Overview & Reviews

Nissan was born in Japan, and like other marques from its homeland, the brand is known for crafting vehicles that place an emphasis on quality and reliability. The company's roster of products is broad, and includes sporty coupes, family sedans, minivans, trucks and SUVs.

The automaker got its start in 1933 as the Jidosha Seico Co., Ltd. The following year, this outfit merged with another Japanese manufacturer, and the new company was christened Nissan Motor Company, Ltd. Nissan initially marketed its vehicles under the Datsun brand, with the first Datsuns being built in 1934. Postwar, the brand made its presence felt worldwide, building a partnership with the U.K.-based Austin Motor Co. and establishing a presence in the United States. The first Datsuns hit American shores in 1958. Vehicles like the Datsun 1000 were based on Austin platforms.

The '60s witnessed Nissan's merger with Prince Motor Company, a union that helped the Asian manufacturer create more luxury-focused vehicles. In the U.S. it began offering its first vehicle styled for the U.S. market, the Datsun 510 sedan. By the end of the decade, Datsun had exported more than 1 million vehicles. Datsun rose to prominence in the 1970s on the popularity of its 240Z sports car. Powered by an inline six-cylinder engine, the car was coveted for its blend of style, performance and affordability. By the time the '70s drew to a close, the automaker's cumulative vehicle exports had surpassed the 10 million mark.

In 1981, Nissan shelved the Datsun name and began selling vehicles worldwide under the Nissan moniker. The '80s also saw Nissan's launch of a tuning division called Nismo for the development of performance-oriented vehicles and accessories. Nissan also brought its production to American shores, with the construction of a Georgia-based plant.

The early '90s saw Nissan's fortunes rise in the U.S. thanks to fun-to-drive cars like the 300ZX, Maxima and Sentra. But this trend didn't last long and by the late '90s Nissan's offerings consisted of anonymous vehicles. The company's future was uncertain.

After the turn of the new century Nissan bounced back, helped by a 1999 alliance with Renault that boosted the company's finances. Its redesigned Sentra and Altima boosted sales and consumer interest, as did new models like the 350Z sports car, Armada SUV and Titan pickup. Today the manufacturer is known for offering a wide range of well-regarded vehicles, including the popular Murano SUV, the incredible GT-R supercar and the all-electric Leaf.

User Reviews:

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  Awesome Vehicle - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By sullylc - September 26 - 8:03 pm

  This is our first midsize suv. This car is for my wife but I get a great joy driving it. Fuel economy is excellent in my opinion for the size motor and power. On a long trip I set cruise at different speeds for 1/2 hr at a time. 60 mph gave an average of 30 mpg while cruising on the back roads. At 80 mph on the interstate average mpg was 22.8. This will improve as the car gets broken in. Every thing about this car is excellent. It is very quite on the highway and comfortable for long trips. Safety in crash testing gave the Murano the highest rating of 9 midsize SUVs tested. Safety, looks, comfort, value, an unbeatable combination.

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  Good for family - 2001 Nissan Pathfinder
  By dsgtbfdsgb - September 26 - 10:00 am

  The reason I purchased the Pathfinder was that it had the best acceleration of all of the other SUVs I test-drove. Although I enjoy my Pathfinder, I miss the feeling of driving my old sports car. If I had a family, this would be the best thing to have if I was limited to buying an SUV or mini-van.

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  Monster - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By Wedgebolt - September 26 - 10:00 am

  It was love at first sight. I test drove this vehicle and I knew I had to get one. After shopping around I got an excellent deal from Central Ave Nissan in Yonkers. We have 3 kids and they love riding in this truck. Rides smooth and accelarates quickly. But as expect gas mileage isnt that great. I love the low growl the car emits when driven.

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  GOOD BUY - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By Erskine - September 26 - 10:00 am

  We bought this for our family trips. It is incredibly spacious. I can fold the third row and the middle of the second row down and sleep fully stretched out. The ride is bouncy with the rancho shocks. I recommend the LE model. Off road performance is good for its size. Clearance is empressive. Low Range is a nice feature. I would recomend the Infiniti over this model. If you want it loaded, for five thousand more you will get better warranty and service. This vehicle will easily accomidate five 65" adults and three shorter passengers. Rear access is great unless you are using more than one car seat.

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  ONE HAPPY CUSTOMER !!! - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By Joseph A Gutowski - September 26 - 10:00 am

  This is my very first non-USA name vehicle that I have owned.Also by far, this is the best car for the money that I had to spend. I test drove a KIA and Ford Focus,not even close to the looks and handling of my Sentra. Not only was the Sentra superior, the sales staff were outstanding. They helped me decide, not forced me to decide. Good Job Nissan!! J.A.G.

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  Great new van- love it so far!! - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Jecky22 - September 26 - 10:00 am

  First off, I was NEVER EVER going to own a van over my dead body! Well... along came my son. With that said, we love our new van. We seriously considered the Sienna, but chose the Quest as it fit our age, style and function better. The "Maxima" and award winning V6 is great EXCEPT on the gas mileage. We have ranged from upper teens to lower 20s so far. The only problems we have had are: 1) small chips showing up in the front end paint (and we dont drive on gravel); and 2) filler piece for non-roof rack groove came loose on interstate (being replaced next week). Otherwise we love the van so far.

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  I love my truck! - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By pciley - September 26 - 10:00 am

  This is the best vehicle I have ever owned, bar none! Never again will I own a Chevy or Ford truck for the rest of my life!

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  I LOVE THIS CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By vandalizers - September 26 - 10:00 am

  We just bought our Altima 3.5 SL one week ago. It is loaded with everything except the navigation system, which would be great for some people, but for me it would be to distracting! I have never enjoyed driving a car as much as I do this one! It is comfortable, has a smooth ride and is FAST!! Im afraid I am really going to get in trouble with this car!! I would encourage anyone looking for a new vehicle to take a look at the Altima. I started out looking for a Pathfinder. After I drove the Altima, I knew it was "the one". I cant wait to take a road trip in this car!

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  Nissan should be ashamed of itself! - 2009 Nissan Cube
  By shogun17 - September 26 - 7:40 am

  I had a reservation for a mid-size car with National at Sarasota airport. When my flight arrived, I was told all they had for me was a Nissan Cube. Well, it certainly did not look like a mid-size car, but I had no choice. I used it for a week and put on over 600 miles. First impression was that it was the ugliest thing I had ever seen. It looked like an aquarium on wheels. The car had a cvt transmission which nissan does a good job with as car is grossly underpowered. Wind noise at 75mph is unbelievable, no power on tap for passing, no feedback from steering and a confusing and illogical dash. It is the worst nissan vehicle I have ever driven and I have always liked and owned their products.

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  Great car! - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By Loki - September 26 - 6:26 am

  This is my third Nissan and my first Maxima. My previous car was a 96 Altima and I decided it was time to upgrade. I really like the Maxima! Its a pleasure to drive and quite luxurious for the price. A lot of pick- up and an amazingly quiet drive. I looked at the Acura TL and that was slightly more luxurious, but not worth the extra $3,000 they wanted. I was also very pleased with the dealer (Nissan City in Port Chester NY); no b.s. and very little sales smarminess.