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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  Worth Waiting - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Tapan - April 11 - 2:00 am

  After checking Toyota and Honda we went to see Nissan, and that was it. Every one in my family loves this van. Took almost a month to get the color and options I wanted, but finally I got it and it was worth waiting.

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  at age 45...350z gets me noticed - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By zgirl - April 11 - 2:00 am

  this car is sooooo....sweet....it draws so much attention...people say what the he..is that?? A porsche? I say he..no its a nissan...it drives so great and fun and fast fast fast!!!....it is sooo beautiful...oh my god...when i look in my garage i cant believe its my car!!!

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  2003 3.5 - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Swanny - April 11 - 2:00 am

  My 2003, 3.5 Altima has surpassed all of my expectations. For a $23,000 sedan, I am very pleased with its comfort, passenger room,performance and great mileage(Averages 24 mpg combined city/highway). So far(9000 miles),the quality is very good. This is the first Nissan I have purchased after owning a number of Toyotas and other foreign sedans and SUVs. For the price, I dont think any other vechicle in its class delivers a better value in a "fun to drive" sedan.

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  GRRRREAT! - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Candice - April 10 - 8:20 pm

  I went for the Armada, but it was to pricey. I FELL IN LOVE with my altima. It picks up faster than most cars. My friend has a mustang, and he drove mine and fell in love with it as well. I love the new body of the altima, and design. It makes you feel good driving in it.

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  Murano a Great Car - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By lcrnext - April 9 - 3:13 pm

  The Murano is a great car to drive. Not too big, not too small. Handles like a car, but has the comfort and space of an SUV. Love the fast acceleration and smooth handling. Interior features are good, too.

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  Im writing this to help you make up your mind! - 2017 Nissan Rogue
  By R. Phillips - April 9 - 1:53 pm

  If youre like me, and you are in the market for a midsize SUV, youre doing your research and reading all the reviews from reputable sites. Before I bought my 2017 Rogue SV AWD, I was driving a 2012 GMC Terrain (just so you understand where Im coming from). The Terrain was a solid but unspectacular vehicle, and I really did not want to venture too far from that size of a vehicle. It gave me just enough trunk space for my German Shepherd, and enough back seat space for kids and adults alike, even those who are vertically gifted. I read a lot about the Rogue not having much power or pickup, and how the steering is sluggish. I also came across reviews where people said the sight lines are poor or they had trouble seeing. Ive come to believe that these people were trolls from another car company! Ive had my Rogue for two weeks now and Im extremely impressed. It has all the space I need, it has fantastic torque off the line - so I can pass people when I need to - and I have not had any issues with vision or seeing out of the vehicle. The interior is luxurious, and it almost feels like youre sitting in a Lexus. I bought an SV AWD with the premium sound package and moon roof package. Honestly, I could probably do without both of them, but theyre nice to have. The vehicle itself is fantastic and I want to encourage everyone to at least test drive one! I think youll be as impressed as I was. And I hope my review helps, there werent many about the 17 Rogues so I want to make sure I get the good word out!

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  Extremely happy with purchase! - 2013 Nissan Sentra
  By Eric - April 8 - 8:25 am

  I took a long time researching cars before I made my purchase and so far have had zero regrets. I was looking for a fully loaded car that was both economical and reliable. With 54,000 miles and after over 3 years of ownership I have had no issues whatsoever, consistently obtain over 40 mpg, and am very satisfied with the comfort and handling. The only negative I can think of is storage between the front seats is a bit lacking. I like the fact that routine maintenence is quite simple if you are the do it yourself type of owner (oil changes, cabin air filter, and engine air filter). Great job Nissan!

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  Lovin Every Minute of it - 2005 Nissan Armada
  By Matthew P. - April 8 - 2:10 am

  I have had my Armada LE for about 2 months now and have nothing at all negative to say about it. I am completely satisfied and reassured that the vehicle will be as great five years from now as it is currently.

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  Nissan 350Z - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By Jhensley - April 6 - 2:00 am

  The car is solid and "tight." It seems to lack some of the power of the older twin turbo 300Z, but ultimately is more fun to drive.

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  GREAT OVERALL - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By ROBYD - April 6 - 2:00 am

  HAD THE 00 FORD EXPEDITION - HALF DECENT, HAD THE 01 TOYOTA SEQUOIA NOTHING TO BRAG ABOUT, HAVE THE 04 NISSAN ARMADA, I THINK ITS GREAT OVERALL.