From 1982 to 1992, the Nissan Stanza was the auto maker's compact car, until it was replaced by the Nissan Altima. Its predecessor was the Datsun 510.

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. However, it was criticized for being too heavy and slow. The styling was also outdated.

By 1990, the Stanza was completely replaced by the car known as the Bluebird overseas, although it retained the Stanza name. The Stanza manged to eek out one more year in name only in the first Altima, which was officially named the Altima Stanza. By 1994, however, the Stanza had disappeared from the Nissan lineup completely.