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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  Monterey Nissan - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Ronn - October 11 - 1:46 pm

  Has a really great look about it. Great color combinations. V-6 has nice acceleration to pull you out of traffic situations. Nice gas mileage on the road for a V-6. Warms up fast. Spacious trunk and heated seats great for long distance driving. Would be nicer if the turn radius was tighter. View past the 90 takes some getting use too. Bose speakers very nice, great bass. Leather interiosr has a real sense of quality about it. Seating just a little stiff. Rain on roof a little tinny. Navigation package factory insatlled only, too bad. Wants to go fast, slips through the air, quiet ride at freeway speeds. Great service from dealer.

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  very awesome car - 2012 Nissan Cube
  By starwishes13 - October 11 - 5:22 am

  Like many, when i first saw the cube i though it looked a little odd, like a shoebox. But once you step inside, the deisign is amazing and the interior is suprisingly spacious. I thought it would be a bad idea to get a brand new car as my first car, but with this car, its not. Its short so its easy to park, u-turns are a breeze, and it has excellent visibility, making this an excellent choice for a new driver like me. The safety features are also a great bonus. I HIGHLY recommend this car for any one who wants an eye-catching car thats fun to drive.

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  great car - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By mike - October 11 - 1:46 am

  Great car to own, low on initial pickup but flies on the highway. Very quiet and stable at high speeds. Its like driving a high-end sports car, also great in the snow and very good mileage, 28 in the city, 35+ highway.

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  Great Truck - 2008 Nissan Titan
  By Adrien Skarra - October 10 - 9:46 pm

  We bought a 2008 Nissan Titan fully loaded except the nav/entertainment system. We got the nice Pebble Beach colour. Over-all we are happy with the truck, plenty of power, handles nicely, luxury interior, awesome sound system (Rockford Fosgate), rides better than a Chev although it mainly has to do with the great seats (the truck has a much more heavy duty suspension and chassis set-up), and has very unique and handy features. We although had two VERY minor issues with the truck at 20,000km. The stereo twice now stopped producing sound but was on, and was fixed by turning the truck off and restarting it. The second issue is the Tire Pressure Sensor Light is on although the tires are fine!?

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  Good Car - 1998 Nissan Altima
  By GOntah - October 10 - 10:00 am

  Good Car With a very good price tag and body style, would buy another one if given the chance

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  2002 Maxima one fast car - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By Maxima Guy - October 10 - 10:00 am

  This car is amazingly fast. Very smooth. The 6 speed is very fun to drive and the car gets great gas mileage.

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  Nothing like an xterra - 2002 Nissan Xterra
  By creo - October 10 - 10:00 am

  The Nissan xterra is well worth the money. This suv has it all. The gas milage is a pain but the xterra is overwhelming. Its a must has suv.

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  Pleasantly Surprised - 2007 Nissan Frontier
  By nh4tom - October 9 - 10:26 pm

  I needed a mid-size pickup and by chance I test drove a Frontier. I was amazed! Quiet, powerful, smooth shifting, solid build, comfortable and a decent price. Almost two months after purchasing, Im still very happy with my truck. Minor annoyances: 1. door handle placement requires long reach to close doors when seated, 2. overhead map lights are not shielded and light up the entire cab (a distraction to the driver), 3. lane changes require extra care due to blind spots with king cab.

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  Great 4x4 SUV - 2006 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Jim zraiq - October 9 - 6:03 pm

  I purchased my pathfinder le almost 2 years ago with 12,000 miles.. The car now has 35,000.. I have never had any problem with this car, it handles the snow amazingly since I live in Chicago. Much better car than 4runner or envoy. It has great look and performance and I am 100% satesfied with my purchase and I would buy it again.

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  A copper-colored work of art - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By David Acton - October 9 - 9:03 am

  It has been an absolute pleasure driving my Nissan Murano for the past 3+ years. From the outside, it looks great and I never tire of admiring it as I cross a parking lot to get in. From the drivers seat, the inside looks great, too, but more importantly is very comfortable in all respects. The dash is well laid out and easy to read, day or night. Lots of storage compartments, in all sizes. And when I turn the key and drive, the best part of owning a Murano occurs. It is fun to drive. Handles well, both in accelerating and stopping. Runs very quietly and drives a straight line effortlessly. I enjoy every minute. Only routine service needed in 3+ years. Best car Ive ever owned.