Nissan might be a Japanese company, but its cars are perfectly suited to life on UK roads. Its core models are built here, up in Sunderland, and the model range has been designed and honed in Europe.
The company has huge bandwidth – it can create big-selling superminis like the Micra, enduringly popular SUVs, electric cars and vans, pickup trucks and thrilling sports cars. If you’re not sure which Nissan is best for you, our handy guide will make it easy to pick your next car.
Hatchbacks
Nissan Micra
The Nissan Micra is a grown-up, refined supermini with sharp styling and a smart interior. It offers fantastic value for money, with used examples often undercutting equivalent rivals like the Ford Fiesta or Volkswagen Polo. There are a whole host of trim levels, most with desirables like a reversing camera and Apple CarPlay, plus an efficient 1.0-litre engine. Look out for the 71hp version of this engine for group 1 insurance and low premiums.
Shop used Nissan Micra cars for sale or read our Nissan Micra review
SUVs
Nissan Juke
A household name for its out-there styling, the latest Juke still looks the part but is now more practical and sophisticated. It’s a better car, in other words, and is certainly worth considering against rival small SUVs like the Peugeot 2008 and Renault Captur. The Juke boasts an intuitive interior and plenty of standard equipment, and now there’s a hybrid engine that promises almost 60mpg.
Shop used Nissan Juke cars for sale or read our Nissan Juke review
Nissan Qashqai
The British-built family SUV that every family SUV wants to beat. If you don’t own a Qashqai yourself, you probably know someone who does. The Qashqai gets a similarly thoughtful interior to the Juke but more space for people and stuff, and a pair of hybrid engines to save fuel. Nissan’s clever E-Power engine is particularly impressive, as it feels like an electric car to drive but doesn’t need to be plugged in.
Shop used Nissan Qashqai cars for sale or read our Nissan Qashqai review
Nissan X-Trail
Nissan’s largest SUV has the option of seven seats for extra family car credentials, but the same easy driving experience and quality as the Qashqai. We like how efficient the X-Trail is for a big and capable car, and that Nissan has kept a few buttons in the cabin so it’s easy to adjust things like the climate control on the move.
Shop used Nissan X-Trail cars for sale or read our Nissan X-Trail review
Electric cars
Nissan Leaf
Nissan’s pioneering electric car might not be class-leading nowadays, but it’s the best-value used electric car around. It costs buttons to buy and run, but has the interior space of a Ford Focus with punchy performance and a usable real-world electric range. Most trim levels come with an accompanying phone app that lets you preheat the cabin to avoid getting into a freezing car on frosty mornings.
Shop used Nissan Leaf cars for sale or read our Nissan Leaf review
Nissan Ariya
Nissan took its time creating an electric SUV, but the Ariya was worth the wait. It’s not cheap but it’s very appealing, and has an interior that would’ve seemed like pure sci-fi just a few years ago. There are buttons integrated into the wooden trim that become invisible when the car’s off. There’s shag pile carpet, and stitching that pays homage to traditional Japanese craftsmanship. It’s not just a Qashqai without an engine. The Ariya can manage up to 329 miles on a full charge, while rapid charging can add over 200 miles in just half an hour.
Sports cars
Nissan 370Z
The 370Z is a sports car from the old school – and not just because it went on sale all the way back in 2009. It’s a brawny, two-seat coupe with a meaty 3.7-litre V6 engine and little regard for fuel economy. A fun and involving driving experience is guaranteed, if you can live with its compromises and its dated interior.
Nissan GT-R
Nissan’s fabled GT-R rewrote the supercar rulebook when it roared onto the scene over 15 years ago. Constant tweaks and updates mean it’s still one of the fastest things on the road, chasing performance over any attempt at luxury. The GT-R has followed in the tyre tracks of its predecessors, with an engine that’s massively tuneable if you’re into chasing big horsepower numbers.
