In 1997, Nissan had three sedans in the US, a small, medium and large.
For the next 15 years, Nissan increased the size of each of its sedans prompting a new model, the XL.
| Nissan Sedans | 1997 | 2012 |
| S | Sentra | Versa |
| M | Altima | Sentra |
| L | Maxima | Altima |
| XL | Maxima |
1997 Sentra v 2012 Versa
| 1997 Sentra | 2012 Versa | |
| Length | 171 | 175.4 |
| Width | 66.6 | 66.7 |
| Height | 54.5 | 59.6 |
1997 Altima v 2012 Sentra
| 1997 Altima | 2012 Sentra | |
| Length | 180.5 | 179.8 |
| Width | 67.1 | 70.5 |
| Height | 55.9 | 59.5 |
1997 Maxima v 2012 Altima
| 1997 Maxima | 2012 Altima | |
| Length | 189.4 | 191.3 |
| Width | 69.7 | 72 |
| Height | 55.7 | 57.9 |
