These Used Nissans Could Be The Bargains Everyone Else Is Sleeping On
Nissan’s alliance discussions with Honda and Mitsubishi from the recent past kept the automotive world watching closely, raising a question that’s increasingly hard to ignore: if one of Japan’s most storied nameplates is genuinely at risk, which of its recent models are actually worth owning? The answer matters more now than it ever has.
That question brings us to the best Nissan models of the last decade. Despite its shaky corporate prospects, the Japanese brand still managed to crack the top ten list of the most reliable used car brands of the last decade, according to a recent study by Consumer Reports.
Nissan’s eighth-place spot places it one step ahead of domestic competitor Subaru (ninth) but behind challengers like Honda (fourth), Mazda (third), and Toyota (second). Let’s break down which models and model years awarded Nissan its top ten ratings, and which are the best used Nissan vehicles of the last decade.
2017 Nissan Rogue Sport
Average Retail Price: $9,200 — $12,050
The first Nissan model on our list is the second generation of the Nissan Qashqai crossover SUV (2017–2022), known commonly stateside as the Nissan Rogue Sport. This smaller alternative to the popular Rogue SUV had one goal in mind: fill the void left by the end of production of the quirky Nissan Juke compact SUV in 2017.
Although the Rogue Sport offered more interior room than the Juke, it sacrificed a lot of performance without gaining any meaningful fuel economy advantage. On the plus side, the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter inline-four found in the Rogue Sport proved to be more reliable than the Juke’s 1.6-liter turbo-four, with the 2017 model year scoring a 4/5 Reliability Verdict and 2/5 Owner Satisfaction rating — the highest of its entire life cycle.
2018 Nissan Frontier
Average Retail Price: $9,825 — $19,650
Our only Nissan truck on this list is the second-generation Nissan Frontier (2005–2021). The Nissan Frontier has long been regarded as an affordable and capable truck platform, and the well-sorted 4.0-liter V-6 that debuted with the second generation is one of its standout qualities.
Despite below-average fuel economy, both the VQ-family V-6 and the smaller 2.5-liter inline-four deliver solid reliability, with the 2018 model year achieving a 4/5 Reliability Verdict. Owner Satisfaction is low across the entire generation, but if consistency is your priority, the 2015 through 2019 model years offer the best reliability ratings.
2016 Nissan Murano
Average Retail Price: $9,900 — $14,000
Making its first appearance on our list is Nissan’s well-loved SUV, the Murano. The 2016 model year was a standout for the third-generation Murano (2015–2024), remaining its best-selling year to date with 86,953 units moved.
The Murano’s success is due in part to its 3.5-liter VQ V-6 — one of the most reliable and capable V-6 engines of its generation. That powertrain helped earn the 2016 model year a 4/5 Reliability Verdict, along with a 2/5 Owner Satisfaction rating.
2020 Nissan Rogue
Average Retail Price: $14,350 — $17,525
Our next Nissan is the final model year of the second generation of the Nissan Rogue (2014–2020). The second generation is by far the best-selling generation of the compact Rogue, with four consecutive years of over 300,000 units sold from 2016 to 2019 — 2018 being its peak year at 412,110 units.
Although the 2.5-liter inline-four paired with the CVT is sluggish at best, it proved dependable, earning a 4/5 Reliability Verdict for the final 2020 model year. Owner Satisfaction is low across the generation, with 2018 and 2019 being the best years at 2/5 each.
2023 Nissan Murano
Average Retail Price: $21,925 — $29,550
Our next entry is the facelifted version of the third-generation Nissan Murano, which was available from the 2019 model year onward.
The facelift brought refreshed exterior and interior styling, though the core foundation of the Murano’s reliability remained unchanged. The result is a 4/5 Reliability Verdict for this penultimate year of the third-generation Murano, paired with a 2/5 Owner Satisfaction rating.
2019 Nissan Leaf
Average Retail Price: $8,625 — $13,075
Our first and only electric Nissan on the list is the second generation (2018–present) of the five-door hatchback Leaf. The pioneering Nissan Leaf was the best-selling electric vehicle of all time until the Tesla Model 3 overtook it.
The 2019 model year distinguishes itself as the first Nissan on our list to receive a perfect 5/5 Reliability Verdict, making it the most reliable year of its current generation.
2018 Nissan Altima
Average Retail Price: $9,775 — $12,775
Our first appearance of Nissan’s well-known mid-size Altima sedan is the last model year of the fifth generation (2013–2018). The 2018 model year is the only year within its generation to receive a 5/5 Reliability Verdict — the next closest is the 2015 model year at 3/5.
Despite this, Owner Satisfaction ratings are disappointingly low across the entire generation, with only the 2015 model year earning a 2/5 score, the best of the bunch.
2021 Nissan Murano
Average Retail Price: $18,525 — $24,475
Our final appearance of the well-rounded Nissan Murano SUV is the 2021 model year of the third generation. The 2021 model year is the only year in the near-decade-long run of the third generation to score a perfect 5/5 Reliability Verdict, paired with a 2/5 Owner Satisfaction score. It also notably added Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 as standard equipment across all trim levels.
2023 Nissan Altima
Average Retail Price: $19,200 — $24,700
The 2023 model year is the first and only appearance on our list of the Nissan Altima from the sixth and current generation. The sixth generation marked a significant turning point for the Altima, as the higher-end V-6 trim was replaced by a 2.0-liter turbo-four variant.
If reliability is your priority, however, it is best to avoid the turbocharged model — there is an open NHTSA investigation tied to frequent complaints of engine failures. That said, the 2023 model year earned a 5/5 Reliability Verdict along with a 2/5 Owner Satisfaction score, thanks to the proven consistency of the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline-four.
2024 Nissan Rogue
Average Retail Price: $21,475 — $29,725
Our final entry is the 2024 model year of the third-generation Nissan Rogue (2021–present). The third-generation Rogue received a mid-cycle refresh for 2023 that updated both exterior and interior styling, though it was a more modest update than the significant 2022 model year revision, which introduced the turbocharged inline-three as the new standard engine. Despite being both more powerful and more efficient than the naturally aspirated unit it replaced, this turbo engine has not been trouble-free.
This turbocharged model is also subject to the open NHTSA investigation mentioned above, and until the resolution of those powertrain concerns is known, it would be wise to treat the 2024 Rogue’s 5/5 Reliability Verdict with a healthy degree of caution.
Sources: Nissan, Consumer Reports
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