9 Vehicles That Could Help Save Nissan

Published on July 19, 2025 in Top 10 by Vincent Aubé

Between tariffs and emissions standards, automakers are under a lot of pressure these days. It’s no wonder that car prices have exploded over the last 5-6 years.

One of the companies struggling the most is definitely Nissan. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably know about the Japanese giant's precarious position. The highly unstable situation in North America—the automaker's biggest market—isn't helping at the moment.

Christian Meunier, President of Nissan Americas, told us during a recent interview that Nissan was still stuck in COVID mode when he returned at the helm last January.

What's more, both the Nissan and Infiniti lineups have gradually lost their souls. In fact, this is one of Meunier’s main goals moving forward—to bring back passion and excitement to the portfolio. The Xterra has clearly been identified as a priority, but why stop there? Come to think of it, some older models deserve to come back, too.

Below is a short list of cars and SUVs that would make interesting candidates. We’re merely speculating, of course, but there's no reason why we can't have some fun imagining cool scenarios to get Nissan and Infiniti back on track.

Nissan Xterra

This one will most certainly return in the near future. Christian Meunier has made it one of his priorities. With rugged and adventurous SUVs becoming increasingly popular among Canadian and American drivers, the next-generation Xterra should be a hit. We don't know all the details surrounding the return of the Japanese 4x4, but it's clear that the first two generations will serve as inspiration for this future rival to the Jeep Wrangler, Ford Bronco and Toyota 4Runner.

Nissan Maxima

While speaking with Meunier, the Maxima came up at one point, although the return of this full-size sedan has not yet been confirmed. Sure, a few memorable editions did surface over the car’s eight generations, but it would be quite a surprise if the Maxima were to return to the lineup considering the segment has completely crumbled since its discontinuation in 2023. Maybe in a different shape and size?

Nissan GT-R

When it comes to the most iconic Nissan in history, everything points to a sequel, regardless of the powertrain envisioned by the automaker. That said, with the extremely tough times it’s going through right now, Nissan undoubtedly has other priorities than bringing back a halo car aimed at a very limited number of people. The wild Hyper Force concept that debuted in Tokyo back in 2023 could be an electrified preview of what the brand is planning for the next GT-R, but given fizzling demand for EVs, much could change between now and its return. A hybrid would make sense, though.

Nissan 240SX

If the automaker hopes to reconnect with enthusiasts, it must consider bringing a hint of affordable sportiness back into its lineup. The latest Nissan Z is a nice try, but its hefty price leaves plenty of room for a cheaper sports car. A modern interpretation of the 240SX (also known as the Silvia in Japan) could be a great way to attract customers otherwise shopping for a Subaru BRZ or Toyota GR 86.

Nissan 510

Should the 240SX project fail to get the green light, there's always a more compact alternative, as shown by the introduction of the IDx Freeflow (pictured top left) and IDx Nismo concepts in 2013. These two small, retro-styled coupes paid homage to the legendary Datsun 510 of the 60s and 70s. At the time, both were supposed to feature a four-cylinder engine (with a displacement somewhere between 1.2-1.5 litres) along with a CVT. The Nismo variant, meanwhile, was sportier, with key upgrades in line with the standards of Nissan's motorsports division. More than ten years later, Nissan fans are still waiting.

Nissan Micra

The five-door city car made an honest comeback for a few years, from 2015 to 2019. It was even a Canadian-only offering, with Nissan USA turning it down because American drivers typically prefer larger vehicles. The automaker then launched a much more upscale Micra over in Europe, but that one simply would have been too expensive for Canada. And sadly, the recently introduced Micra EV—based on the Renault 5 E-Tech—will not be part of Nissan's short-term strategy for North America. Still, we believe an electric Micra would be a hit in provinces like Quebec and B.C.—if the price is right, of course. Fortunately, the all-new 2026 Leaf, which has been reimagined as an urban crossover, is coming soon to a dealer near you.

A Small Pickup

The compact pickup segment was revived just a few years ago with the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz, but we haven’t seen anything else since, at least in North America. Considering that demand is strong—especially in Ford's case, not so much where its Korean rival is concerned—we have an easy time believing that a smaller pickup than the Nissan Frontier could appeal to North American consumers. Indeed, with the high prices of midsize and full-size trucks, the business case for a compact and agile pickup that can do some occasional work is becoming increasingly strong.

Infiniti G

We haven't talked much about Nissan's luxury brand, which is admittedly at a crossroads. With a lineup reduced to the full-size QX80 and the more affordable QX60 from 2026, the company will no longer have entry-level models (so to speak) following the discontinuation of the QX50 and QX55. Fortunately, it appears that a successor based on the Nissan Rogue platform is already in the works. However, in order to add a healthy dose of excitement to its portfolio, Infiniti must consider a return to the sports sedan segment. When the G35 debuted as a sedan and coupe in the early 2000s, enthusiasts lined up to get their hands on this BMW 3 Series fighter. Infiniti needs to recreate that buzz to win back the hearts of its most loyal fans.

Infiniti FX

In an SUV- and crossover-obsessed industry, it's essential for manufacturers to offer several options, especially one that appeals to customers who value performance. Infiniti deserves praise for starting the ball rolling with sporty, coupe-like SUVs. Remember the two generations of the FX, sold from 2003 and 2013? German competitors have followed suit with the BMW X6, Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe and more. Launching a brand new FX equipped with a performance-focused, electrified powertrain would, in our opinion, be a good move for Infiniti.