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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  Excellent car! - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By MsABQ - April 18 - 10:00 am

  I love this car. Lots and lots of room, very beautiful, classy looking car. Many people thought it was a Lexus when I first purchased it.

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  My Best Friend - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By terrie169 - April 18 - 10:00 am

  I first bought a 99 Altima in 2000 and fell in love with it.I only had the 99 for a year and a half.I wanted a different style and much newer. I had seen the 03 on tv and just kept saying that was my next car, and sure enough in sept 02 I bought a 2002 Altima, had nothing but problems, so in dec 02 I traded that in for 2003 Altima and was the best choice ever.Have not had any problems whatsoever.I love the ride it gives, very comfortable. If I was to trade this one in I would either get another Altima or a Maxima or a Murano.Nissan is my type of car and will always be.

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  maxima - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By maxima - April 18 - 10:00 am

  this maxima is the best car of 2004. all maximas are great. everyone should get a maxima

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  Such a beautiful car! - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By AZGIRL - April 18 - 9:16 am

  I bought this 07 in Oct. of 06 and I was one of the first in my area to have one. It gave me absolutely no problems, other than I had three flat tires in 2 months because of so much local construction. One little thing, the center compartment wont close tightly anymore because I must have broken it a long time ago. Then there was a recall with the brakes. They were fixed for free by Nissan, but I knew there was something wrong when they started to squeak so soon. I think this car is great and it runs smoothly where I live (no ice/snow). I love the look of it and the interior is comfy. I love this car and I havent had any other problems with it. Love the volume/radio controls on the wheel.

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  The next generation - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By zoom - April 17 - 5:46 pm

  I have owned several Nissan products. My last truck was a 98 king cab with a 3.3 v-6. I had a guy come to my house and request to buy it, seeing the next generation truck I agreed. He is completely happy as am I. My Nismo is so much better in every way. I can get over 21 mpg on the hwy, mixed driving around 18.5. The power difference isn even close,this truck will haul, drives great, rides great with 31.5 psi in the tires. In my opinion, and I have owned all domestic vehicles, this is solid satisfaction!

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  I have loved this car - 2009 Nissan Altima
  By Ruth - April 17 - 12:11 am

  Great look, great ride, great great milage!!! Just need to drive the grand babies, not enough back seat

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  3 years of Titan Joyfullness - 2007 Nissan Titan
  By Chrome Dome1313 - April 16 - 11:43 pm

  I have had my titan for 3 full years now and I love it. I have owned many cars and this is my second truck. I have been almost AMAZED at how reliable my Titan has been. I have almost 60k miles and really havent had a single thing wrong with it. Every american made car or truck I have owned has been a mechanics dream since I always had them in the shop. I just had to write and tell everyone how great my 2007 Titan has been over the years. I would highly recommend this truck to any buyers who are looking for a used truck.

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  Best Car! - 1996 Nissan Maxima
  By claycope - April 16 - 1:13 pm

  With over 180K, the maxima still runs like new. Getting 450 miles to a tank. No major mechanical problems, just standard wear and tear items. Looking forward to 300K miles before getting another one.

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  my 2nd altima - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By Nice Ride - April 16 - 9:40 am

  Awsome car this is my second altima! I had a 2000 before traded it in with 101,000 with not a single problem, looking forward to having my new Altima for the same amount of time. i have 4000 miles currently and nothing to complain about

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  Truly Amazing! - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By Speedbrds - April 15 - 7:33 pm

  Had this vehicle for nearly 1 year and Im just amazed how fun it is. When Im in the feeling for some sporty driving, I push the "M" button on the center mount. I pretend the "M" button is from the BMW M3. This is my M3. When I drive to Vegas, I can easily achieve 120MPH and keep it there with little to no trouble. When driving in town, I try to challenge myself. When I accelerate, I try and keep the RPM below 2000RPM. Once I hit about 10 or 15MPH, the RPM drops and I push a little more on the accelerator and move quicker all the while keeping the RPM under 2000 and the gas mileage up. Opted for the keyless and sound pack. The stereo is unbelievable.