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Nissan is not in a great place at the moment. 2025 is extremely important for the company as it may face bankruptcy due to mismanagement. While I, personally, doubt the Japanese government will let this happen to one of the oldest Japanese carmakers, the Nissan-Honda merger provides exciting new avenues for both companies. That's assuming the talks bear fruit, which will, reportedly, be decided by mid-February. While Nissan's lineup leaves something to be desired, especially when compared to most of its competitors, the company still makes some good vehicles. Some of them provide a surprising amount of value for the money.
I think even in times of uncertainty, Nissan continues to offer some very good vehicles. While not all of the brand's offerings are as competitive, these five models are worth looking into when looking to buy a new car in 2025.
Nissan Armada
Although the Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus GX are, currently, some of the most popular Japanese SUVs that doesn't mean they always provide the best value for money. Although Land Cruisers for under MSRP are a common sight nowadays, Nissan's Armada offers more luxury, more performance, and more tech, for less money.
With what's currently happening at Nissan, it is no surprise that some of the company's vehicles can now be had for a surprisingly low price. In the case of the Armada, you are getting a capable, body-on-frame SUV with a potent V-6 engine. Thanks to twin-turbochargers, you get 425 horsepower and 516 pound-feet – significantly more than what the Toyota Land Criser's hybrid powertrain offers.
This allows for a 0 to 60 mph time of 6.0 seconds, in four-wheel-drive form, which is the one to get. The Nissan Armada can also tow up to 8,500 pounds – significantly more than the Land Cruiser J250's 6,000 pounds. The best part is, the 2025 Nissan Armada starts at $58,530, but there are already price drops. If you want the 2024 model year with the 5.6-liter V-8, those are, currently, the biggest deals as they can be found for around $45,000.
Nissan Titan
Full-size pickup trucks are one of the most popular vehicle segments in the US. Although Toyota Tundra is the most popular choice for a long-term Japanese pickup truck, there is another Japanese “workhorse” you can opt for. The 2025 Nissan Titan continues to offer old-school features like hydraulic steering (rack and pinion on the Titan and recirculating ball system on the Titan XD) and a normally aspirated V-8.
With 390 horsepower and 413 pound-feet, Nissan's body-on-frame truck can tow up to 11,600 pounds and has a payload capacity of up to 2,910 pounds. The Nissan Titan has about a higher MSRP than the Toyota Tundra (by about $4,000), with the higher trims being the biggest bargain. You also get a V-8, which the Tundra no longer offers.
Infiniti QX80
Picture this: you want a full-size, body-on-frame, luxury SUV from a Japanese carmaker, for under $100,000. You have only one option and it is the Infiniti QX80. For 2025, the large SUV starts at $84,445, which is around $19,000 less than the Lexus LX starting MSRP. You can still spec one for over $100,000 if you really want to. Another thing you get with the Infiniti QX80 is Nissan's new, 3.5-liter, twin-turbo V-6.
It develops 450 horsepower and 516 pound-feet without having to resort to hybrid assist. Even so, the QX80 can tow up to 8,500 pounds – 500 more than the Lexus LX can, even in its hybrid form. The Mercedes-derived, nine-speed automatic can send power to the rear or all four wheels, if you opt for 4WD (which you should).
Nissan Z
By far, one of the most talked-about cars of late is the Nissan Z. The Japanese coupe has the unenviable task of going up against the Toyota GR Supra, which is due for its next generation. Like other Nissan models, the Z can currently be had for under MSRP, which is where the real bargains are.
Normally, the car starts at around $44,000, but the base Z does not come with a limited-slip differential – a cardinal sin in my opinion since every rear-wheel-drive sports car should have that. The one to get is the Nissan Z Performance unless you want to spend even more on the NISMO Z and Z Heritage Edition.
The Performance trim can currently be found for little over the base car's MSRP, and that's a no-brained. Aside from some early model-year examples having a few mishaps the Nissan Z is a rock-solid platform, with plenty of untapped performance potential.
Nissan Pathfinder
If you are booking for a reliable family SUV at a reasonable price, there are a few good reasons why the Nissan Pathfinder should be your number one option. It comes with a direct-injected version of the familiar VQ35 engine and drops the CVT for a nine-speed MCT automatic, resulting in a 0 to 60 mph time of 6.6 seconds.
From 2021, the Pathfinder also features a fully-electric steering, instead of the old electro-hydraulic system. With a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds, the Pathfinder is on par with the J250 Land Cruiser. While the 2025 Pathfinder starts at $38,460, Nissan has plenty of inventory, and you can easily find a 2024 model year for around $28,000.
Nissan Frontier
If you want a humble work truck with a V-6 engine, Nissan Frontier is the perfect offering. If you are willing to settle for a 2WD single-cab truck, you can get a brand-new Frontier S or SV for as little as $22,000. In case you wonder, the Nissan Frontier's starting MSRP is $38,560.
You get the VQ38DD engine, which is a 3.8-liter V-6 that makes 310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet. Despite having a similar displacement, this engine doesn't share anything with the GT-R's VR38 unit.
The Frontier is, essentially, a scaled-down Titan that shares its chassis, and some components from the Pathfinder. You also get old-school hydraulic steering and Bilstein dampers. The Nissan Frontier can tow up to 6,680 pounds of towing capacity.
What are your thoughts on these Nissan models? Are you an owner of considering one of them? Should I have included other Nissan models on the list? You can share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, Linked-in, Instagram, and Facebook.
Image source: 2025 Nissan Armada, 2024 Nissan Z, 2024 Nissan Titan, 2025 Infiniti QX80, 2025 Nissan Pathfinder, 2025 Nissan Frontier
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