Over its storied history, Japanese automaker Nissan (NSANY) has gained a reputation alongside native rivals like Toyota (TM) and Honda for providing inexpensive and reliable cars that enabled Americans and their families to get around.
Cars like the rugged Pathfinder, the sporty Z cars, the iconic Hardbody pickup, and the luxe Maxima sedan are just some of the Nissans and Datsuns that drivers across the country have welcomed onto their driveways. However, a new report says that two of the brand's nameplates will no longer have a place on its extensive lineup.
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According to sources that have spoken to Automotive News, Nissan plans to discontinue the Versa subcompact and the Altima midsize sedan after the 2025 and 2026 model years, respectively.
The loss of both these models is a hard blow to the automotive world, as both models represented a glimmer of hope for budget-conscious consumers.
Nissan
Nissan will stop producing popular sedans
With a base price of $16,680, the small, humble Nissan Versa is the least-expensive new car that you can buy in the United States.
Amidst high interest rates and high prices for new cars, cars like the Versa are a beacon of hope for those who want four wheels and a metal cage. Influenced by this type of pressure, sales of the Versa and its compact brother, the Sentra, saw a 62 percent and 55 percent boost in respective deliveries throughout the period from January to June 2024.
In a statement to AutoNews, Nissan spokesperson Brian Brockman said sedans "remain an important part of the company's product strategy, providing advantages across several attributes, including cost of ownership."
"Nissan is committed to offering a complete lineup of vehicles that meet the needs of our customers across a variety of segments," Brockman said.
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People familiar with the matter told AutoNews that Nissan wants to simplify its product offerings in the United States. The automaker ceased production of its posh Maxima sedan in the summer of 2023.
Nissan has plans to offer a battery-electric powered sedan by the end of the next decade. With the Versa and Altima gone, Nissan would leave the Honda Civic-rivaling Sentra as its lone sedan offering in a lineup dominated by crossover SUVs.
Nissan
The loss of the Altima, however, reflects the continuation of a trend influenced by auto buyers. Earlier this year, dominant sales of crossover SUVs over mid-sized sedans claimed another beloved sedan: the Subaru Legacy.
Related: Subaru is bidding farewell to a fan-favorite model after 36 years
In a statement, Subaru said that a shift in customer preferences was the reason why it decided to axe the all-wheel-drive sedan after 36 years, simply stating that Subaru customers want to buy more crossovers and SUVs like the Outback, Crosstrek, and Forester.
"Though the Legacy is the longest-running Subaru model line, its discontinuation reflects market shifts from passenger cars to SUVs and crossovers and Subaru’s transition to electrified and fully electric vehicles," Subaru said.
While the Nissan Altima enjoys internet notoriety for the "Big Altima Energy" memes seen on social media platforms, it does not translate to sales alongside its similarly priced crossover stablemate, the Nissan Rogue.
According to Nissan sales data, the automaker moved 31,313 Altimas during Q2 2024 and found homes for 50,356 Rogue crossover SUVs in the same period. In the same quarter in 2023, 30,409 Altimas were sold, while 71,246 Rogues moved off of dealer lots.
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