7 of Our Favorite Used Nissans (and Model Years)

Finding a great used vehicle is all about narrowing down your options. When you first start out, you can easily get overwhelmed since shopping for used models gives you nearly limitless possibilities. Choosing a pre-owned Nissan is a great way to narrow these choices down, but it can still help to have some specific models in mind when shopping at your local used Nissan dealership. To help with that, we thought it would be fun to go over some of the Nissan models we love the most and often suggest for our customers, along with a few specific model years that you might keep in mind as you’re shopping.

Nissan Sentra

If you’re looking for a small sedan, then the Nissan Sentra is a great place to start as you’re shopping for a used vehicle. This is one of two options from Nissan that’s on the small side of things, but we like the Sentra as we feel its compact design works very well for a lot of our customers. One of our favorite things about the Nissan lineup is just how many great sedans are available; this is an ideal choice if you need something for a modest lifestyle or if you simply prefer a smaller vehicle for getting around Leduc and the Edmonton area.

You have quite a few great model years to choose from for recently used Nissan Sentras that will be in great shape and have excellent features. The previous generation launched with the 2012 model year, though we like going with 2014 models as there was a revision to the steering and transmission that makes them even better to drive. A facelift in 2016 can make these vehicles great ones to look for; the current generation kicked off with the 2020 model year, so keep that in mind when looking at late-year used options.

Nissan Altima

For something larger than the Sentra, without going to a full-size sedan, a used Nissan Altima is a terrific midsize option. This is a great “just right” pick for anyone who likes the Maxima's styling and sophistication but prefers something smaller like the Sentra—these kinds of options used to be a staple of the auto industry, but they’ve become harder to find. Fortunately, Nissan continues to come through with this midsize beauty, and it’s one we recommend to a lot of our customers.

The previous generation of the Altima kicked off with the 2013 model year, with a facelift in 2016 that included a redesign of Nissan’s incredibly comfortable Zero Gravity seats. In 2019, the current generation of the Altima was launched, so the most recent used models you find will have impressive safety features and technology to offer. Such recent pre-owned vehicles can be hard to find, but it helps if you have a dealership you can trust to assist you.

Nissan Maxima

If you’re looking for something large and powerful in a sedan, then a used Nissan Maxima is a fantastic option. The Maxima is Nissan’s biggest four-door model, and it also delivers exceptional style, sophistication, and luxury. These vehicles are incredibly spacious, with plenty of trunk space and lots of room for your passengers, making this a great choice if you have a growing family but prefer a sedan over a crossover SUV.

One of the most recent generations for the Maxima launched in the 2009 model year, but we suggest looking for something from 2012 or later when it received a refreshed exterior and other updates. For the 2016 model year, Nissan released a new generation of the Maxima, which means you’ll find a lot of options with updated features when shopping used. For 2022, Nissan has launched an all-new model, but you’ll need to wait to find many of these pre-owned.

Nissan Frontier

Replacing the Nissan (or Datsun) Hardbody pickup of previous decades, the Nissan Frontier was first introduced in Canada in 1998. In its first generation, it was offered as a compact pickup, though since 2005, it has been a midsize truck that’s proven to be very popular for many years. As a midsize model, a used Nissan Frontier is the perfect truck if you want the capability and functionality of a truck but don't need something too big. A used Frontier is one of our favourite models to suggest for anyone looking for a pickup to take off-road or for daily city-driving where a large truck can be overbearing.

The most-recent generation of the Frontier spanned a long time since it was first launched for the 2005 model year, so you’ll find a lot of them out there when shopping for a used Nissan. There was a facelift for the 2009 model year with some engine improvements over the years, particularly for 2020, which updated the engine as a preview of what was to come. The all-new Nissan Frontier launched for the 2022 model year, so you’ll probably need to wait a few years to find many on the used market, though some will likely be available here and there.

Nissan Qashqai

Nissan has a fantastic selection of crossovers and SUVs to choose from, but one of our favourites when shopping used is the Qashqai. This compact, two-row model is a great choice if you prefer something that won’t take over your life. Even though it’s a compact, it’s not Nissan’s smallest model, so you still get plenty of space inside of a used Nissan Qashqai to utilize for your favourite passengers and anything you need to take.

This model has only been available here in Canada since the 2017 model year, so the vehicles you find used will all be from the current generation. There was a facelift for the Qashqai in the 2020 model year, which included a stylish exterior refresh. Beyond this update, however, most models that you find will have the same features on them—though there are differences based on the trims available from Nissan.

Nissan Murano

For something a bit larger, a midsize used Nissan Murano is a fantastic choice when you’re looking for a great used vehicle. With two rows of seating, this model can handle up to five passengers with plenty of space inside for everyone to be comfortable. You also get plenty of room for cargo, so you can load it up with anything you need to take with you—plus, you can find used models with all-wheel drive that are ideal for rough weather or dirt roads.

The Murano first launched for the 2003 model year and was available until it skipped 2008, with an all-new generation starting for the 2009 model year. These models are all great, though the current generation of the Murano launched with the 2015 model year, so keep that in mind if you want the latest features and options. An exterior refresh for 2019 means a late-model Murano you find will look a bit more stylish than those that came before.

Nissan Pathfinder

As one of our favourite SUV options is the used Nissan Pathfinder, which is perfect if you want something rugged and dependable. Although originally built on the same platform as the Frontier, the modern Pathfinder is a crossover that’s still designed for excellent off-road performance. While Front-Wheel Drive is standard on the Pathfinder, impressive Four-Wheel Drive capability has been available, and you’ll find used models designed to handle anything you throw at them.

The previous generation kicked off with the 2013 model year and received significant updates for 2017 with a restyled exterior and a new engine available. Just this year, Nissan has released an all-new Pathfinder to kick off a new generation, but these models will be hard to find pre-owned for quite a while. No matter what you’re looking for with your next vehicle, we’re here to help you find it. Come visit us at L.A. Nissan to learn more, and we’ll make sure you drive away in a great used Nissan you’ll enjoy for many years.