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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  I love this car!!! - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By healymonster14 - January 11 - 2:00 am

  I just bought my murano 3 days ago, and all i want to do is get in it and drive, anywhere. it handles great, the bose stereo system will rival anything the punk kids got in there tricked out honda civics. i parked it at the grocery store today and when i came back out there were 3 people walking around and peeking into my car. they loved it too.

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  Tundra What? - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By toyturbodiesel - January 11 - 2:00 am

  This is it, except for the new Ford nothing comes close. I wanted a Tundra in the worst way however Toyota has a lot of improving to do. It was a close call between the F-150 and titan however the Titan won me over with its all around competance. If you took the motor/tranny from the Titan and put it in a F-150 you would have possibly the best selling truck for 5 years with no major changes. I did like the F-150 interior though.

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  excellent car - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Max2ny - January 11 - 2:00 am

  I think nissan really put alot in this car. Im pleased beyond belief. Thank you nissan.

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  Best Kept Secret for a Mid Sport Sedan - 2010 Nissan Altima
  By Steve Breen - January 11 - 12:43 am

  I bought this car for my wife, who was tired of the SUV thing and wanted a "car". We wanted to get as much car as possible for around 30k, and it seemed our tastes gravitated towards cars near the 40k range (BMW 335, Lexus, etc). We considered used, but really wanted a car to hold on to for a while. Enter the Altima 3.5 SR. I was blown away with how much car you can get for the money. With everything except the Nav, this thing is well short of 30k. And its a LOT of car for that money. Handles well (just slight understeer if you are going nuts), willing, torquey engine and the CVT -- which I really thought would be weird -- just seems natural. Awesome interior - well, thought out.

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  Love my Sentra - 2010 Nissan Sentra
  By Jay - January 10 - 10:23 pm

  I love my Nissan Sentra. It has a lot of interior room, handles well, and gets good gas mileage. One of the best things I like about it is the CVT transmission. It is so smooth and feels like a turbine. Handles well in the snow and ice. Dealer said they are so high on this transmission that they extended the warranty on them to 125,000 miles. Ive put a lot of miles on it in the past 2 months and am very pleased with it.

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  2002 Pathfinder LE Blows the Others Away - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By dkh1020 - January 10 - 10:00 am

  I just picked up my 2002 Pathfinder LE 2WD this weekend and couldnt be more pleased. After driving a 1999 Pathfinder LE for three years, I decided to shop the competition & nothing compared. The Pathfinder is clearly a superior product at a bargain price. The fit, finish, build quality and reliability are second to none. Interior materials and design are first rate. The cabin is comfortable and quiet while the ride quality rivals some sedans. The 240 hp 3.5 liter engine is exceptional and makes driving the SUV a blast. The six disc in dash Bose unit is phenomenal. Nissan has done a great job keeping an aging design fresh while continually improving the product.

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  What To Say,?, It Is A BEAST!!! - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By Gambit_DC - January 10 - 10:00 am

  FUN! On a bad day, take a drive and things feel so much better! I feel what everyone previous to my statement has said, except for one guy... (who probably got the car when the assembly line was taking a break) This car is beautiful. Everything is unique. People get in my car and say, "What is that, oh ish, this joint is sweet, damnnn!". And after you purchase one you will do the double take back at your car in the parking spot and smile. Feeling like I got the best car in the lot. (figuratively-$$$) I need not say more. I almost turned into a salesman trying to get all of my boys to buy one. It is that impressive. Sunr/f, Audio Fanatic, 17in, Spec V, got in 11/2001 19000 after tax title

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  fun truck - 2002 Nissan Frontier
  By zip - January 10 - 10:00 am

  Fun truck to own, never been in the shop, great performance.

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  x-terra - 2002 Nissan Xterra
  By scott rohan - January 10 - 10:00 am

  i love the car

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  Wings and afterburners! - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By generalelectric1 - January 10 - 10:00 am

  I bought this 2001 Altima with the 4 cylinder,moonroof,leather..fully loaded... and have not looked back! Tried the Lexus and others and I found that the Altima had the power, the looks and room that I required. If you want a fun ride..its either this car or the Chrysler/PT Cruiser. These two are the best rides for the money. Now I have to buy my wife one..or else! Do yourself a favor..live a little..get one!