The Nissan Ariya will soon be arriving in dealerships.
New-generation Nissan Z sports car now on sale.
Refreshed Altima and Versa, Rogue Sport discontinued in the U.S.
Nissan has been struggling on the sales charts for the past few years, as passenger-car segments are in a downward spiral. Yet the brand has a comprehensive lineup of utility vehicles to compensate, and some new products on the board, but that doesn’t seem to be helping either.
Nonetheless, Nissan is moving forward with its electrification strategy as well as its Nissan Next plan announced in 2020, which consists of new products, cost cutting and improving revenue per vehicle built. And so far, the automaker has increased its profitability, despite the lower sales numbers. It also announced its Ambition 2030 vision in November 2021, promising 15 new BEVs globally, and expects that 40% of its sales in the United States will consist of EVs by 2030. It will also introduce solid-state battery packs by 2028, which is said to cut charge time to one third. In the meantime, here’s what to expect from the Nissan brand in 2023, with models listed in alphabetical order.
Nissan Altima
The Nissan Altima gets a mid-cycle refresh for 2023, which includes a restyled front fascia, revised taillights, fresh alloy wheel designs, more safety features and new paint colours. The SR trim gets a black chrome grille with an exclusive mesh pattern to enhance its sporty look, while Gray Sky Pearl and Garnett Pearl Metallic (U.S. only) are new and Sunset Drift ChromaFlair is gone. In the United States, 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 continuously variable automatic transmission. Meanwhile, the innovative VC-Turbo 2.0L engine with up to 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.
Nissan Ariya
The Nissan Ariya is the company’s latest fully electric model, and has finally arrived in North America after being delayed to market. Nine variants are offered in the United States from $43,190 to $60,190 before freight and delivery charges, with 214-horsepower single-motor, 238-horsepower dual-motor and 389-horsepower dual-motor setups, front- and all-wheel drivetrains, 63 and 87 kWh battery packs, and a driving range varying between 216 and 304 miles (348 to 490 kilometres). In Canada, the Ariya is available in six trim levels, the same powertrain choices and a price ranging from $55,093 to $72,093, freight and delivery charges included.
Nissan Armada
On the other end of the greenness spectrum, the Nissan Armada was refreshed for 2021, few changes were made for the 2022, and no changes have been announced so far for the 2023 model year. The full-size, eight-passenger SUV is still equipped with a 5.6L V8 and a seven-speed automatic, now good for 400 horsepower and a max towing capacity of 8,500 pounds or 3,856 kilograms. It’s offered in S, SV, SL and Platinum trim levels in the United States, while Canada gets SL and Platinum only.
Nissan Frontier
The Nissan Frontier got an overhaul for the 2022 model year, replacing the current-gen midsize 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. Changes for 2023 in the U.S. include the addition of a blacked-out Midnight Edition package on the SV Crew Cab, while the SV Crew Cab Long Bed variant now includes the previous SV Convenience Package as standard, which included heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a spray-in bedliner and more. Wireless Apple CarPlay is now included in the PRO-X and PRO-4X variants, while their optional Pro Premium package gets Lava Red interior stitching instead of black. The Canadian market also gets the new Midnight Edition.
Nissan GT-R
In Canada, the Nissan GT-R was available late in 2021 in a limited-run T-Spec edition. The T-Spec received the outgoing Track Edition’s wider fenders, gold-painted RAYS forged alloy wheels, a carbon fibre rear spoiler, body-colour door handles, black hood ducts and a Mori Green interior. The T-Spec also boasted two paint colours called Millennium Jade and Midnight Purple. It was equipped with the twin-turbo 3.8L V6 engine developing 565 horsepower and 467 pound-feet of torque. Meanwhile, the NISMO Special Edition boasted Stealth Gray paint, exclusive 20-inch RAYS wheels with red accents, a carbon fibre hood and the new Nissan logo, along with the high-output VR38DETT engine with 600 horsepower and 481 pound-feet of torque. There was no 2022 model-year GT-R, and a 2023 model has yet to be announced in the country.
In the U.S., the Nissan GT-R was offered in Premium and NISMO trim levels, respectively equipped with the 565-horsepower and 600-horsepower variants of the twin-turbo V6 engine, along with the limited-run NISMO Special Edition. Like in Canada, there was no 2022 GT-R, but the halo sports car returns in the U.S. for 2023 in Premium and NISMO trims—with no significant changes.
Nissan Kicks
The Nissan Kicks is the smallest and most affordable crossover in the brand’s lineup, and after a refresh for 2021, it enters the 2023 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. It continues to be offered in S, SV and SR trim levels, with a Premium package available on the SR, although the Canadian market gets a SV Special Edition variant with black alloy wheels and a roof-mounted spoiler.
Nissan LEAF
The fully electric 2023 Nissan LEAF gets a revised exterior design, new alloy wheels and the brand’s new logo, while the trim level lineup has been cut down to two variants in the United States—S and SV PLUS—and three variants in Canada—SV, SV PLUS and SL PLUS. Base trims get a 147-horsepower electric motor and a 40 kWh battery pack, providing a driving range of 149 miles in the U.S. and 240 kilometres in Canada. Meanwhile, the PLUS trims get a 214-horsepower motor and a 62 kWh battery, helping the compact hatchback cover a distance of up to 212 miles or 349 km.
Nissan Maxima
This may be the last model year 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 2023 Maxima adorns the brand’s new logo, while the Platinum trim level benefits from new semi-aniline leather upholstery and illuminated kick plates.
Nissan Murano
The midsize, two-row Nissan Murano soldiers on relatively unchanged in 2023. The U.S. market gets two new paint colours called Super Black and Deep Ocean Blue Pearl, while in Canada, the only change announced is the new Nissan logo badging. The Murano relies on a 3.5L V6 engine with 260 horsepower, matched to a continuously variable automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard in the United States, while AWD is an option. However, AWD is standard in Canada.
Nissan Pathfinder
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 big news for 2023 is the addition of the Rock Creek Edition that rounds up a suspension lift, 18-inch beadlock-style alloy wheels, all-terrain tires, a tubular roof rack, a tow hitch receiver, LED fog lights, a 360-degree camera system with Off-Road Mode, orange interior stitching and captain’s chairs in the second row for seven-passenger seating, among other things. In addition, the Rock Creek’s engine is tuned to deliver 295 horsepower when premium fuel is used. Other changes for the U.S. market include standard wireless phone charging, second-row captain’s chairs for the Platinum grade, and a 10-way power front passenger seat for SL and Platinum.
Nissan Rogue Sport / Qashqai
An all-new Nissan Qashqai made its debut in Europe in 2021, but the U.S. market, which sells the outgoing generation as the Nissan Rogue Sport, won’t be getting it, as the automaker has decided to retire it after the 2022 model year. Production will be extended through December and dealer inventory should last through part of the 2023 calendar year. The Qashqai will soldier on in Canada for 2023, but it’s currently unclear if it will be a carry-over model or the new generation of the subcompact crossover. For now, the Canadian-market Qashqai is equipped with a naturally aspirated 2.0L inline-four and a continuously variable automatic transmission, with the choice of front- and all-wheel drivetrains.
Nissan Rogue
Redesigned for 2021, the Nissan Rogue rolled into 2022 with a new variable-compression, turbocharged 1.5L three-cylinder 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 equipped the Rogue. The 2023 model year brings a blacked-out Midnight Edition package, while the SL (Canada), SL with Premium Package (U.S.) and Platinum (both countries) gain built-in Amazon Alexa.
Nissan Sentra
After receiving a complete redesign for the 2020 model year, the Nissan Sentra enters 2023 with no changes compared to the 2022 model, which received a blacked-out Midnight Edition package. The 2023 Sentra is equipped with a 2.0L inline-four that develops 149 horsepower, mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission, although a six-speed manual continues to be offered in Canada.
Nissan Titan
The Nissan Titan full-size pickup, now offered exclusively in the U.S. market, gets a new Midnight Edition package for 2023 with black exterior and interior trim, a gloss black grille surround, LED headlights, black 20-inch wheels, black badging, black front pillars and headliner, and more. Wireless Apple CarPlay is now included on the PRO-4X and Platinum Reserve trim levels. The Titan comes standard with a 5.6L V8 that develops 400 horsepower, matched to a nine-speed automatic transmission, and the Safety Shield 360 suite of active safety gizmos is standard across all trim levels as well.
Nissan Versa
The Nissan Versa sedan gets a mid-cycle refresh for 2023 with updated front-end styling, the brand’s new logo, revised 17-inch wheels for the SR grade and a new paint colour called Gray Sky Pearl. In the U.S., there’s a new S Plus package that adds Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 16-inch alloy wheels and a 60/40 split-folding rear seatback to the base trim level. Meanwhile, the SV trim gets a new centre console with an armrest, wireless phone charging and a new interior colour called Chambray in both countries. The SR benefits from a centre console with an armrest, an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen (up from the standard seven-inch screen) and a Wi-Fi hotspot, while the previously optional cruise control and automatic climate control are now standard. The Versa is equipped with a 1.6L inline-four engine that develops 122 horsepower, mixed with either a five-speed manual gearbox or a continuously variable automatic transmission.
Nissan Z
The all-new Nissan Z sports car was first revealed in 2021, and is now on sale 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. Sport and Performance trim levels are offered, although a Proto Spec edition with a limited 240-unit run is available in the U.S.—or was available, as they’re likely all spoken far at this time.
