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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  good car but nothing special - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By pv - July 15 - 11:50 pm

  I bought this car used from a family friend 2 years ago. It is at 76k miles and has not had any major problems. I feel like the car is mid-range in every aspect. For instance, the V6 engine is responsive but nothing like a sports coupe. It gets decent gas mileage but nothing spectacular. I like the look and design of the interior, but the materials used makes it feel a little cheap. Overall I think this car is good at a lot of things but great at nothing. It looks and feels more sporty than my Moms Camery, but has all the same practical uses. It is a rational choice for someone looking for a functioning car with a little more flare than your average sedan.

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  Nissan in the shop - 2001 Nissan Maxima
  By tigger79 - July 12 - 10:00 am

  We have had our Maxima Se since 10/01. It has approximately 18k miles. At 12k miles, we found a crack in the rear spoiler. Nissan would not fix it. It was only covered up to 12k miles. Just this week-09/08/03-the car died and would not start. It had to be towed to the dealer for repair. They still do know what is wrong with it!

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  Dont buy - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By cubs - July 10 - 10:00 am

  I have 82,000 miles on the engine its in the shop for a new engine

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  Very Bumpy Drive! - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By LJ - July 8 - 2:53 pm

  I am a Maxima fan, however, the 2003 SE model rides extremely bumpy and although I love the car, I am almost sorry I bought it because the ride feels like a very cheap car and Im suprised and disappointed. I have tried to get the car checked and lowered air pressure in the tires but when the car hits even the slightest bump it feel terrible. I also find the car handles terrible in rain and snow.

• 

  Xterra007 - 2002 Nissan Xterra
  By Xterra007 - July 5 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car for my wife. For her this was love at first sight. The SUV really looks good. Problems: Just couple of days after we bought the Xterra, I noticed that transmission wasn’t working right (Engine Lights showed up), SUV had stumbling problem while changing gears. I took it to the dealer, they found out that there is a speed sensor, which was not working. They had to order the part, which took couple of days and finally I got the Xterra back, so far it is working fine. This is bad for Nissan reputation.

• 

  Nissan Quest aka A Lemon - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By ceevee - July 3 - 11:30 pm

  Bought this as soon as it was introduced. have about 33k miles so far. Been in dealership for warranty related service, regular service, recalls for 20 times- ~ 35 days. Had replaced wheel bearings and transmission control module already. Replaced door weather stripping, CD/Radio already. Doors and seats rattle all the time. Nissan is not able to fix it so far after 6 attempts. Never seen such a poor quality car. Buy a Honda, Toyota, Mazda, Kia, Ford or GM minivans but never this. In fact I will never buy another Nissan again. Also, customer service dept at Nissan USA is really bad. Soon Nissan will lose all its goodwill and will end up bankrupt negating their amazing financial turnaround.

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  200sx - 1995 Nissan 200SX
  By DriverX - June 28 - 10:00 am

  Good value, fast motor, poor handling, ugly body, too high off ground, very cheap interior. Brings new meaning to economy.

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  Passenger seat to high - 2016 Nissan Murano
  By Roger - June 24 - 1:50 am

  If you are 58" your head will hit the ceiling. No way to lower passenger seat. Horrible design. I cannot ever ride in passenger seat as my head hits the top and Im only 5-10

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  Very Big Disappointment - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By truecarchat - June 21 - 4:56 am

  Sorry to report that after 40 days of ownership, I have been able to drive my new Rogue less than 600 miles. Car wasnt properly prepped so it spent one day in service. Air bag control module and sensor went bad, 9 days in service awaiting back ordered part. Average city and highway mileage is about 19 MPG but cant be addressed according to dealer until 1000 mile break in period. Adage "looks arent everything" certainly applies here.

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  This year is should have been skipped - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By eganrac - June 21 - 3:19 am

  Ill start off by saying that I absolutely ADORE my armada. Its an awesome, beautiful, powerful, comfortable vehicle that I enjoy getting in every time. That being said, the 2004 model is an absolute failure when it comes to reliability. I have had a magnitude of issues with this car since about 6 months after I purchased it. Here are my problems and my actions The 06 model would be your best choice as i have heard of limited problems with this.