Edmunds.com: What's New for Every 2009 Nissan Vehicles

admin · 10-08-2008, 02:01 AM

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=132867

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The biggest news among the 2009 Nissans centers on the car with the lowest sales volume: the 2009 Nissan GT-R. This 480-horsepower sports car, known variously as Godzilla and the R35 Skyline GT-R, thrusts a big halo over the entire lineup, dispelling any doubt the world may have had about Nissan's ability to build world-class performance machines. Rather than bask in the excitement, Nissan has quickly turned its attention to the Z-car redesign. A smaller, lighter Nissan 370Z coupe is slated to debut early in the 2009 calendar year — likely as a 2010 model.
Elsewhere in the Nissan family, the 2009 Nissan Maxima is completely redesigned and has regained some of the sporting character of the original four-door sports car of the late 1980s. Also redesigned is the 2009 Nissan Murano, and though its shape isn't so easy on the eyes, its interior furnishings are vastly improved. Most other 2009 Nissans see only minor changes.

2009 Nissan 350Z Roadster:The Z Roadster is a carryover for 2009. Orange ventilated seats are no longer available, while Pikes Peak White gives way to Moonlight White. The 350Z coupe skips the 2009 model year altogether due to the imminent launch of the 2010 Nissan 370Z. The roadster will move to the new platform architecture later in 2009.

2009 Nissan Altima: The only technical change on the 2009 Nissan Altima sedan and Altima coupe involves the six-speed manual transmission, which gets some much-needed refinements. Otherwise, the base Altima sedan finally offers basics like air-conditioning and power mirrors as standard equipment, and all Altimas get speed-sensing automatic door locks.
Option packages are revised slightly on sedans, while the Altima Coupe 3.5 SE gets new 18-inch wheels. New colors on the 2009 Nissan Altima sedan are Majestic Blue, Sonoma Sunset and Sonoran Sand.
2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid: Changes on the hybrid version of the Altima sedan are limited to speed-sensing auto door locks and minor color-palette revisions. In addition to the regular Altima's Sonoran Sand (read: beige), you can paint your 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid in Mystic Jade, Navy Blue or Red Brick.
2009 Nissan Armada: The high-line Nissan Armada LE picks up additional standard equipment, including a 3.36:1 rear-axle ratio, towing preparation (including a larger battery), Bluetooth, heated front seats, power-folding mirrors, power rear-quarter windows and various driver memory settings. Nissan Armadas with the Technology package wear 20-inch chrome wheels. SE models with the Driver's package can now be equipped with a sunroof, and all Armadas pick up speed-sensing auto door locks.
2009 Nissan Frontier: All versions of Nissan's midsize truck have a new front fascia design, and V6 models get a new center stack design. Last year's off-road-oriented Frontier Nismo model is renamed the 2009 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X, but equipment differences are minimal. You still get the knobby BFGoodrich tires, Bilstein shocks, skid plates and a rear locking differential. New seat cloth for the Frontier LE and new 16- and 18-inch wheel designs round out the changes.
2009 Nissan GT-R: Although the price has gone up considerably since its mid-2008 launch, the 2009 Nissan GT-R is an intriguing performance car — if for no other reason than its ability to go faster than almost anything else on both road and track. Nissan sells the GT-R in base and Premium trim levels.
The base car has most of the amenities you'll want, including the hard-drive-based navigation system with all the driver-configurable gauges and meters you've read about, Brembo brakes and adaptive suspension. But the GT-R Premium comes with stickier Bridgestone tires, along with side curtain airbags and a better audio system.
2009 Nissan Maxima: We're happy to report that the 2009 Nissan Maxima has a shorter wheelbase, a wider track and less curb weight than last year's model. The result is a more athletic demeanor through corners, particularly if you option the high-line Nissan Maxima SV with the Sport package and summer tires.
In addition, Nissan's top sedan gets a more powerful version of the VQ-Series 3.5-liter V6, now rated at 290 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) remains standard, but its programming is more aggressive this year and you can get it with optional paddle shifters.
New features on the 2009 Nissan Maxima include a hard-drive-based navigation system with real-time traffic updates (provided you're an XM subscriber), a rearview camera, an extremely user-friendly iPod integration setup and a ventilated seat for the driver.
2009 Nissan Murano: The 2009 Nissan Murano is also heavily revised this year, and unlike most redesigns of midsize crossover SUVs, this one doesn't bring a dramatic increase in size. Instead, the Murano retains the same overall proportions that have made it popular with smaller families. Nissan has even resisted the temptation to squeeze in a kiddie-size third-row seat.
Nevertheless, the 2009 Nissan Murano brings dramatic improvements in interior materials quality — always a weak point in the original Murano. New additions to the features list include a power liftgate, a hard-drive-based navigation system with XM-based real-time traffic, a rearview monitor and an iPod integration interface. On the very practical side of the crossover equation, you'll find a pop-up grocery organizer in the cargo bay, while the rear seats in SL and LE models go from folded to upright with a single press of a button.
Nissan's 3.5-liter V6 returns as the standard power plant, and this year it's rated at a healthy 265 hp. Even better are the recalibrations Nissan has made to this crossover SUV's standard CVT, which better adapts to your driving habits while serving up quicker shifts than before.
2009 Nissan Pathfinder: Front-seat side airbags and speed-sensing auto door locks are standard on all 2009 Nissan Pathfinders, and Bluetooth is standard on the top-of-the-line LE. Pathfinder LE models with a V6 engine upgrade to 18-inch wheels. Minor shuffling among the option packages and the addition of Red Brick and Navy Blue to the exterior color palette round out the changes.
2009 Nissan Quest: You'll find only two additions on the 2009 Nissan Quest minivan: standard speed-sensing auto door locks and Tuscan Sun exterior paint.
2009 Nissan Rogue: A year after the introduction of the Nissan Rogue, Nissan is concentrating most 2009 upgrades on the high-line SL model. It packs a number of new standard items, including a fold-flat front passenger seat, a trip computer, "mood lighting" (Nissan's verbiage, not ours), a two-tier center console box, a driver seatback pocket, cargo bay hooks and dual illuminated vanity mirrors.
All 2009 Nissan Rogues get speed-sensing automatic door locks. Front-drive Rogue SLs have leather, keyless startup and Bluetooth as new package options.
2009 Nissan Sentra: All 2009 Nissan Sentras, except the base model, have MP3-compatible CD players and two 12-volt power points as standard equipment. Oh, and of course, all Sentras get those nifty speed-sensing door locks, along with a revised trunk lid design. You'll find new seat cloth in base and S models, while the SL has new front seatback cushions.
Nissan has fiddled with the option packages for the SL, SE-R and SE-R Spec V models, while swapping in five new exterior colors — Arctic Blue, Metallic Blue, Midnight Sky, Red Brick and Sonoran Sand. So that's blue, blue, blue, red and beige.
2009 Nissan Titan: Look for a body-color front bumper on 2009 Nissan Titan XE models, and speed-sensing door locks on all Titans. If you live in Texas, you can option your Nissan Titan SE or LE with the Texas Titan package. If you live in any state but Texas, you can add the Heavy Metal package. Either way, you'll enjoy a chrome billet grille, chrome step rails and chrome wheels. A new Max Utility package bundles step rails and extendable side mirrors with towing preparation (including a lower 3.36 final-drive ratio).
2009 Nissan Versa: Changes on the 2009 Nissan Versa arrive midyear when an automatic power locking feature becomes standard on the Versa SL and optional on the S. All Versas see Metallic Blue, Red Brick and Sonoran Sand added to their color palette, while the hatchback alone is available in Arctic Blue.
2009 Nissan Xterra: All 2009 Nissan Xterras get an updated front fascia treatment, a new center stack design and standard side curtain airbags.
All models get new upholstery this year, and the SE now comes with leather upholstery — quite a shift in priorities for Nissan's "everything you need, nothing you don't" SUV. In addition, the Xterra Off-Road model picks up roof-mounted lights, and we're pretty sure it doesn't need those.
Nissan is offering a new technology package, and though you'll have to pay for it later in the year, initially the company is throwing it in for free on all trim levels. The tech package includes Rockford Fosgate sound, an auxiliary jack, satellite radio, steering-wheel audio controls and Bluetooth. New wheel designs and the availability of Navy Blue and Red Brick exterior paint complete the list of changes on the 2009 Nissan Xterra.