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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  Completely Satisfied! - 2003 Nissan Pathfinder
  By mahipalc - April 8 - 10:00 am

  I am completely satisfied with my brand new 03 Pathfinder LE. I waited to write this review until I went on a recent 1200 mile trip to the mountains to see more of this cars performance in tough conditions. One word, Excellent. Safe, solid, comfortable and fun to drive. Though the mileage is poor it is improving all the time. It definitely lacks some of the nice little features that the JGC I previously owned had like the trip computer and powerlumbar support but who cares when you are getting such a solid reliability and comfort in exchange. I just love the car, period.

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  xe - 2002 Nissan Frontier
  By cawiles - April 8 - 10:00 am

  I have had excellent service from this truck and would have no qualms about purchasing another. Thus far I have encountered only one defect which related to emissions controlat around 9,000 miles. It did not affect the performance of the vehicle. The problem was identified and repaired quickly. The truck is slow at takeoff unless I put my foot down heavily. This truck has an excellent turning radius, which comes in very handy in tight parking situations. which I forget about. The interior of the truck is laid out very well for my tastes, with plenty of space and easy ingress and egress.

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  In Like, but not In Love - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By The Real Superman - April 8 - 10:00 am

  I havent had this car for very long, but the time I have had it is sort of love/hate. I love the power, the Bose system, the coolness factor. I hate the gas mileage, the interior design, the road noise. It doesnt handle in the twisties the way I thought it would. And torque steer can be scary. But it is very roomy and reasonably comfortable for long trips. I sort of miss my 97 Maxima:-(

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  Great Car! - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By bogeyboy - April 8 - 6:43 am

  I am a Honda person so I was a little nervous about buying my first Nissan. I have owned the vehicle for over a year and have been extremely happy with everything from the performance to the look and feel of this car. No problems as of yet (27,000 miles and going strong) and looking forward to many years of owning this vehicle.

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  Its just okay - 2010 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Hman - April 8 - 1:46 am

  We bought the V6 pathfinder, it handles pretty well. My wife loves the seats, however I am not convinced they are that comfortable. One thing that really bothers me is a vibration that occurs when the car is in gear but not moving. It starts from the engine and moves back through the vehicle. The dealer said this is normal and its part of the exhaust. At times I wish I did a longer test drive before we purchased the vehicle.

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  Awesome Car - 2017 Nissan Maxima
  By AW - April 7 - 10:12 pm

  Luxury car without luxury price

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  Awesome Car - 2017 Nissan Maxima
  By AW - April 7 - 10:12 pm

  Luxury car without luxury price

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  Awesome Car - 2017 Nissan Maxima
  By AW - April 7 - 10:12 pm

  Luxury car without luxury price

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  great Car - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By Mike - April 7 - 2:43 pm

  I have had the versa for 45 days. I love the way it drives its so quite and I love the cvt transmission. Traded my Honda Pilot to save money dont miss it much the Versa is a great car I would recommend it to anyone. So far Im getting 28-29 mpg combined city & HWY, not as good as I expected but it only has 500 miles maybe it will get better mileage once its broken in. The keyless entry and bluetooth are worth the extra money. Great Car and very economical.

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  What a car! - 2009 Nissan Maxima
  By hutch1 - April 6 - 8:26 pm

  Traded in my 2nd Camry for my first Nissan, and I have to say Im thrilled with the purchase. Basically have now found what it means to have a sports sedan instead of a family cruiser and I will not be looking back! Test drove approximately 10 cars and never really found that perfect fit of sports sedan, luxury, good looks and reliability for a great price until now.