HEARD ON THE BEAT / BUZZ FROM THE BUSINESS WORLD

And the BOVY Goes to: Nissan is Japan’s second-biggest auto maker, but these days it can’t seem to move its cars and trucks in the United States even in a booming market. After plunging almost 16% in 1998, and despite incentives averaging $1,500 a car, Nissan’s U.S. sales fell 0.3% in January.

But there’s news on the way that might help ease the importer’s struggles.

Gardena-based Nissan North America Inc. will gather a bouquet of awards for best overall value when vehicle-rating service IntelliChoice Inc. announces its 1999 picks at the Chicago Automobile Show’s media preview today.

Winning an IntelliChoice BOVY, for “best overall value of the year,” doesn’t guarantee success, but savvy auto makers usually profit from the boasting rights. The Bay Area company bases the awards on its analysis of the cost of owning and operating a vehicle for five years. Factors include depreciation, insurance, maintenance, repair, fuel, financing, and taxes and license fees. Awards in six broad classes and 23 subcategories go to the vehicle with the lowest long-term costs.

Nissan won for its Frontier pickup, which was named best truck under $18,000, and its Quest minivan (Mercury buyers know it as the Villager), which won BOVYs in both minivan price ranges. Nissan’s Altima and Maxima sedans received runner-up awards. The only auto maker to do better this year was Honda, which won five best-in-class citations.