2009 Nissan Versa S Hatchback 4-door 1.8l on 2040-cars

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Cheapest SUVs of 2024

There is no doubt that cost is the number one decision maker when it comes to purchasing a vehicle. As prices continue to climb, affordable choices are getting harder to find, so we dug through what's available to find the least expensive SUVs in the most popular classes.  These prices are current as of January 2024, using available manufacturer suggested retail prices for 2024 models wherever possible. The prices include destination fees, but not dealer markups or incentives. Cheapest small SUV: 2024 Hyundai Venue Not surprisingly, the most affordable SUVs are the smallest. There's a whole host of subcompact SUVs out there, with some of the first introduced being the Nissan Juke, Mini Countryman and Kia Soul. In the beginning, these micro utes were marketed to empty nesters and first-time buyers, but nowadays they represent an alternative to the conventional sedan and have been increasing market share ever since. Profit margins in this class are narrow and popularity is high, which means the entrants are competitively priced. The top choices in the class are only a couple thousand dollars more than the most affordable alternatives below, so it may make sense to consider our favorites that include the Mazda CX-30, Volkswagen Taos and Chevrolet Trax. 2024 Hyundai Venue: $21,135 The Hyundai Venue debuted in 2020 and earned praise for its overall value. You get a ton of features for the money as well as a very generous warranty. Holding it back is its rather weak engine and very tiny proportions. Honorable mentions: 2024 Chevrolet Trax: $21,495 2024 Kia Soul: $21,565 Cheapest midsize SUV: 2024 Chevrolet Equinox Compact SUVs have the broadest appeal thanks to a very diverse group. It seems as though there's a great pick for nearly every taste, whether you're seeking something sporty, rugged or luxurious. They're a great pick for small families with one child and/or a dog. The class is led by vehicles that include the Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage and Mazda CX-50, which are still within reach of most shoppers' budgets. 2024 Chevrolet Equinox: $27,995 The Equinox debuted back in 2005 and this current third-generation was last redesigned in 2018, though a new one is right around the corner for the 2025 model year. While the current 2024 model may be showing its age, it still deserves your consideration for its comfortable ride quality, confident cornering and roomy passenger space.

Renault, Nissan attempt to calm rumors of impending split

TOKYO/PARIS — Shares in Renault recovered some lost ground on Tuesday after the French carmaker and its Japanese partner Nissan rejected media reports that their alliance was in danger of being dissolved. Some have openly questioned whether the alliance can survive without disgraced former CEO Carlos Ghosn to keep the two partners happy.  Renault shares fell to a six-year low on Monday after rumors circulated that its alliance with Nissan was in jeopardy. Nissan shares tumbled to their lowest in 8 1/2 years on Tuesday in Tokyo. At the opening of trading in Paris on Tuesday, Renault shares rose 1.3 percent, before falling back slightly to trade up 0.49 percent by 08:23 GMT. The alliance, which also includes Japan's Mitsubishi Motors, is "solid, robust, everything but dead," the chairman of Renault, Jean-Philippe Senard, told Belgian newspaper L'Echo. A split between the two automotive giants would force both to find new partners in a fast-consolidating industry that is growing increasingly difficult to navigate for independent companies. It will be especially difficult for Renault and Nissan, whose dirty laundry Ghosn intends to air for public consideration.   French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire also weighed in, saying reports some executives wanted to break up the alliance were "malicious." Speaking to France's CNews TV, he also said he expected Renault to name a new chief executive within days to replace Thierry Bollore, a Ghosn-era appointee who was ousted in October. Luca de Meo, who stepped down as the head of Volkswagen's Seat brand last week, is seen as a frontrunner for the job, although a stringent non-compete clause in his contract firm may prove a hurdle, sources have told Reuters. Nissan, in response to "speculative international media reports," said it was "in no way considering dissolving the alliance." "The alliance is the source of Nissan's competitiveness," the Japanese automaker said in a statement. "Through the alliance, to achieve sustainable and profitable growth, Nissan will look to continue delivering win-win results for all member companies." Concerns emerged about the future of the Renault-Nissan partnership after the November 2018 arrest in Japan of Ghosn, the man who did more than anyone else to hold together the disparate alliance of often-contrasting carmaking cultures.

Nissan GT-R LM Nismo pulls its way to Chi-town

We generally take it as a given that, as far as performance goes, rear-wheel drive is better than front. All-wheel drive can be better than either, in some cases, but you need power going to the wheels that aren't also handling the steering while leaving the others just tagging along for the ride. Right? Well Nissan is here to upend that notion with the new GT-R LM Nismo, presented here at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show. After supporting the DeltaWing project a couple of years ago and fielding its own ZEOD RC prototype last year, Nissan is returning to Le Mans this year with another oddball endurance racer. Only this time, it's going for gold, competing against the likes of Porsche, Audi and Toyota for the overall win in the top-tier LMP1 class. Tying this front-drive, 1,250-horsepower hybrid racing prototype to the all-wheel-drive GT-R may be tenuous, but we have to hand it to Nissan for shaking things up. In the process, Nissan has also confirmed the hot shoes who'll be tasked with manhandling this beast around the Circuit de la Sarthe (and the rest of the tracks on the 2015 FIA WEC calendar). Joining former Le Mans winner and longtime Ferrari test driver Marc Gene will be Super GT champion Tsuigio Matsuda as well as Harry Tincknell and Olivier Pla (both experienced from the largely Nissan-powered LMP2 field), Nissan factory driver Michael Krumm and GT Academy graduates Lucas Ordonez and Jann Mardenborough, both of whom have made their way into professional racing on the merit of their video gaming abilities. We'll be looking forward to watching them try to get the best out of this most innovative Datsun.