Nissan

Nissan Buying Guide

Get the best online car shopping experience with expert reviews of Nissan Read more to learn about the most important features and important factors to consider when researching Nissan.

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Nissan Overview

Nissan is one of the world’s top automakers. The Japanese company’s first big hit in the U.S. was its 1970s sports coupe, the 240Z (then marketed under the Datsun brand). That car’s compelling combination of style, performance, and affordability has been the basic Nissan recipe ever since. Today, the Nissan lineup includes a full range of models, from hatchbacks and sedans to SUVs and trucks. The company also launched one of the first modern electric vehicles, the Leaf, in 2010. Nissan’s current top-sellers include the Rogue, a compact SUV, and the Altima, a midsize sedan.

Noteworthy Features

Top-Selling Nissan Altima and Sentra
The Nissan Altima and Sentra are popular and hot-selling cars in Nissan's lineup. The Altima is especially popular as a large family sedan. A recent redesign has the Altima looking better than ever and now equipped with all-wheel drive as an option. The Sentra may be basic, but it has a well-deserved reputation for being reliable, comfortable, and inexpensive, which helps it sell in high numbers.

Inexpensive Nissan Versa
Value-conscious buyers continue to like the inexpensive Nissan Versa, which was for a while the cheapest new car in the American market. The Versa is a subcompact sedan that offers satisfactory power in a 122-horsepower four-cylinder engine that is paired with either a five-speed manual or CVT on higher trims. A recent redesign gives the Versa a more luxurious interior and a number of new tech items on higher trims.

Quiet and Comfortable Nissan Rogue
Although Nissan has a selection of SUVs, including the Murano and Armada, the Rogue stands out for its comfortable and family-friendly package. The Rogue offers top-notch fuel economy, a hybrid powertrain, plenty of driver-assistance tech and a snazzy exterior. The latest redesign makes many of the driver-assistance tech standard equipment, and some new trims, like the Platinum Reserve, take it nearly into luxury territory.

Additional Considerations

Confined Spaces
Nissan has two trucks in its lineup with the Frontier and Titan. The mid-size Frontier has continued to sell despite remaining largely unchanged for years. However, it doesn't compete well with similar trucks from Toyota and GM due to its basic interior, among other factors. Similarly, the Titan struggles to compete with domestic trucks due to its relative lack of pulling power. The Titan does offer plenty of driver-assistance tech and a boldly styled exterior to draw in Nissan loyalists.

Nissan Small Cars
Nissan has a few different small vehicles, including the Juke and the Cube. The Juke is fun and funky with a peppy turbo four-cylinder and optional all-wheel drive. The Cube is a small, boxy four-door with a whimsically styled exterior but somewhat unresponsive acceleration that doesn't quite match up with its competitors.

Nissan Sports Cars
Nissan has a pair of sporty offerings in the Nissan 370Z and the GT-R. The 370Z features plenty of power and precise handling, but overall has more of a dated feel compared to its competition. On the other side, the GT-R is a bonafide supercar with a 565-horsepower V6 engine, but the price tag is likely to be unattractive to the average buyer.