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 & Reliable - 2000 Nissan Altima
  By Sheri - January 1 - 1:50 pm

  I bought my Altima new and have loved it since day one! In 1999 I drove a rental on a business trip and fell in love--otherwise I never would have noticed this car. At 150,000 miles I spent some money to replace water pump and radiator, but other than that I have had almost no repair work done on this very reliable car. After 10 years, Im still comfortable taking the car on long road trips and it looks great! The engine is great with 1 or 2 passengers, sluggish with the AC on or with a carload--what do you expect from a 2.0L engine?

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  Worth it to me! - 2005 Nissan Armada
  By sjo - January 1 - 10:26 am

  I used this site for my research so felt I should leave a review. Was going to buy a 2004 Nissan Armada, but went for the 2005 model after reading the concerns about brake and rattle issues. I have a dealer friend who said the brakes have an added shim kit, and the console is new. This truck (SE 4WD) is for my wife, but I look forward to driving it on the weekend. I only have put 1,000 miles on it since picked it up on New Years Eve. The mileage so far is about 15 mpg, but the truck is not broken in yet. I went without the tow package and am glad since the gearing is slightly different. I drove trucks with both packages and at 80 w/o tow pkg you are at less than 2,000 rpm. With the other package you are at 2,300 rpm. This truck has more room than the Toyota 4Runner we traded in for it. I have owned Nissans in the past and have been happy.

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  Best car Ive ever owned - 2000 Nissan Altima
  By michelle - January 1 - 5:46 am

  I bought the 2000 Nissan Altima GXE in 2004, when it had about 60k miles. It now has 119K, and has been, without a doubt, the most reliable, trouble-free car Ive ever owned. And Ive owned about 20. I just had to do a distributor last week, but that was the first real repair Ive had. Oh, and for some reason, I end up doing motor mounts every other year, but I like a very quiet, vibration free car, so it might just be me. The Nissan mechanic said the 99 and 00 model years of this car were the absolute best. I agree. In fact, Im thinking about moving up to a 2005, but Im afraid it wont be as good as the 2000 has been to me. If you cant afford headaches, buy this car.

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  Love our van - 2005 Nissan Quest
  By J - December 31 - 1:36 pm

  When I caved to the need of a mini-van (hated the SUVs), I immediately liked the Quest new style. My husband was more satisfied with the design and didnt feel like he was driving his "wifes" car. Like the oversized chairs and roominess for driver, I personally love the center console and would not have changed it!! Downside has been the tires - headache to replace with weird size and they dont wear well, and the brakes have been ridiculous!!! Overall a good purchase for our family which includes a big teenage boy and preteen girl.

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  Fun, Affordable, Head-turner! - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By mcnairda - December 31 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car from a dealer that grabbed it at a dealer auction. It had 12k on it. I had the service bulletins performed to correct the toe settings and some window grease streaks. Other than that, all i do is drive down the road and i get stared at in this car. Its a redline track model and the excitement of this car is believed by many and understood only by those who drive it. The handling and acceleration are next to none. However this is a true muscle car and definitely worth the money. I couldnt be a happier camper. I do feel that the interior lacks a little luxury, but you dont buy a sports car to have a posh interior.

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  Love that car - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By BIg - December 31 - 10:00 am

  Just love it! Lot of space. Can go camping anywhere. The best SUV I ever had.

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  Nice - 2004 Nissan Altima
  By Sniper5415 - December 31 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car at that price. It was a good buy for me because its a good performing vehicle.

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  Great Truck - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By Brett M - December 31 - 10:00 am

  I traded in an F250 Super Duty crew cab with four wheel drive. I havent regretted it yet. This is a great truck. Solid, tight, a performer and great looking. The front bucket seats are exceptionally comfortable and the ride very quiet. Performance is a plus. Good gas mileage is lacking, although I believe Im getting better than others have reported. I do a lot of highway driving and have seen 20.3 mpg and as good as 18.4 mpg, combined. Im averaging about 17. Not bad when you compare it to the 12 mpg I was getting in my Ford. Although Ive only had my Titan for a month, overall, Im very happy with the purchase. I think Ill keep her.

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  best truck ever - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By ythfdjhf - December 31 - 10:00 am

  this truck is the best truck ever without a doubt. I love it. It overpowers all the others and looks better too. the toyota is too small and underpowered and the others have that "quality american build" feature attached to them.

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  1st Full Size Truck, AWESOME!!!!!!!!! - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By TitanCrew42 - December 31 - 10:00 am

  This is my very 1st full size truck and it is AWESOME!!!! I never expected to enjoy driving a vehicle as much as I do my Titan. Its got plenty of power and its very comfortable. Cant wait to tow something huge!