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 it/I hate it - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Chayce - February 7 - 6:30 am

  This a very fun car to drive and my wife and I both enjoy the balance of comfort and performance. However, the navigation package is practically useless because many of the features are not usable while the car is moving. It drives me crazy. So, either dont buy the navi and get a Garmin or buy a car that has a functional navigation system.

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  NISMO Believer - 2006 Nissan Frontier
  By GR - February 6 - 12:26 am

  Love this truck. Solidly built with great performance. This engine is sweet - climbs the steepest hills in 5th gear like a champ!! Test drove the Tacoma but liked this better. The cabin is more spacious and laid out more sensibly. The sightlines and front window much better than the Toyota. 4 WD works great on ice and snow. Nice and stable. Getting just over 18 mpg with mixed driving. Glad the salesman talked me into the Rockford-Fosgate 6 changer CD. This stereo is a MUST for your truck.

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  Not a Sports sedan - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By daarrid - February 5 - 10:00 am

  The only good thing about the 2000 Maxima is the engine. Smooth, powerful. The seating position is poor and the handling is also poor. Wind noise is terrible (at highway sppeds)!!!!!!!!!!!!! The gauges are minimal with no oil pressure, etc

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  So good I had to get another one!!! - 2002 Nissan Quest
  By salseroboricua - February 5 - 10:00 am

  I had a 1995 Nissan Quest with 125,000 on it. Not once did I took it to the shop in the time that I had it. It was such a great vehicle that I decided to get another one and so far I am loving it!!!!

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  Gangsta - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By Jiggy323 - February 5 - 10:00 am

  I wasnt sure if i shuld wait for the new Honda accord or get the maxima. But after the test drive....the choice was clear. Also the exterior of the maxima was soo much more appealing than the honda. IT was also more spacious. The ride can get rough sometimes in the SE.

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  Excellent Package - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By jblaze13 - February 5 - 10:00 am

  This is a really nice car. The 4 cylinder has plenty of power for most needs. In comparison to a similarly equipped camry, you can see the difference in materials used on the interior. The camry has better interior materials. The light color for the readouts is a bit weird but you get used to it. Overall, this is an excellent vehicle. The leather seats are very comfortable. The ride is excellent, very similar to the camrys ride that has been hailed so much. Im very happy with my purchase.

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  Better than an Accord or Camry - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Ron - February 5 - 12:43 am

  Look forward to driving this car every time I get into it. Sweet engine with lots of power. Bose radio display on dash hard to read while driving. Very roomy interior. Same platform as Maxima. Large trunk space. Style of tail lights takes getting used to. Only looked at Altima, Camry & Accord because of reliability history in this class. My wife loves to drive this car much more so than our previous Subaru Outback. Needs dual climate control for driver & front passenger. Outside temp. display should be mounted where other than just the driver can see it. SL model should have 17" wheels like SE model. Rear wheel road noise does enter cabin area, needs improvement. Ive listed all nit-picky.

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  Solid car but the A/C is a bit meh - 2010 Nissan Rogue
  By anders7 - February 4 - 9:42 pm

  I bought this car new and was very impressed with the handling - very car like. Fit and finish of the interior is way above the competition (RAV4, CRV etc). The engine is powerful enough and I grew to love the CVT that some people hate. The front seats are very comfy and the few times I get to sit in the back I am comfortable there too. This was the last car on my shortlist and I didnt want to like it but I really did. 12 months later and I still like the car a lot. It is what it is - its a compact SUV crossover with AWD (btw the AWD really does work well in light snow and ice). The visibility out of the back is poor (styling) and the A/C is NOT great for Texas summer. Still like the car.

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  Black Betty Is The Best - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By Tom E - February 4 - 6:13 pm

  I have loved Nissans for years but have never owned one until now. This car is awesome. The power is great. I went for the 3.5SE with the CVT and it is the best ride I have ever had. It looks so sleek with the black on black that I chose. Nissan blew the competition away with this redesign of the Altima. I have only had the car a little over a week but I know this is a car that will last me for many years to come.

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  love my ali (altima) - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By brandi garcia - February 4 - 1:20 pm

  this car has been nothing but motivating it handles well responds well has lots of power. The engine is quiet the ride is smooth great standard features windows doors locks seats cruise control just and awesome car to own