Differences Between Body Styles in the Nissan Lineup

For many years, sedans have been the gold standard for what drivers look for in a new car. Available in subcompact, compact, midsize, and large sizes, sedans offer four doors, typically seat up to four or five people, and come with a trunk for storing cargo. Sedans also tend to be the most affordable type of new vehicle.

Over the years, many automakers have diminished their output of or even outright abandoned sedans. But not Nissan. Today, the Nissan sedan lineup includes the subcompact Versa, compact Sentra, midsize Altima, and sporty midsize Maxima. Across these models, you get incredible versatility. The Versa, for example, is one of the only new vehicles you can get today for well below $20,000 MSRP.[1] At the top of the range, the Maxima — also known as the 4-Door Sports Car® — delivers luxury-like accommodations and impressive power.

A hatchback is similar in many ways to a sedan, but it has one key difference: Rather than a trunk, it features a cargo area behind the rear seats that’s accessible via a rear door. The fact that this space isn’t contained to a rear deck tends to mean it offers more space than a sedan, making it a nice bridge between a car and a crossover. Hatchbacks are also sporty thanks to their sloping, aerodynamic shape, which is often reminiscent of shooting brake-style wagons.

Nissan doesn’t just offer a hatchback — it offers a hatchback that happens to be America’s original EV. The Nissan LEAF® offers 30 cubic feet of flexible cargo space thanks to its fold-flat rear seats, making it a great go-to for active drivers.

When you think of a sports car, a two-door coupe is probably the first style that comes to mind. With a long hood and a swooping, fastback roofline, the power of a coupe is evident even when it’s at rest. These sports cars are typically offered with front seats only, but 2+2 models add rear seats for additional passengers.

Nissan offers two legendary sports coupes: the new Nissan Z and the iconic GT-R. Either would be an exceptional choice if you’re looking for a weekend-ready athlete. The former gets 400 horsepower and offers seating for two, and the latter adds a pair of rear seats, ATESA ET-S® all-wheel-drive, and a 565-horsepower V6 that’s built by hand.

The true difference between a crossover and an SUV lines underneath the body itself. Crossovers are typically built on unibody frames similar to those used by sedans. SUVs, on the other hand, are built on frame much in the same way that pickup trucks are. Beyond this difference, crossovers and SUVs come in all shapes and sizes. Like sedans, they range from subcompact to full-size — smaller models typically have two rows with seating for up to five, and larger vehicles can seat as many as eight thanks to a third row.

If you want a crossover or SUV, Nissan has one of the deepest rosters around. The six-vehicle lineup includes the small yet sporty Kicks, the crowd-pleasing Rogue, the rugged Pathfinder, the luxurious Murano, the powerful and capable Armada, and the all-electric ARIYA. No matter what you’re looking for in a utility vehicle, Nissan offers a model that covers your bases with style.

Pickup trucks are incredibly popular for both commercial and personal use. With different cab and bed configurations, midsize and full-size trucks offer the ability to haul heavy payload and tow everything from trailers to boats. Because trucks are more popular outside of the job site, newer models are more luxurious and offer passenger capacity on par with some crossovers and SUVs.

Nissan offers not one but two awesome trucks: the midsize Frontier and full-size TITAN®. But offer impressive power, 4x4 capabilities, and tons of comfort and safety features that make them great choices for Fairfield families.