Nissan is a brand well known for reliability and putting together great vehicles that are a lot of fun to drive. While research is not something a lot of people find particularly fun or exciting, it helps to get a sense of what’s out there before you head off to your local Nissan dealer to check out what they have. Going in with a game plan will usually make the shopping experience a lot easier – and even if you’re not shopping for a new Nissan right now, it’s still fun to look at what’s out there.
Today, I’m going to take a look at the current Nissan lineup with an eye on a selection of models that are particularly exciting this year. The full lineup has a lot more than this, just for the record, so if you don’t see the kind of thing you’re looking for here, you can still find it at your Nissan dealer. These are just the seven models that I’m most excited about, and thought you should have a little insight into them. You’ll find a little something for everyone here, though most of these are cars since they’re getting some updates this year, and most of Nissan’s standard SUV models were updated last year.
The 2021 Nissan Versa
First up is the Nissan Versa, a four-door sedan that is the ultimate expression of practicality and efficiency from Nissan. This is a reasonably small car that is perfect for a downsized lifestyle or as a first vehicle for a young driver since it offers excellent fuel economy, is incredibly reliable, and still has terrific safety features. This is also one of the most modestly priced vehicles on the market, starting at $14,930, so it’s a fantastic option all around for a lot of folks.
One thing I really like about the Versa is that it’s available with either a manual or automatic transmission. The Versa comes with a 1.6L 4-cylinder engine that delivers up to 122 hp and 114 lb-ft of torque, plus it gets an estimated 32 MPG in the city, 40 MPG on the highway, and 35 MPG combined fuel economy. Its safety systems include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, a lane departure warning, and cruise control, all standard with available features like a blind spot warning.
The 2021 Nissan Sentra
If you’re looking for something a bit larger, then consider the Nissan Sentra, which is a four-door option that has a bit more to offer than the Versa. The Sentra starts at a slightly higher price, so keep that in mind if you’re on a budget, but you get a lot at that price. With its larger size, it also includes a more powerful engine than the Versa. The Sentra features a 2.0L engine that delivers up to 149 hp and 146 lb-ft of torque.
It has a slightly lower fuel economy, though it can still get an estimated 33 MPG combined (29 MPG city/39 MPG highway), and features an impressive suite of standard safety features. These include a forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and a lane departure warning. Additional features like rear automatic braking, a rear cross-traffic alert, a blind spot warning, and a rearview monitor are also all standard. With an available 7-inch driver display and 8-inch Infotainment display, the Sentra easily becomes the total package.
The 2021 Nissan Altima
The Nissan Altima takes performance and technology even further, offering one of the best sedans on the market. In particular, the addition of available all-season Intelligent All-Wheel Drive makes the Altima a fantastic choice for just about any climate. With some gorgeous interior luxury and impressive technology features available, you can really get a terrific driving experience with this model.
The standard engine on the Nissan Altima is a 2.5L 4-cylinder beauty that offers 188 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque with front-wheel drive. All-Wheel drive is available. There is also an impressive 2.0L Turbo engine available that delivers up to 248 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque for truly incredible performance. This Turbo model also includes steering-wheel paddle shifters to put you in control, while the available 7-inch driver display, 8-inch Infotainment display, and 9-speaker Bose Premium sound system really make driving the 2021 Altima a thrill.
The 2021 Nissan Maxima
The last sedan we’re going to take a look at is the impressive Nissan Maxima, which offers remarkable performance and technology. Despite its four-door design, the engine in the Maxima is a beast. It’s a 3.5L V6 that delivers up to 300 hp and 261 lb-ft of torque for incredible performance. With a responsive continuously variable transmission and electronic drive-by-wire throttle, the 2021 Maxima is seriously fun to drive.
A 7-inch driver display and 8-inch Infotainment display are standard on every model, along with an 8-speaker sound system, though an 11-speaker Bose premium audio system is available. Every model comes with an 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, and leather-appointed seating standard. Available options to take all of this luxury even further include climate-controlled front seats, heated rear seats, and premium leather throughout.
The 2021 Nissan Titan
If you are looking for a pickup rather than a sedan, then the 2021 Nissan Titan should definitely have your attention. Nissan sells two different trucks, and this is their full-size model, which means it is large and powerful, offering you the performance to handle just about anything you can throw at it. It’s a light-duty truck, and while it might not have as many engine options as some of its competitors, its standard engine is incredibly powerful and makes it a great choice.
In terms of performance, the Titan features a 5.6L V8 engine standard, which delivers up to 400 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque – that’s more powerful than any other standard engine in its class. So while you don’t have six or seven engines to choose from like you do with models like the Chevy Silverado, what you get is a fantastic engine all-around. You can get the Titan with four-wheel drive if you want it, and it offers up to 9,310 lbs of towing capacity or up to 1,690 lbs of maximum payload. If you need even more muscle, then the Titan XD can handle up to 11,040 lbs of maximum towing or up to 2,390 lbs of payload capacity.
The 2021 Nissan Rogue
The all-new 2021 Nissan Rogue crossover SUV is a fantastic option if you’re looking for a great family vehicle or want something to take on an adventure. With the Rogue, you can get a terrific combination of performance and luxury, with all-wheel drive available and numerous trims to choose from. The standard 2.5L 4-cylinder engine offers up to 181 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque, making it a lot of fun to drive while getting up to 30 MPG combined fuel economy with front-wheel drive.
Inside the updated Rogue, you’ll find great features like an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display and an available 12-inch digital dashboard. Combine this with an available head-up display, and you can get almost three feet of visible information. An available wireless charging area and support for services like Apple CarPlay make for a fantastic overall driving experience.
The 2021 Nissan ARIYA
Finally, the entirely new Nissan ARIYA is an electric crossover SUV that offers up to approximately 300 miles of range on a full charge. This is the model I’m most excited for as it joins the Leaf to build up Nissan’s electric lineup even more. With numerous configurations to choose from, including different battery sizes and either two-wheel or all-wheel drive versions available, the ARIYA will provide an incredibly responsive drive and let you skip the gas pump.
The 2021 Nissan Lineup Is Going to Impress
From an impressive collection of updated sedans to a brand new electric model, 2021 is shaping up to be a great year for Nissan. Honestly, I can’t wait to see all that Nissan has to offer this year and in the future. You can find out more about all of these 2021 models, and the rest of Nissan’s lineup, at your local Nissan dealer.
