The Nissan Ariya will go on sale in 2022 as the brand’s first EV crossover.
New-generation Nissan Z sports car in sale in the spring of 2022.
Redesigned Pathfinder and Frontier, minor changes across the rest of the lineup.
After a few tough years on the sales charts and on the financial statements, Nissan is in the process of turning things around with a constant flow of new product launches.
In addition, a new electric vehicle will soon be joining the lineup, as will an all-new generation of its popular mainstream sports car. Not to mention refreshed crossovers and trucks. Here’s what to expect from the Nissan brand in 2022.
Let’s start with the crossovers. The Nissan Ariya is the company’s first fully electric utility vehicle, and although it’s tagged as a 2023 model year, reservations are open and the first U.S. deliveries should begin in the fall of 2022. Four trim levels will be offered in the United States from $46K to $59K, the first three being equipped with a 238-horsepower electric motor and a front-wheel drivetrain, while the range-topping variant will boast AWD and an output of 389 horsepower. All four get an 87 kWh battery pack, and Nissan estimates driving range will vary between 265 and 300 miles (426 to 483 kilometres).
The Nissan Kicks is the smallest and most affordable crossover in the brand’s lineup, and after a refresh for 2021, it enter the 2022 model year with no changes. The Kicks has a front-wheel drivetrain, no available AWD, and is equipped with a 1.6L inline-four that develops 122 horsepower mixed with a continuously variable automatic transmission.
An all-new Nissan Qashqai made its debut in Europe in 2021, but the 2022 model year vehicle in the U.S.—where’s it’s called the Nissan Rogue Sport—and in Canada will soldier in current-generation form with no changes. All trim levels are equipped with a 2.0L inline-four that develops 141 horsepower, mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission and either front- or all-wheel drive. We can expect the new generation to cross the ocean pretty soon, although specific details aren’t available yet. In Europe, the Qashqai is equipped with turbocharged 1.3L engine with mild hybrid support, as well as an e-POWER system consisting of a small combustion engine with the brand’s variable compression technology.
Redesigned for 2021, the Nissan Rogue rolls into 2022 with the availability of a new variable-compression, turbocharged 1.5L inline-three engine that develops 201 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque, surpassing the output and fuel economy of the 181-horspower 2.5L four that already equips the Rogue. A new continuously variable automatic transmission is also found in the 2022 model, and as always, AWD is optional.
The midsize, two-row Nissan Murano soldiers on relatively unchanged in 2022. It gets a new Midnight Package in the U.S. market with black 20-inch alloy wheels and a monochrome exterior appearance, available on the SV trim level. The latter adds leatherette upholstery instead of cloth as well as heated front seats. The Murano relies on a 3.5L V6 engine with 260 horsepower, matched to a CVT and front-wheel drive, while AWD can be specified as well.
A new generation of the Nissan Pathfinder is introduced for 2022, boasting a fresh design, seating for up to eight and a reworked, more comfortable cabin. The 284-horspower, 3.5L V6 is back, but it’s now connected to a nine-speed automatic transmission, with AWD being available in the U.S. and standard in Canada. Towing capacity remains at 6,000 pounds or 2,922 kg.
The Nissan Armada was refreshed for 2021, so there are minor changes for the 2022 model year. In fact, the only noteworthy addition is power-folding third-row seats for the Platinum trim level in the U.S. The full-size, eight-passenger SUV is still equipped with a 5.6L V8 and a seven-speed automatic, now good for 400 horsepower.
The Nissan Frontier got an overhaul for the 2022 model year, replacing the current-gen compact pickup that’s been on sale without any significant changes since the fall of 2004. It rides on a reworked version of the outgoing Frontier’s platform, and it’s equipped with a direct-injected 3.8L V6 engine developing 310 horsepower and a nine-speed automatic, while offering a much more modern interior. Towing capacity is rated at up to 6,720 pounds or 3,048 kg.
No changes have been announced for the 2022 Nissan Titan full-size pickup in the United States, but it’s gone from the Canadian lineup. The Titan comes standard with a 5.6L V8 that develops 400 horsepower, matched to a recently introduced nine-speed automatic transmission, and the Safety Shield 360 suite of active safety gizmos is standard across all trim levels as well.
The Nissan Versa sedan gets no significant changes for 2022. It’s equipped with a 1.6L inline-four engine that develops 122 horsepower, mixed with either a five-speed manual gearbox or a CVT. The subcompact sedan is available in both countries in S, SV and SR trim levels, the latter adding a sporty appearance with 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and fog lights, among other features.
After receiving a complete redesign for the 2020 model year, the Nissan Sentra enters 2022 with a new Midnight Package and an All-Weather Package in the U.S. The former boasts black 18-inch alloy wheels and black exterior trim, and is available on the range-topping SR, while the latter adds dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and remote engine start to the mid-grade SV. No changes have been announced for the Canadian-market Sentra yet.
The fully electric Nissan LEAF is once again offered with two battery capacities for 2022. The 40-kWh pack provides a driving range of 149 miles in the U.S. and 240 kilometres in Canada, while the 62-kWh battery helps the compact hatchback cover a distance of up to 226 miles or 363 km. This year, the LEAF gets a lower base price to remain competitive, while technologies such as ProPILOT Assist and Around View Monitor are now more widely available. The CHAdeMO quick charge port is now standard on all trim levels in Canada.
The Nissan Altima receives a Midnight Edition Package in the U.S. with black exterior trim, LED fog lights, heated front seats, a power moonroof and black alloy wheels. It’s optional on the SR trim level. Meanwhile in Canada, the SR becomes the SR Midnight Edition with the same appearance changes. In the U.S., the midsize sedan is available with a 2.5L four that produces 188 horsepower in front-wheel drive variants, and 182 horsepower when matched to AWD, along with a CVT. Meanwhile, the innovative VC-Turbo 2.0L engine with 248 horsepower is only available in SR trim level with FWD—which the Canadian market doesn’t get. In Canada, the Altima comes standard with AWD and the 2.5L engine since the new generation arrived on the market.
As for the Nissan Maxima midsize sport sedan, it’s equipped as standard with a front-wheel drivetrain, a continuously variable automatic and a 3.5L V6 engine developing 300 horsepower. The only change announced by the manufacturer for the 2022 model year is the addition of heated rear seats on the Platinum trim level in the United States.
The all-new Nissan Z sports car was revealed in 2021, and will go on sale in the spring of 2022 as a 2023 model. It’s equipped with a twin-turbo 3.0L V6 that belts out 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque, mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or a nine-speed automatic. In addition to the new exterior design and a new, much more modern cockpit, the Nissan Z gets a heavily revised suspension compared to the outgoing 370Z.
The 2022 model year of the company’s other sports car, the Nissan GT-R, hasn’t been announced yet for the U.S. and Canadian markets. It was available in two trim levels in 2021, the Premium and the NISMO. They both receive the latest version of the twin-turbo 3.8L V6 engine, which now develops 600 horsepower and 481 pound-feet of torque, matched to a dual-clutch six-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. The next-generation GT-R is expected for 2023, and a GT-R Final Edition might be offered in 2022 with a 710-horsepower engine.
Capping this extensive model lineup are the full-size Nissan NV and compact Nissan NV200 commercial vehicles, which are still on duty without any major changes. The full-size NV Cargo offers two powertrain choices, including a 261-horsepower 4.0L V6 and a 375-hp 5.6L V8, along with three trim levels and two roof heights. The NV Passenger can seat up to 12 people and gets the same powertrain choices, while the NV200 is compact a two-seat cargo van only, equipped with a 2.0L inline-four that develops 131 horsepower. In the summer of 2020, it was reported that production of the NV would soon be stopped due to slow sales.
