by In 2025, sales of the Nissan Z sports car in the USA showed significant growth, while the Titan model experienced a sharp decline. Overall, Nissan demonstrated a slight increase in sales volume.
Z vs. Supra: Which is More Popular?
The Nissan Z and Toyota Supra are powerful rear-wheel-drive sports cars, but they offer different driving experiences. In terms of popularity in the USA, only one of these models came out ahead in 2025.
Last year’s sales of the Nissan Z amounted to 5,487 units, which is a sharp increase of 73.4% compared to the 3,164 cars sold in 2024. This is an impressive result, even if the final quarter of the year could not maintain the same pace as the beginning.
During the fourth quarter, Nissan sold 665 Z cars nationwide, which is 32.8% less than the 989 units delivered in the fourth quarter of the previous year. The contrast was even sharper compared to the 2,154 units sold in the first quarter of 2025, which set a high early benchmark.
However, compared to the Toyota Supra, the Z was selling like hotcakes. Last year, Toyota delivered 2,953 Supras. This is, perhaps unexpectedly, 13.3% more than the 2,615 sold a year earlier. In December, the company sold 277 units, which is 280.5% more than the 70 sold in December 2024.
Still, it’s not very surprising that the Z leads this race. The Supra is nearing the end of its production cycle, and Nissan offers a significantly lower starting price. Starting at $42,970, the Z is equipped with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 producing 400 horsepower.
This is more than the standard 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder single-turbo engine in the Supra, which produces 382 hp. As for the Supra’s base price, it starts at $57,500, leaving a large cost difference for buyers comparing these two models.
Z Nismo with Manual Transmission Expected
Demand for the Z may remain high throughout 2026. Nissan recently confirmed that it is working on a Z Nismo version with a manual transmission, and this model could become particularly popular among enthusiasts.
A Mixed Year for the Entire Model Lineup
Apart from the Z model, Nissan’s overall sales in the USA grew slightly in 2025, ending the year at 873,307 vehicles. This is a modest increase of 0.9% compared to the total figure of 865,938 units in 2024. However, the overall number hides sharp contrasts within the model lineup: several models either grew sharply or declined just as rapidly.
Among the successful models of the year was the Murano, whose sales more than doubled: 42,747 units were sold compared to 19,316 the year before. The Pathfinder also showed strong growth, increasing by 25.6% to 101,598 units. And the subcompact crossover Kicks jumped by 33.9%, becoming one of Nissan’s most improved sales cars for the year. Meanwhile, the Armada showed more modest but still respectable growth of 14.4%.
Not all models shared this positive momentum. The once-successful Altima sedan fell by 18.1% to 93,268 units, while the Titan showed one of the steepest declines in the segment, plummeting by 86.1% to just 2,043 sales. The Rogue also fell, by 11.3% to 217,896 units, although it retained the title of Nissan’s best-selling model in the USA.
Nissan’s electric vehicles also took a hit. The discontinuation of the federal tax credit in September contributed to a sharp drop in Leaf sales, which halved to 5,149 units. Ariya volumes also shrank, by 24.7%, marking its last full year before production ends in 2026.
Interestingly, despite the overall trend of growing crossover sales and declining interest in sedans, the Nissan Z demonstrated that the niche of affordable sports cars with large engines still has its adherents. The success of the Z, especially against the backdrop of the discontinuation of the GT-R and Maxima models, indicates that the brand can find success by focusing on emotional, “driver’s” models, even when the market is moving in a different direction. The future model with a manual transmission could further strengthen this position, appealing to a purist audience that values full control over the car.
