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Nissan has set the stage for a major reset, and not every badge will survive it. The company’s new long-term push, called Mobility Intelligence for Everyday Life, promises fresh product energy, including the return of the Xterra, a new Skyline, and e-Power technology arriving in the United States through the redesigned Rogue. Big news. Real momentum.
But there is a catch. To make room for growth, Nissan says it will discontinue at least 11 low-performing models. The brand has not revealed the names, which leaves plenty of room for speculation and, frankly, a little automotive soap opera. When a company starts trimming the fat, the question is always the same: what stays, and what gets shown the door?
The Altima feels the pressure
One model that looks increasingly vulnerable is the Altima. It is nearly a decade old, and its momentum is fading. Sales dropped 18.1 percent last year to 93,268 units, which sounds decent until you remember that even 117,319 sales in 2024 was not enough to save the Chevrolet Malibu. In today’s market, a familiar sedan name is no guarantee of survival.
Still, there is a case for replacing it rather than defending it. The redesigned Sentra has grown into a roomy, well-equipped compact sedan with a more premium feel than its price tag suggests, starting at $22,600. If Nissan wanted a cleaner, sharper lineup, the Sentra could easily absorb some of the Altima’s role.
Then there is the Rogue Plug-in Hybrid, which has always felt a little awkward in the range. It is essentially a badge-engineered Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, and that lack of identity may make it an easy target if Nissan wants to simplify its crossover strategy.
The Murano is another interesting case. It is not exactly a volume machine, but it has found fresh life after its recent redesign. Sales jumped 121.3 percent last year to 42,747 units, a respectable comeback, even if the numbers remain modest for such a popular segment. On the upside, it likely earns its keep. With pricing starting at $41,670 and climbing close to $50,000 in Platinum trim, the Murano seems built more for margins than mass appeal.
Outside the United States, Nissan has even more room to prune. Its van and Kei car portfolios could probably be streamlined without much drama, though every cut risks upsetting loyal buyers in local markets. That is the balancing act Nissan now faces: protect the names that still matter, and cut the ones that no longer pull their weight.
So the debate is open. If Nissan truly has 11 models on the chopping block, which ones would you cut first?
Source: carscoops
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