Crossover craze leads Nissan to sales increase

Japanese automaker Nissan Group posted a 1.6% U.S. sales increase in January, compared to a year earlier, as customers continued to flock from cars into crossovers, sport-utility vehicles and trucks.

The company's namesake Nissan brand recorded a 2.9% increase to 97,220 units, while the luxury Infiniti brand fell 11.8% to 8,514.

Edmunds.com analysts had projected Nissan Group sales growth of 1.5%, compared to an overall industry decline of 0.5%.

Sales of Nissan's crossovers, pickups and sport-utility vehicles rose 18% in January. Throughout the industry, shoppers are ditching small cars as low gasoline prices make bigger cars more affordable to operate.

The Nissan Rogue is emblematic of the crossover craze sweeping the industry. Sales of the Rogue rose 26% in January to 19,762 units.

Meanwhile, the Altima mid-size car fell 16.1% to 22,156 vehicles.

Follow Paste BN reporter Nathan Bomey on Twitter @NathanBomey.