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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  Fun to drive minivan - 2007 Nissan Quest
  By Oregon Nissan - March 19 - 2:16 pm

  This van is drives like a car. We used to have a Honda Odyssey, and the Quest definitely drives like a car. We have used in around town and for long cross country trips, and the van performed well under both scenarios. Interior space is good for the driver and in the second row. Whenever I have been seated in the front passenger seat it doesnt feel comfortable. The 3rd seat row is very cramped and the bench seat back is too short. Definitely not a place for adults.

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  2005 Murano - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Keylee - March 19 - 1:13 pm

  I own the SL AWD and love the design inside and out.I chose the SL as opposed to the SE, because I like a softer ride more than the sportier feel. I have not been disappointed. It has a roomy, comfortable interior, along with a smooth & comfortable ride. The no-shift transmission is smooth but does take some getting used to. The CRV is fun to drive and handles great. So far I would highly recommend this vehicle, Im very pleased with it. I did my homework on it before my purchase, and also a big part of my buying decision was the Nissan reputation. I would like to be asked to give my feedback 3-4 years down the line, than I can really give you my honest opinion.

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  Manual clutch problems - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By Mike - March 19 - 12:30 pm

  Clutch burns out after only 10,000 miles. Nissan disclaims all responsibility and will not cover under warranty. Dealership unwilling to help.

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  left me stranded - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By bmanjeep - March 19 - 7:56 am

  squeaks in back hatch recently fixed. squeaks and rattles in front right not checked yet...had to have computer replaced. Would not start or even turn over. Warranty covered all work. Not sure I made the right decision on trading in my 1991 Ranger.

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  Plain-Jane car, bad handling, overpriced - 2006 Nissan Sentra
  By Josh - March 19 - 3:53 am

  Bought this in December 2006. Nothing special, no power windows or seats. No cruise, no ABS, no AC, wipers have 3 settings, too slow, too fast and use only in a monsoon fast. Car is squirrley on the freeway, extremely noisy, but Ive gotten almost 40MPG on roadtrips doing 70MPH. If you do not turn on the power and let it set and beep a few times before turning the engine it stalls or has a hard start. Runs great on regular oil. Interior is very cheap. cupholders are useless and cups can interfere with manual shift knob. Drivers door has always had a tiny and occasional leak.

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  best car i ever had - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By double R - March 18 - 11:43 am

  drives great, floats on the road, tons of room in back seats and the v 6 is fast

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  Amazing Ride - 2008 Nissan Armada
  By Dara - March 18 - 6:50 am

  We purchased this car because both my husband and I are 64 and we have a baby who needs to be seated in the center. This is the only car that allows us both leg and head room and PLENTY of room for other passengers to sit and be comfy. We have our seats all the way back and still have plenty of room in the second row. We also love the front sensors and the rear view camera, nav system and the new touch panel display radio system. The hatch and third row move with the push of a button and the ride is smoother then a Cadi without a doubt! You will LOVE this car.

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  A few significant problems - 1999 Nissan Sentra
  By BBB - March 18 - 2:10 am

  I bought this car brand new in 1999. A few annoying problems appeared while using it. First, my horn would go off without any warning while I was making sharp turns (especially, on very hot days). Second, I had to change brake drums after 5 years of driving it (my Toyota after 9 years did not have her brake drums changed yet). Third, some exhaust sensor broke down, and my orange Maintenance light would be constantly on. I did not fix it, since it would cost me money and wasnt critical to driving. So Im pretty disappointed with the car overall. Frankly, Ill never buy a Nissan again. On a positive side, I had a really major car accident with a tractor trailer and I lived, so its a safe car

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  Lots of power, no good on gas - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By dwillington - March 17 - 9:43 pm

  What I like most about this car is its power and performance. 260 hp, this thing flies. It has performance tires for a reason. Do not like the interior, it looks cheapish Japanese style, like a cheap electronic calculator. The leather is nice, most of the trim great, but the gauges could seriously have benefited from a different designer. Gas consumption is NOT good, youll notice pretty fast youre paying at the pump a lot. But overall, its a nice sporty sedan.

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  Great car - 1999 Nissan Maxima
  By vinnnn - March 17 - 1:23 pm

  very happy with it. 2 problems that nissan knows about but will not fix is the ignition coils and the rear calipers stick....