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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  Impressive - 2003 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Donn - March 2 - 10:00 am

  Best in class, great power, sturdy, not too big, not too small (will actually fit with another car in a two car garage).

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  dfc review - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By dfc - March 2 - 10:00 am

  Good value for someone wanting a sportier ride with some luxury. The V6 is torquey and feels like a small V8. The brakes and steering are also good. If you are a spirited driver, the suspension will leave you disappointed. The body rolls heavily and the springs/struts are are tuned for comfort rather than performance. The 6speed gears are spaced well but the throw seems extra long and the feel is very notchy - like working a big screw driver in bowl full of marbles! Nissan could take some lessons from Honda. Dispite the shortcomings, the V6 does make up for them and is perhaps the best sport sedan available for under $28K.

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  Good car - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By vivi - March 2 - 10:00 am

  I have bought this car on a moments decision because I liked the styling when Ive first saw it on the street. Then I test drove it and I really enjoyed the transmission. I previously had only 5 spd manual cars and I never thought of buying an automatic. But this transmission is better even than a manual. I have now 2000km on it and loved every minute driving it.

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  Luvin the Murano - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By OGzMurano - March 2 - 10:00 am

  I was not a big fan of SUVs until I test drove the Murano. I still dont consider this an SUV because it feels to sporty and car-like. :) One of the biggest sellers, for the wife and I, was the rear passenger room, the 3.5L engine and the smoooooth CVT (trans). One word describes this vehicle: AWESOME!!!!

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  Cheap at an expensive price - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Bruce McShane - March 2 - 10:00 am

  The car looks good and has a decent mechanical reputation. The paint is rough the clearcoat is thin the dealer even made it a point that the car should not be washed except by hand or pressure washed. Putting on a coat of wax showed a porous uneven surface. The inside is appointed cheaply the cloth seats are a course mesh rough to the touch. Someone must have decided to shave a few yen off costs by shortening the seat backs and narrowing them. Anyone over six foot will need to duck down in the back seat and find a way to get in and out without hitting their head on something. The ride is sensitive to any and all bumps and roadway transitions

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  Fun Car - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Laxcamel - March 2 - 10:00 am

  I just purchased my Altima a week ago and I love it! A fun, fast car, however, at 670 miles it almost broke down. I stopped to get gas and it wouldnt start up again for five minutes. Im hoping this is a fluke, and otherwise than that, I am extremely happy.

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  Love my 2013 Altima - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By 2kats2 - March 2 - 6:47 am

  Bought the 2013 Altima 2.5 SL 4cy CVT automatic middle Sept 2012. I love the car. The finishes in the interior are top notch. The controls for radio, heat/AC, cruise, and such are easy to use and figure out. I activated the blue tooth for my smart phone in seconds. The mileage has been spot on. I drive a mixture of city and highway and average 33.5 MPH. The readout on the car shows 33.2mph. I am very happy with my purchase. The reviews I read mention the noise from the CVT. While I have heard this, I dont consider the noise intrusive. I like hearing the low growl when accerlerating on the interstate. Bose sound system is awesome. The seats are so comfortable.

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  Loving it to death - 1995 Nissan Pathfinder
  By SS - March 2 - 6:16 am

  I love it. It is the most reliable and go everywhere vehicle. Ive now got 247,000 miles and it gives no indication of quitting anytime soon. Regular maintenance and love make it happy. Ive driven it in the desert, mountains, snow, wind, you name it. It performs like a champion.

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  Decent Choice for the Price (Maxima GLE) - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By Shahriar - March 2 - 5:23 am

  Ive had this car for almost 5 years and have driven it to my hearts content. The car has 115k miles, still smooth, strong and a pleasure to drive. The stereo is temperamental and skips once in a while. But when in good mood, the Bose makes you feel like youre in a concert hall. Terrific power and smooth transmission. Good marriage between the engine and the transmission. No problem in the snow. Had problem with brakes, stereo and exhaust systems. Engine light comes out often (gas cap issue). Handling not comparable to German counter parts but good enough to throw around in the corners and have some fun. Suspension is soft, but serene in good road surface. Bumpy on bad surface.

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  This Car is OKAY.... - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By adensmommie - March 2 - 1:53 am

  I was searching for a car for two weeks and came up on this 07 Versa...I test drove it(not having driven manual in awhile) and I liked the feel of the car. I also got a good deal on it too. After the first week, the car felt like it was gonna die on me when I would turned on the AC and it shook a lot. Also the engine is REALLY LOUD!!! I was in 6th gear at 3500 RPMS doing 70 MPH and the engine sounded even more loud. My 92 eclipse had better gas mileage than this car, I would need to fill my tank every week and I only work 10 minutes away from my house. I like the look of this car but not for gas mileage and for a manual vehicle. I am currently looking to trade this car in...