Despite Looming Tariffs, Nissan Slashes Prices Across the Lineup

In a world where things look increasingly unaffordable, Nissan is taking steps to keep its SUVs more than competitive.

Price increases, tariffs, inflation, and high rates all add up to an automotive landscape that seems to constantly get less favorable for consumers. How nice it is, then, to see an automaker taking steps to ensure its product stays relatively affordable. Nissan dropped the prices on two of its key SUV offerings, the Rogue and Pathfinder, just a day before the Trump administration’s tariffs went into effect.

Nissan’s Rogue sees almost $2,000 price change

We just finished our Nissan Rogue review, and while pricing wasn’t necessarily a sticking point, we did mention that the Rock Creek’s starting price was around $2,000 more than comparable SUVs like the Bronco Sport Outer Banks. That is no longer relevant, as Nissan has dropped the price on the Rock Creek by $1,930, nearly five percent of its former $35,420 MSRP. The entire Rogue lineup saw similar, but less drastic softening, with second place going to the Rogue SV, which lost $1,380 off its MSRP. Nissan shaved $1,000 off the SL grade, $930 off the Platinum grade, and $640 off the base Rogue S. This means that you can now take home a Rogue for under $30,000 after the $1,390 delivery fee. Not bad.

Nissan Pathfinder models decrease by as much as $1,170

The Pathfinder is a mainstay of the three-row SUV segment, and it’s now just slightly more affordable than it was a couple of days ago. While it doesn’t see the same level of price reduction as the Rogue, it’s still remarkable to see prices moving down as opposed to going in the opposite direction. The biggest losers are the more luxurious and pricey models. The range-topping Nissan Pathfinder Platinum and mid-level Pathfinder SL see a $1,170 price drop, while the base Pathfinder S sees a $670 price decrease. The base model shares that price drop with the SV and Rock Creek trim levels.

Price drops could offset tariffs down the line

While Nissan has been light on details, the automaker claimed in its press release that the price cuts are intended to “boost affordability for customers facing a challenging car-buying landscape.” We interpret that to mean these price changes are meant to cushion the inevitable blow of incoming tariffs, which could raise MSRPs on some of these vehicles by 15-20 percent. While the Pathfinder and some Rogue models are assembled in Nissan’s Smyrna, Tennessee plant, components are likely sourced globally and could end up costing more depending on how the tariffs are defined.

Final thoughts

Nissan’s price cuts can’t come at a better time for American shoppers, who are paying more than ever for their vehicles. Since the Rogue and Pathfinder are largely US-assembled products, it’s likely that these cuts will insulate them from any price increases the models would see as a result of tariffs on components sourced from outside the United States. Either way, the new pricing should help Nissan stay in the conversation as buyers struggle to save pennies in what promises to be trying economic times.