From 1982 to 1992, the Nissan Stanza was the auto maker's compact car. The Stanza came in a number of body styles, including a sedan, wagon, and hatchback. Though the Stanza was discontinued in most export markets by 1986, it continued to be sold in the US. By 1994, however, the Stanza had disappeared from the Nissan lineup completely. Stanza was replaced by a brand-new Altima sedan for '93
The final generation of Nissan's front-drive compact sedan got a new engine, as part of its 1990 redesign. A 138-horsepower, 2.4-liter four replaced the former 2.0-liter engine. Base XE and upscale GXE models were available, with either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. The GXE could be ordered with an all-disc brake package that included an antilock braking system.
In 1992, a sporty SE model was added to the Stanza range. Offering most of the features of the luxury-oriented GXE, the SE added a blackout grille, rear spoiler, fog lights, and leather-wrapped steering wheel. This version used the 2.4 L straight-4 Nissan KA24E engine, an upgrade from previous generations in displacement (1974 cc to 2398 cc), power (94 hp to 138 hp), and torque (114 ft-lb to 148 ft-lb).
The Stanza had some maintenance issues, due to which it did not gain popularity. The engine used to misfire frequently, leading to poor fuel economy, or poor power. Engine stalling due to contaminated transmission fluid was another problem. Also, cars with a manual transmission would shake or vibrate as the clutch was engaged, due to a problem with the clutch-release lever.
