Nissan sales in the U.S. continued to gain momentum in the third quarter of 2026, with Nissan Group reporting 7.8% growth in retail sales. But the latest figures also show a clear divide across the lineup, as SUVs and trucks posted strong gains while Nissan’s cars continued to decline.
Nissan Sales Grow for 19 Straight Months
Nissan Group reported 196,018 combined Nissan and Infiniti retail sales in the U.S. during the third quarter, representing a 7.8% increase from the same period last year.
Nissan itself recorded a 6.8% increase, extending its streak of year-over-year retail sales growth to 19 consecutive months.
The overall results, however, mask significant differences between vehicle segments. Nissan’s cars continued to lose ground, while SUVs and trucks accounted for much of the brand’s growth.
Nissan Car Sales Continue to Decline
Nissan sold 52,359 cars during the third quarter, down 21% from last year. Through the first nine months of 2026, car sales were down nearly 25%, with 186,760 units sold.
The declines affected several models. Sentra sales fell 8.3% during the quarter, while the aging Altima was essentially flat for the period but remained down 26% year to date.
The discontinued Versa recorded an especially steep decline, with third-quarter sales falling 95.4%.
Nissan’s Z sports car also continued to decline, with sales down another 19.3% during the quarter. The GT-R was nearly absent from the sales results, with only two units sold during the first nine months.
SUVs and Trucks Drive Nissan’s Growth
Nissan’s trucks and SUVs delivered a significantly stronger performance. Truck sales increased 10% in the third quarter and were up 15% year to date.
The Frontier led the gains, with sales jumping 37.5% during the quarter and nearly 40% for the year. Kicks sales increased 1.5% in the quarter and 7.5% year to date.
The Rogue also posted strong results, with sales rising 26.3% during the third quarter and nearly 25% for the year. Armada sales surged 43.2%.
Pathfinder sales declined 9.5% during the quarter but remained up more than 20% year to date.
Infiniti Sales Rise 21%
Infiniti also contributed to the group’s performance, with retail sales increasing 21% during the third quarter. The gains came from the QX60, QX65 and QX80.
The QX65 alone accounted for nearly a third of Infiniti’s sales in September.
2027 Rogue Hybrid Arrives in November
Nissan’s next major addition to its U.S. lineup is the all-new 2027 Rogue Hybrid, which is scheduled to arrive at U.S. dealerships in November.
The company also plans to continue expanding its electrified truck and SUV lineup in the years ahead, with the e-Power Kicks and V6 hybrid models already on the horizon.
For the third quarter of 2026, Nissan’s sales results highlighted the growing importance of SUVs and trucks to the brand’s U.S. performance, while its traditional car lineup continued to face declines.
