Mitsubishi Endeavor, fell short of the Top Safety Pick rating, IIHS says, because head-rest protection in rear crash tests was rated Marginal in the Mazdas and Poor in the Mitsubishi.

Though many would classify the Murano, CX-7 and CX-9 as crossovers, IIHS classifies them as SUVs.

 

Recall Alert: 2009 Nissan Murano, 2008 Infiniti EX35

Two major new products from Nissan are being recalled due to a software glitch that could cause passenger airbags to fail during a crash.

The recall affects 11,511 2009 Nissan Muranos, which went on sale just this month, and 4,854 2008 Infiniti EX35s, which went on sale in late 2007. Nissan will reprogram the software to fix the problem; it should be an easy fix to a potentially dangerous problem.

First-year models often have growing pains with problems like this, but sometimes news of a recall can sway potential buyers of a new model.

Owners can contact Infiniti at 1-800-662-6200 and Nissan at 1-800-647-7261 for more information.

Nissan Recalls Murano, Infiniti SUVs for Airbag (Bloomberg)

Nissan Taking GT-R Pre-Orders

Nissan announced today that it's accepting pre-orders for its 480-hp, all-wheel-drive GT-R sports car.

The GT-R — priced from $69,850 base to $71,900 for the Premium trim — will be sold through 691 certified dealerships; destination and handling charges haven't been announced yet.

Nissan spokesman Darryll Harrison said Nissan expects to sell about 2,500 GT-Rs in the first year. Certified GT-R dealerships have gone through unique training in their sales and service departments to accommodate the specialty sports car.

Ready to buy your own GT-R? We're jealous, but you can find a list of certified GT-R dealerships at nissanusa.com. If you're lucky enough to reserve one, customer deliveries are scheduled to begin in June.

Related
Nissan Can't Stop GT-R Markups
Nissan GT-R News
Up Close With the Nissan GT-R

First Look: Suzuki's New Truck

Here’s the first official image of the new mid-size truck that Suzuki will debut at the Chicago Auto Show next week. There still isn’t an official name attached; however, Equator is the heavily rumored title. The truck is based on the Nissan Frontier and was developed with Nissan. In this image, the similarities between the two are striking. Hopefully, when we learn more about this new Suzuki, there will be more to distinguish it.

Best Cash-Back Finds: 01.25.08

Ford, Lincoln and Mercury are dolling out pretty darn good deals through the end of February, and we had to be selective about which ones we picked for this round of our top finds. We could have gone with the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner with decent cash back, or numerous SUVs, but we went a different way. We also added one fun-to-drive model that’s surprisingly still in decent supply. For a complete list check out Cars.com's Incentives page.

2008 Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable

MSRP: $23,485/$23,780
Cash back: $2,000
Percent off MSRP: 8.4-8.5%   
Expires: 2/29/08
5-Year Ownership Costs

Just this week, Ford’s CEO said the company is going to redesign the Taurus completely for 2009. That kind of move would usually have us telling folks to wait and see, but the Taurus and Sable were just updated this year, and we just spent a week in the new Sable and found it to be a great daily driver. The new Premier trim had a pretty nice interior, too. Both also look much better in person and offer a ton of space in the second row and trunk.

Nissan Wants to Be Hybrid Player by 2010

If the Detroit auto show reinforced one thing, it’s that hybrids and alternative-fuel vehicles are the new battleground for automakers. Nissan has lagged well behind other full-line car companies in this department, but hopes to turn those prospects around in the next two years.

In Detroit, Nissan’s executive vice president for research and development, Mitsuhiko Yamashita, told the Detroit Free Press that Nissan plans to develop a hybrid that will outperform all similar vehicles currently on the market. Nissan only sells a hybrid version of the Altima, which makes use of Toyota’s hybrid technology, in a few U.S. states. It hopes to develop its own system by 2010, which it hopes will get better fuel economy and acceleration, as well as an extended range that will allow the car to drive farther than any other vehicle on the road without using the gas engine.

Nissan hasn’t indicated which vehicle will get the new hybrid system, only that it will be a rear-wheel-drive vehicle that will use more electric power than current hybrids, like the Toyota Prius — clearly the vehicle Nissan has in its sights with this project.

Interestingly, Yamashita shrugged off Toyota’s and GM’s attempts to move in the direction of plug-in hybrids, which these companies seem to think are the future of more fuel-efficient cars. The Nissan exec cited the high expense of additional battery capacity as his main doubt about the viability of those cars. While his concern may have some validity, it may also be that two years down the road Nissan will simply find itself a step behind yet again.

Nissan Says It’ll Have Own Hybrid in 2010 (Detroit Free Press)

2009 Nissan Murano Pricing Announced

Nissan announced pricing for the 2009 Murano today, and it starts at $26,330. That gets you a two-wheel-drive Murano S with a V-6 and continuously variable automatic transmission. All-wheel drive runs $1,600, and the top-of-the-line Murano LE AWD costs $35,910. For S and SE trims, 2009 prices dropped $1,500 versus the 2007 Murano (Nissan didn’t offer an ’08). The 2009 S loses a handful of minor features, like a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, versus last year’s S, but it’s still pretty well-equipped; standard features include dual-zone climate control, push-button start and all the usual power accessories. For the $1,500 saved, we won’t mind reaching a little farther to adjust the radio. A full pricing breakdown is below.

• Murano S 2WD: $26,330
• Murano SL 2WD: $27,880
• Murano S AWD: $27,930
• Murano SL AWD: $29,480
• Murano LE AWD: $35,910

Destination charge: $745

Major options for the SL and LE include a dual-panel moonroof ($1,170), navigation system ($1,850) and DVD player ($1,600). Expect a loaded Murano LE to run just over $40,000.

Joe Wiesenfelder reviews the 2009 Murano (Cars.com)

Weekend Athlete: 2008 Nissan Rogue

This is the part of the job that's not so fun: Grading. If the Rogue were a student, it would be the one who tried hard, whom you liked and who did many things right, but just couldn't quite put it all together come test time.

Nissan Rogue Most Popular New Car on Cars.com

Judging from consumer searches on Cars.com, the Nissan Rogue was the most popular new car of 2007. The Rogue narrowly beat out the Infiniti G37, Buick Enclave and Dodge Avenger to nab the top spot in the most recent Cars.com Consumer Search Index.

This list included only new 2008 models that were introduced to consumers in 2007, and popularity was determined based on the average number of searches each month for each car since it was introduced.

The Rogue is Nissan’s first foray into the small SUV/compact crossover segment, and it has garnered largely positive reviews. In his expert review, Cars.com’s David Thomas noted that “even in its rookie season, [the Rogue] seems ready for the pro bowl.”

With gas prices steadily high, the Rogue should remain popular, along with other compact SUVs from Honda, Ford and Toyota. Below is the full list of the most popular new-car introductions on Cars.com in 2007.

Cars.com Reviews the 2009 Nissan Murano

It may not have a price yet, but that didn’t stop Cars.com senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder from reviewing the all-new 2009 Nissan Murano. The redesigned SUV is due out next month and won rave reviews from our editors under the lights of the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. Joe gives a thorough review of the Murano to see if it stands up as well on the road.

2009 Nissan Murano Expert Review

2008 Detroit Auto Show: Nissan Forum Concept

• Looks like: We’re still not quite sure
• Defining characteristics:  No B-pillar, no track for side doors
• Ridiculous features: Surveillance monitors for back seats
• Chance of being mass-produced: Remote. Some of the design language might make a new minivan, but the structure and tech features would make it too costly for a typical family

Nissan seems to think it needs a new minivan to replace the Quest. While other car companies like Ford and GM have ditched the segment entirely, Nissan keeps plugging away. The latest attempt is the Forum concept. The radical looking van is actually quite innovative in a number of ways; unfortunately, all that innovation has little chance of making it to the driveway anytime soon.

The coolest part for minivan owners is that there is no pillar behind the front seats. Instead, the front doors open 90 degrees and the rear doors open on a unique hinge instead of a sliding track. That means there is room for stylizing the side panel, but we just don’t see much stylization there. It also means easier entry for all parties.

Inside there is a gorgeous upscale interior, a sky panel roof with hidden screens, and plenty of entertainment options co-developed with Bose. The rear seats get surveillance cameras to keep an eye on the kiddies as well as a swivel design, much like the seats found in Chrysler’s new minivans.

We like the idea of the Forum quite a bit, but we wonder if this is a look at a future consumer product or just a daydream for busy moms and dads. More photos below.

Suzuki Midsize Pickup Confirmed

Last week, PickupTruck.com wrote an interesting article on Suzuki bringing a midsize pickup based on the Nissan Frontier to market. Today, official word came from Nissan that it will indeed build the Suzuki-branded truck at its Smyrna, Tenn., plant sometime in 2008.

PickupTruck.com states that the new truck — a trademark search discovered the name Equator, although that could just as easily not be the name — will debut at the Chicago Auto Show in early February.

Midsize trucks haven’t been setting the sales world on fire lately, but Suzuki feels it can sell the vehicle to fans of its ATVs and motorcycles who are looking for a capable truck to tow their toys. There hasn’t been any glimpse of the design, but we expect it to look similar to the XL7 SUV shown above.

Cars.com Reviews the 2008 Nissan Titan

With heavyweights like the Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado in its class, the Nissan Titan has had trouble attracting buyers. It also doesn’t help that it consistently receives poor marks for reliability from consumer magazines. Given the obstacles the truck faces, can the 2008 Titan improve on its predecessors, and if so, can it then lure buyers? Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays is not all that optimistic.

2008 Nissan Titan Expert Review (Cars.com)

The 2008 Cars.com Mileage Challenge: Part 2

Yesterday, we detailed our scheme to document the real-world mileage of four 2008 models — a Nissan Rogue, Subaru Impreza, Dodge Grand Caravan and Hyundai Sonata. All the cars except the Rogue had trip computers with mileage readouts, so we were able to easily track our mileage along the way. The results are in:

New Nissan Rogue Third-Best-Seller for Company

Update: Oops. It seems we can't read spreadsheets too well. The Sentra is actually the second best seller for Nissan, with the Rogue coming in third. In other news, the redesigned Sentra saw a 2% rise in sales in November. Go Sentra.

The Nissan Rogue debuted in October as the company’s first attempt at the compact SUV market. After its first full month on sale in the U.S., the Rogue racked up sales of 5,650 units in November. That comes in behind only the popular Altima sedan and coupe, and the Sentra compact sedan in Nissan’s lineup, with sales of 19,811 and 8,180 units respectively. The compact Versa is still selling well and came in just behind the new Rogue with 5,561 units sold.

This means Nissan has early evidence that it didn’t make a mistake trying to compete with the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 in a crowded segment. However, those two vehicles still sold 16,498 and 12,354 units, respectively, last month. Nissan still has a way to go before upsetting either one.

Related
2008 Nissan Rogue Expert Review with Video (Cars.com)
More Rogue News (KickingTires)

The 2008 Cars.com Mileage Challenge

As the price for a gallon of regular gas hovers above $3 a gallon — $3.40 in California — it’s high time we investigate what sort of mileage our cars achieve in the real world. In October, the EPA released its 2008 Fuel Economy Guide, which rates mileage using stricter standards for acceleration, air-conditioning use, cold weather and top speeds than were used in the past. The new measures purportedly reflect real-world driving better than before; MPG ratings dropped some 5 to 15 percent per car using the new standards.

Still, the EPA tests are done in laboratories, not on the road. To test real-world mileage, we took four cars across interstates and rural roads between Chicago and Madison, Wis., in October. Nine hours, two pit stops and one greasy lunch later, we had logged some 300 miles.

2008 Detroit Auto Show: Nissan Forum Concept Sketch

Nissan is trying to revamp its family-hauler lineup in the near future — it seems folks aren’t fond of the Quest minivan — and the Forum concept promises some family-friendly technology; Nissan calls them “innovative family communications systems.” They include a Bose media system that not only handles all the entertainment in the vehicle, but also uses monitoring cameras in the second and third rows to keep an eye on the kiddies. Kids won’t mind the invasion of privacy; they’ll have seat-mounted speakers for every row. An interior sketch can be found below.

Cars.com’s coverage of the Detroit auto show begins Jan. 13, 2008.

Recall Alert: 2002, 2005-2006 Nissan Altimas, Sentras

Last August, Nissan recalled more than 200,000 Sentras and Altimas equipped with its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. Now the company is expanding the recall to cover some 653,910 vehicles. The new model years impacted by the recall include 2002, 2005 and 2006 Sentras and Altimas.

The problem involves a faulty sensor that, if working improperly, can cause the engine to shut off. 

Nissan Recalls 653,910 Sentras, Altimas to Fix Sensor (Bloomberg)

L.A. Auto Show Ultimate Production Winner: 2009 Nissan Murano

Yesterday, Mike Hanley, David Thomas and Joe Wiesenfelder rated all the production and concept cars on display at the L.A. auto show, which runs through Sunday at the Los Angeles Convention Center (and yes, it’s open on Thanksgiving). We named a lot of winners and losers, but in the end there was just one vehicle that really wowed us in every way: the Nissan Murano. 

Nissan Can't Stop GT-R Markups

How long after the exotic 2009 Nissan GT-R arrives in showrooms next June will the first speculator put one up for sale on eBay in order to make a quick profit?

The guesstimate is seconds, or about the same time it will take some dealers to tack a premium on the car and sell it significantly above the sticker price in order to make a hefty profit.

Nissan says it can't stop either from happening with the GT-R, a $70,000-plus sports car powered by a 473-hp, 3.8-liter V-6 teamed with a six-speed automatic.

Video: 2009 Nissan GT-R

If you only see one car at the L.A. auto show, it better be the Nissan GT-R. We have to wait an agonizing seven more months before it comes to the states, but right now you can at least check out this video, featuring senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder giving it a thorough overview from the show floor. We can’t wait to spend 3.5 seconds in that thing on the road.

Up Close With the Nissan GT-R

• The first thing you notice when you sit in the GT-R is that the sport bucket front seats are rather narrow. The large bolsters grip your back mightily, which doesn't normally happen to me when I'm in a performance car; there's always a little space between the side of my back and the bolsters. The dash of the GT-R is a mishmash of design themes. The round air vents are in contrast with the angular center portion of the dash, which is dominated by a large infotainment screen. I didn't find the outside of the car very cohesive, either; there's just too many elements in play, like circular taillights matched with angular headlights and a slab-sided body. That said, I'm inclined to think some time in the driver's seat might change my tune. — Mike Hanley

Up Close With the 2009 Nissan Murano

Do the wild looks of the Murano hold up in person?

• I'm glad to see Nissan recant the original Murano's quasi-experimental dashboard for something more old-school. Quality is everywhere: Soft-touch panels overlap each other with nary a gap in between, and the center controls look like the ones in the Infiniti G35. Very impressive. The leather upholstery feels like an Infiniti's, too, which will probably irk your neighbor who spent thousands more on his EX35.
  
  If the Murano has flaws, they have to do with the way things work, not how they look or feel. The massive glove compartment opens on the passenger's shins, like the glove box in the smaller Nissan Rogue. The power-raising rear seats are a nice touch, but there's no one-touch functionality so you have to hold down the switch while they ... slowly ... motor upward. And on a quirkier note, the wipers are three different lengths — the left-front is longer than the right-front, which is longer than the rear-window wiper. No doubt when the blades wear out you'll need to buy specialized (read: expensive) replacements at a Nissan dealership. — Kelsey Mays, 4:50 p.m.