Nissan is a full-line automaker offering cars and trucks in virtually every segment of the market. Primarily known for enthusiast-oriented cars and inexpensive compact sedans and coupes, Nissan has expanded its product lineup in past few years. Recently, Nissan leveraged its expertise in small pickups to enter the full-sized truck and SUV markets, but has met with limited sales success.

In case you haven't seen the cover of a car enthusiast magazine in the last year, the latest Nissan GT-R has finally made it to North America. Long revered by enthusiasts, the 2009 GT-R is the first production model ever offered for sale in the U.S. The front/mid-engine GT-R is a technical tour-de-force from its twin-turbo V-6, to its full-time all-wheel-drive, to its twin-clutch rear transaxle. The styling puts some off, others decry it as an expensive Nissan. Either way, the GT-R has the performance to back up the hype.

The Murano crossover SUV enters its second generation for 2009. At first glance, the all-new Murano appears little different from the current model. Riding on a new platform, the Murano is virtually identical to its predecessor in size. Major changes include a more powerful V-6, sleeker front-end styling and a far more luxurious interior. The Murano deserves credit for creating a new niche of vehicle, as evidenced by the number of competitors entering this market.

Finally, the Nissan Maxima is all-new for 2009. It wears striking new sheet metal that no longer resembles the more common Altima. The Maxima retains its front-wheel-drive layout, but output from its 3.5L V-6 has increased by about 35-bhp. Nissan has resurrected the Maxima's "4DSC" tagline from the early Nineties to remind enthusiasts of its flagship's sporting heritage.

Next up for Nissan is the U.S. launch of the boxy Cube compact.

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Performance

For many, the way a car performs is a key criterion for which car to purchase. Our Velocity Index helps determine which vehicles are the best all-around performers taking in to consideration a balance of factors such as acceleration and handling.

For more information, view our new car performance guide.

What would we drive?

Based on our Velocity Index analysis, the 2008 Nissan 350Z (Enthusiast, Touring) seems to provide a good trade-off between price and vehicle performance.

Fuel Economy

Fuel economy has long been a key decision factor when buying a new vehicle. While the EPA estimates may accurately predict your mileage with a given vehicle, they are useful for broad comparisons of vehicles. Note that many trucks and large SUVS are too heavy to be required to specify their fuel economy.

For more information, view our new car fuel economy guide.

What's popular

Here are the five cars that draw the most attention from our readers.

• 2008.5 Nissan Titan King Cab
• 2008.5 Nissan Titan Crew Cab
• 2009 Nissan Maxima
• 2009 Nissan Murano
• 2009 Nissan Altima