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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  Luxury - 1998 Nissan Altima
  By jbesad01 - January 21 - 6:36 pm

  I got mine for 3,200 from a private seller who had taken good care of it since the day it was bought. The inside of this car is beautiful. I felt like I was driving something I paid $20,000 for. Great combination of power and mileage. I got 33mpg once on a long trip. I love this car.

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  Great Commuter - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By djjerabek - January 21 - 10:13 am

  I was looking specifically for a fun car with an automatic transmission to share the daily driving chores with my 5-speed manual Miata. Other subcompacts that I tested just didnt have the get-up-and-go that the SE-R provided. Dont know what other car would provide this type acceleration with an automatic transmission and still get 27 mpg.

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  LOVE IT! - 2007 Nissan Titan
  By cody - January 21 - 9:26 am

  Its worth every penny. Before I bought this truck I test drove the F-150 and the Tundra and neither compared. The power and torque are amazing. The gas mileage isnt that great but what do you want from a 5.6L V8. The flatbed carries more than a ton and it tows what it says it can. Its very easy to maintain and always gives me peace of mind that I will get to where ever Im going safely. The interior is huge, I still am finding new places to put things in. Totally recommend to anyone in the truck market, this truck is much better than the F-150 by a long shot for value, price, and quality.

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  Sarah & Toms Ride - 2007 Nissan Maxima
  By Sarah & Tom - January 21 - 5:40 am

  Love everything about it, glad we went with the 07, Nissan just keeps getting better and better all the time :) This is our 4th Nissan, great performance machines ! Loved the Armada we traded for the Maxima but gas prices were not so good, so we decided on the Maxima. Great choice love the looks you get when you are setting at a red light :) It sure turns heads that is for sure. We love everything about it.

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  It is a smooth quick runner - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By Timothy Howell - January 21 - 4:43 am

  I have owned it 2 weeks and I think this car will be the best in all areas. I have owned 12 autos (54 years of age)

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  Best little car Ive ever owned - 2009 Nissan Sentra
  By Mac88 - January 21 - 2:16 am

  Bought this car with the idea to save money in the future to counter possible rising gas prices, and I was surprised at the design and overall quality. The CVT tranny is a little weird at first, but its a great performer. Some may say its boring, but if you just want to drive and not worry about shifting or rpms then this is the one. Torque right off the bat is good, you can feel it in the seats, once car is at the speed you want, rpm goes down low, and its quiet, surprisingly quiet on the freeway for a small car. Small on the outside, roomy on the inside. Big trunk, good styling, and fairly wide. Its comfortable enough for my commute, AC kicks butt, a real quality motor, quiet at idle.

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  Great Car - 1996 Nissan Maxima
  By Arnold - January 20 - 10:50 pm

  Traded my 96 Maxima over the weekend. A bit sad. Bought it in 1999 used with 70,000 miles. 10 years later 198,000 miles. Still runs great with lot of power. The best V6 engine in its class! I will miss her.

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  We love it - 2002 Nissan Quest
  By tobyk - January 20 - 1:46 pm

  Has been awesome for our family. The folding/sliding back seat awesome

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  A great model for a keeper - 2010 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By stan - January 20 - 1:43 pm

  As a previous driver of an 06,07,08 altima I thought it would be time to try the hybrid. I am glad I did! The car is peppier than I thought it would be, the ride quality is somewhat firmer than the other 2.5 sedans. The gas mileage indicates 37.1 mpg overall on the computer average which I have reset initially on fill up @purchase. The transition back and forth from gas/battery is very smooth, a quality I was waiting to experience after reading some reviews. I feel the car will hold its value and the price on memorial day was great. My first Nissan was an 86 maxima then a 2000 max before going to the altima in 06. Who knows I may keep this one awhile!

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  2008 Xterra Experience - 2013 Nissan Xterra
  By suzuski - January 20 - 4:00 am

  Bought an 18 runabout w/ trailer so traded-in a 2004 RAV4 for a used (14kmi) Xterra in 2008. Couldnt be happier. Plenty of power and tows very well. Mileage? Average 19mpg with 16 the lowest and 24 the highest. Very practical load carrying. RAV4 very noisy. When I rep laced the tires I didnt care about longevity and asked for the quietest tires available. The Xterra has very little road noise. Interior is basic with little gingerbread, thus no trim to fall off or rattle. Im a Zen kind of guy and wish to keep things simple. There is only 63000 miles on it but when it comes time to buy a new car Ill seriously consider another Xterra (assuming Nissan stills builds them).