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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  2 yrs and still running great - 2008 Nissan Xterra
  By nick_ole - March 2 - 4:48 am

  Fun SUV to drive... hugs the road like a champ with smooth acceleration and strong brakes. Mine is a 4x4... havent taken it off road yet but looking forward to it. Got mine a yr old at a steal and even if I didnt, its still worth the money. Its expensive to maintain though...tires cost 200+ a piece and maintenance at the Nissan dealership which I recommend, is still expensive. But all in all, havent had mechanical issues yet @ 66000 miles. This is my second Nissan after my 2004 Maxima SL and Nissan hasnt failed me yet.

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  GREAT TRUCK - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By jeff - March 2 - 2:46 am

  It is a great truck with alot of power and very roomy. This truck turns alot of heads.

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  Excellent value for the money!!! - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By Tony - March 1 - 6:43 pm

  Its been almost a month now since I bought my Sentra and I love driving it! It is very spacious inside, beautiful display, and excellent audio system. Nissan has not spared using quality materials building the car. This is my first Nissan (usually go for Toyota) and I think I found a new favorite car brand. (So does my wife!). All in all I cant believe that a car with so many extras can be bought for way under $20k!

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  Frontier Rocks!! - 2006 Nissan Frontier
  By Derrick Mandujano - March 1 - 5:06 pm

  I have always owned Ford Trucks and every one of them seem to break down after 36,000 miles. I traded my 4x4 Ranger Edge for a New 2006 Nissan Frontier LE........Now this is a compact truck to be recond with!!! The Dealership was ecellent in getting what I want and at the price I wanted...I recommend anoyone to Gunn Nissan, they were honest, quick, and kept informed.

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  Stylish, Good performance and Practical - 2016 Nissan Murano
  By Eileen Pivar - March 1 - 11:40 am

  The Murano handles well, the ride is quiet and comfortable. This mid-size SUV is perfect for my needs. Cargo space is easy to load - from grocery shopping bags to golf clubs and luggage on a recent trip.

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  Mini Titan - 2006 Nissan Frontier
  By Richard P. - March 1 - 2:53 am

  A definite upgrade from my Ford Ranger. More room, more power. Spray in bed liner, cargo tie down kit, locking tailgate, and bed rail caps a plus. 6300 lbs. towing capacity. Big truck ride. Nissan did their homework on this one.

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  awesome car - 1996 Nissan Maxima
  By ronyn49 - March 1 - 12:16 am

  I bought this car at around 95k miles and it now has about 109k. The engine is smooth and quiet and like all nissan engines, is very torquey and produces power the second you need it. The handling is a bit too soft, but thats the price for a smooth ride. Interior quality and the BOSE stereo are very good, but the deck is not very shock resistant and the digital display is going out. Otherwise, a very good car at a very good price

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  09 Altima hybrid base model - 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By Happy Owner - February 28 - 9:53 am

  Got base model for $21995 after rebate, incl destination fee. If the price hadnt been so low, the fuel benefit wouldnt have outweighed the added cost. LOVE it. The accel. is as good as my old accord, & better than my wifes civic. Poor Braking distance is non- issue; it feels like it can stop on a dime, even at 3500 lbs. The eCVT is ideal; I have never driven a continuous transmission. Has abundant safety features for my family, and I was even surprised that alloy wheels are standard (although I dont know the added benefit of alloys, just that they cost more). A small thing I love is the key. Just have it in your pocket, & you can open the trunk, unlock doors, & start the car!

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  Best car Ive ever owned. - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By Spilner - February 27 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car with 86k on it and have not regretted it a single time! I was amazed at the gas mileage (22-25 city, 27-30 hwy) and the power and torque is great. I can run even with modded mustangs and newer turbo bmws and can smoke most other cars. Ive beat pretty hard on the car for about 12k miles now and its held up to everything without complaint! The only problem I had was with the stock Bose subamp cutting out but theres an easy DIY fix for that which takes about 15 mins. Nissan built this car to last 200k and its very obvious the quality they put into this car. Just make sure to have a set of snow tires on hand =P

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  Its fun to drive - 2005 Nissan Quest
  By Sharon - February 27 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my minivan over a year now and I still love it. The model is the 3.5 SE, It has all the skylights, bells and whistles. Mine is dark gray with the rouge and black interior. We took it on a family vacation last year from Massacusetts to Washington DC, to South Carolina. I have 3 kids and there was room for all of them, and all the luggage we brought with us. I have the 2 DVD package, and the navigation system and it definitely was worth the money.