Nissan
Nissan's range reaches from the basic Pixo supermini, right up to the supercar-rivalling GT-R. The firm's cars are frequently innovative, like the Qashqai crossover, stylish, like the 370Z sports car, and groundbreaking, like the Juke small crossover.
Nissan 370Z
The 370Z is Nissan's answer to the Porsche Boxster and Cayman, depending on whether you choose the open-top Roadster or the coupe. Both versions are powered by the same 3.7-litre V6 petrol engine, coupled to a six-speed manual or seven-speed auto gearbox, and have rear-wheel drive. The 370Z offers lots of standard equipment, including supportive leather bucket seats. Loud, dramatic to look at and fun to drive, it's not the most sophisticated sports car, but that's a huge part of the 370Z's appeal.
Nissan Cube
The Nissan Cube lives up to its name with a spacious, box-like body that makes it feel larger than the Micra supermini on which it's based. There's only one 1.6-litre petrol engine to choose from, which does an OK job of powering the Cube's boxy shape through the air, while all models are generously equipped as standard. The Cube isn't particularly cheap, nor hugely practical, but it's undoubtedly different, and offers space for four adults. The ride is comfortable, as are the seats, which are more like those of a living room sofa than the ones you’d find in a conventional supermini.
Nissan GT-R
The Nissan GT-R has re-written the rulebook on how a sports car should drive. Its twin-turbo 3.8-litre V6 engine is incredibly powerful, while the GT-R's superb twin-clutch gearbox and hi-tech four-wheel-drive system ensure that acceleration is extremely fast. The GT-R handles brilliantly, too, changing direction quickly thanks to its sharp steering. As well as offering amazing performance, the GT-R is surprisingly practical. The rear seats aren’t really suitable for passengers, but double as an extra storage area to supplement the boot. However, the GT-R's running costs are seriously steep.
Nissan Juke
The Juke is a stylish, interesting alternative to a regular supermini. The Juke is available with three engines. Pricing and specification for entry-level, front-wheel-drive cars compares well to conventional rivals like the Ford Fiesta – while top spec 4x4 models, which have a powerful 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine, rival the likes of the MINI Countryman. The Juke is unique to look at, but it's entertaining to drive and surprisingly practical, and well worth considering as a car that breaks new ground in terms of what a supermini should look like.
Nissan Leaf
Nissan's charge down electric avenue starts with the Leaf... The first purpose built, all electric compact family car. While the infrastructure associated with keeping the batteries topped up is still poor, Nissan says this car remains a daily driver. And with a claimed 100-mile range, this is the most practical electric car yet. It's not perfect – it takes eight hours to recharge, is much pricier than the average diesel family hatch and isn’t much fun to drive. But it works, and bodes well for the future of this new technology.
Nissan Micra
The new shape Nissan Micra was introduced at the beginning of 2011 and is Nissan's first 'world car'. That means that cars sold in India, Mexico and China will be almost identical to cars sold all over Europe. That allows for a lower price-tag but critics suggest the styling has suffered, as has the interior quality. It is available with a choice of two 1.2-litre petrol engines - the DIG-S version is fitted with a supercharger, which gives a good balance of performance and economy.
Nissan Murano
The Murano is Nissan's quirky, distinctively styled SUV. Available with a choice of a thirsty 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine or rather slow 2.5-litre diesel, both models cost the same and feature just about all the equipment you could wish for as standard, including heated electric seats, satellite navigation and a panoramic glass roof. The Murano is more of a style statement than a mainstream choice, and is built for comfort rather than speed, so body roll in corners is noticeable and the steering is numb. However, grip is good thanks to the standard four-wheel-drive system and the cabin is well insulated from noise.
Nissan Navara
Nissan's Navara pick-up is designed to be a workhorse. It's based on a dependable ladder chassis, which means it's simple to build and maintain, and can cope with carrying or towing heavy loads with little fuss. There are two diesel engines to choose from. The 2.5-litre unit provides adequate performance, but the 3.0-litre diesel offers more power and is quieter, too. The ride is bouncy when there isn’t any weight being transported, but the Navara is easy and responsive to drive. The cabin is large in the front, with a simple dashboard layout. However, the rear seat area is smaller than you might expect.
Nissan Note
The Nissan Note is a spacious and practical supermini-MPV alternative to a standard family hatchback like the Ford Focus. The Note is extremely practical, with sliding rear seats and a large interior offering enough space for the needs of a small family. All models come with high levels of standard kit, and there are three engines to choose from. The smallest 1.4-litre petrol engine struggles if you fill the car with passengers and luggage, so the best choices are either the 1.6-litre petrol or the 1.5-litre diesel, both giving the Note big-car performance to match its big-car cabin.
Nissan Pathfinder
Sister car to the Navara, Nissan's Pathfinder is based on a tough and dependable ladder chassis, and is designed to offer true go-anywhere ability. It's built as a rival for the Mitsubishi Shogun and Toyota Land Cruiser, and the Pathfinder's forte is its impressive off-road capability and ability to tow heavy loads. If you can live without ultimate luxury, the Pathfinder offers a seven-seat interior with almost as much space as a Land Rover Discovery. Like the Navara, the Pathfinder is a decent cruiser, with surprisingly little wind noise, despite its boxy shape. There are two engines to choose from, with the 3.0-litre diesel offering more power and smoother running than the 2.5-litre diesel.
read more about Nissan Pathfinder
Nissan Pixo
Nissan's entry-level supermini is the Pixo. It's only available with a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, and is best suited to city driving, where its tiny engine and small size make nipping though traffic easy. Around town, it's quiet and rides well, but when roads get faster, the Pixo struggles to keep up with traffic. The Pixo isn’t particularly exciting to look at, but the interior is well laid out. Four people can travel in reasonable comfort, although the rear seats and boot are a bit of a squeeze. The Pixo is basic and standard equipment is limited, but it's cheap to buy and run.
Nissan QASHQAI
Nissan's Qashqai was the first family car to combine the appeal of a family hatchback with the practicality and toughness of a conventional 4x4. The Qashqai is very practical, easy to drive and competitively priced when compared to conventional rivals like the VW Golf. What's more, the Qashqai is well built and also offers the choice of four-wheel drive for extra grip and off-road ability. The Qashqai+2 was introduced in 2008 and added an extra pair of seats at the rear, and the whole range was improved with a new look and more comfortable suspension in 2010.
read more about Nissan QASHQAI
Nissan QASHQAI+2
Nissan broadened the Qashqai's appeal when it introduced the seven-seat Qashqai+2 in 2008. This version adds more practicality thanks to two extra seats in the rear. The Qashqai+2 is slightly longer than the standard car, but the rearmost seats are only really suitable for children, which makes the Qashqai+2 ideal for large families that need a practical car and extra space. Like the five seat model, it's great around town, and a fine choice for motorway drivers, too.
read more about Nissan QASHQAI+2
Nissan X-Trail
The Nissan X-Trail strikes an impressive balance between offering car-like driving characteristics and go-anywhere off-road capability. Every X-Trail features equipment like hill descent control, for negotiating slippery slopes, and four-wheel drive, but mixes that with decent on-road grip, direct steering and a comfortable ride. There is one engine choice, a 2.0-litre diesel which is available in high and low power outputs. It remains fairly quiet even when worked hard, and despite noticeable wind noise at speed, the cabin remains a relaxing place to be. The interior is dull to look at, but well built and well equipped, offering plenty of space in the front.
read more about Nissan X-Trail
Next steps
Help Me Choose
perfect car, whatever your budget
Find a new car review
All models reviewed in plain English, with detailed specifications of every new car on sale in the UK