- Nissan wins a literal handful of Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA) category honors, making it the top brand for two consecutive years
- Murano continues to dominate the Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV category with fourth straight crown
- Maxima takes home Luxury Mid-Size Car trophy for third year
- TITAN returns to the top of the Light Duty Pickup segment for the second time
- First-time award winners include the all-new LEAF in Mainstream EV Car segment and iconic 370Z in the Sports Car category
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – For the second year in a row, Nissan has scored more best-in-category wins than any other brand in the annual AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA), a nationwide survey of over 58,000 owners of new 2017 and 2018 cars and light trucks. Leading the pack of Nissan winners were three previous honorees – Murano, Maxima and TITAN – and two first-time award winners, LEAF and 370Z.
“Not only does Nissan have the most brand wins for the second year in a row, the Maxima and Murano have been unbeatable since their redesigns were introduced to the market,” said George Peterson, the president of AutoPacific.
The Vehicle Satisfaction Awards objectively measure owner satisfaction with 40 separate attributes ranging from seating comfort and interior quality to driving performance. They provide consumers with insight into which vehicles are giving owners a satisfying ownership experience.
“The AutoPacific VSA Awards provide a unique picture of how both brands and individual models are doing in terms of satisfying customers every day,” said Brandon White, the director and chief marketing manager of Nissan North America, Inc. “It’s great to see Nissan vehicles come out on top in a wide range of categories – sedans, crossovers, full-size trucks, electric vehicles and sports cars.”
About Nissan’s 2018 Vehicle Satisfaction Award Winners
As the halo vehicle for Nissan’s wide range of bold crossovers and SUVs, the multi-award winning Murano expresses Nissan’s advanced design direction – including its V-motion front end, LED signature boomerang lights and the unique “floating” roof. The stunning exterior design carries into the interior, which offers an engaging social lounge feel – including features such as advanced Zero Gravity front and outboard rear seating, and the airy atmosphere created by the large windows and oversized Power Panoramic Moonroof. Murano is the only vehicle in the 2018 VSA study with four consecutive category honors.
Now in its eighth generation, Nissan’s flagship Maxima sedan features standard Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay™, standard 300-horsepower 3.5-liter V6, performance-oriented Xtronic transmission and available sport-tuned suspension. Maxima also offers standard Intelligent Forward Collision Warning (I-FCW) and Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) on all grade levels. The popular Maxima SR Midnight Edition package features sport spoiler, 19-inch gloss black aluminum-alloy wheels, Intelligent Around View Monitor (I-AVM), driver-side seat memory, Intelligent Driver Alertness (I-DA)1 and more.
The TITAN half-ton is powered by Nissan’s 390-horsepower 5.6-liter Endurance® V8 engine. TITAN is available in a roomy Crew Cab, versatile King Cab and worksite-ready Single Cab body configurations – each available in 4×4 and 4×2. For 2018, a Midnight Edition is available on TITAN Crew Cab SV and SL grade 4×4 and 4×2 models. The Midnight Edition package includes a long list of special features: black front grille with dark insert, dark headlights, black fog light finishers, black outside rearview mirrors and door handles, step rails, black exterior badging, 20-inch black painted aluminum-alloy wheels, body-color front and rear bumpers, charcoal interior trim, Midnight Edition exterior badges and available Midnight Edition floor mats. Also available is the TITAN XD. All TITAN and TITAN XD models are covered by “America’s Best Truck Warranty” – featuring bumper-to-bumper coverage of 5-years/100,000-miles, whichever comes first (see dealer for limited warranty details)3.
The all-new Nissan LEAF further strengthens Nissan’s position as the global leader in zero-tailpipe emission electric vehicles. LEAF has been completely reinvented for its second generation, combining greater range with a dynamic new design and advanced technologies to create the ultimate EV package. The 2018 LEAF offers an EPA estimated range of 151 miles2, allowing drivers to enjoy longer journeys than the previous-generation vehicle. The new e-powertrain is rated at 147 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque, providing improved acceleration and driver enjoyment. Headlining the new Nissan LEAF’s Intelligent Driving technologies are ProPILOT Assist and e-Pedal. ProPILOT Assist is a single-lane “hands-on” highway driving assistance technology.
The instantly recognizable 370Z exterior features LED running lights and boomerang-style taillights – matched with an innovative driver-centric three-layer interior design that groups items by how a driver sees information, operates the controls and is held in place. All 370Z Coupe models are offered with a standard 332-horsepower 3.7-liter DOHC V6 engine and choice of 6-speed manual transmission with an available SynchroRev Match® synchronized downshift rev matching system with motorsports-inspired EXEDY® high-performance clutch, or a 7-speed automatic transmission with available paddle shifters. Also available are the 370Z Roadster and motorsports-inspired 370Z NISMO.
For more information on the Nissan Murano, Maxima, TITAN, LEAF and 370Z, along with all Nissan vehicles, visit NissanNews.com.
About AutoPacific
AutoPacific is a future-oriented automotive marketing research and product-consulting firm. Every year AutoPacific publishes a wide variety of syndicated studies on the automotive industry. The firm also conducts extensive proprietary research and consulting for auto manufacturers, distributors, marketers and suppliers worldwide. Company headquarters are in North Tustin, California, with an affiliate office in the Detroit area. Additional information about AutoPacific and the Vehicle Satisfaction Awards can be found on AutoPacific’s websites: www.autopacific.com and www.vehiclevoice.com.
About Nissan North America
In North America, Nissan’s operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and has been recognized annually by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year since 2010. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and INFINITI vehicles can be found online at www.nissanusa.com and www.infinitiusa.com, or visit the U.S. media sites nissannews.com and infinitinews.com.
About Nissan Motor Co.
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan’s second-largest automotive company, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 247,500 employees globally, Nissan sold 5.32 million vehicles and generated revenue of 11.38 trillion yen (USD 103.6 billion) in fiscal year 2014. Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of more than 60 models under the Nissan, INFINITI and Datsun brands. Nissan leads the world in zero-emission mobility, dominated by sales of the LEAF, the first mass-market, pure-electric vehicle. It is the best-selling EV in history with almost 50% share of the zero-emission vehicle segment. For more information on our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit our website at http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/.
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Media Contacts:
Kevin Raftery
Nissan Truck, SUV Outdoor Communications
615-981-9870
kevin.raftery@nissan-usa.com
Kyle Torrens
Nissan Product Communications
615-725-4019
kyle.torrens@nissan-usa.com
1. It is the driver’s responsibility to remain alert at all times. I-DA is only a warning to inform the driver of a potential lack of driver attention or drowsiness. It does not detect and provide an alert in every situation. See Owner’s Manual for details.
2. Projected 2018 EPA range of 151 miles. Actual range may vary based on driving conditions. Use for comparison only.
3. Claim based on years/mileage (whichever occurs first) covered under the New Vehicle Limited Warranty basic coverage. Ward’s in-market Large Pickup Segmentation and Small Pickup Segmentation v. 2017/2018 TITAN and TITAN XD and Wards Light Vehicle Segmentation: 2017/2018 Nissan NV Cargo, NV Passenger v. in-market Large Van Class; 2017/2018 Nissan NV200® v. in-market Small Van Class. Commercial Vans compared only. Nissan’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty basic coverage excludes tires, corrosion coverage and federal and California emission performance and defect coverage. Other terms and conditions apply. See dealer for complete warranty details. NV200® Taxi is covered under a separate limited warranty with a different level of coverage.