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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  Worth the wait - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By bhoyl - August 19 - 10:00 am

  Just an awesome vehicle. Ive been burned by domestic SUVs (reliability, resale, etc) and I have waited for Nissan to build a large SUV. Could not be happier. Has TONs of power and is more nimble that you would ever expect from a large vehicle. We get stared at at ever stop light and while the look may not work for everyone, it is unique and at least not boring and omnipresent like Tahoes, Expeditions, etc. I was a little reluctant to buy a first try from Nissan but so far I have been extremely satisfied and it was worth the wait. Glad I didnt wait longer...

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  Best Minivan Ive owned! - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By KrisBeck - August 19 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned a Sienna, which I loved, but the new ones didnt get good crash ratings, and Ive heard they dont deal because its a sought-after vehicle. Didnt care for the Honda, and I drove the Nissan and I was sold. This is the best-driving minivan, it feels like a car and handles easily in any parking lot. I havent noticed any rattling yet as others have reported.

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  The Best - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By sridhar - August 19 - 10:00 am

  This was my first vehicle, and the experience is far far above my expectations. the consumption is amazingly good for a SUVs in its class, 21/25 mpg city/highway. The smooth ride is so cool that you wont even notice the gear shift. The control on high speed is something one has to feel. Talking more about this vehicle is not possible at this moment due to the stipulated number of characters in this section. So, in short it THE BEST. Highly recomended.

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  Perfect - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Emily Anderson - August 19 - 10:00 am

  The ride is so incredibly smooth. For the price, it is really fast as well. Its got 175 hp and V-Tec, so the pick up is nice. However, after about 40,000 miles, I noticed a slight increase in engine noise. Also, as I had never felt previously, I felt it change gears ever so slightly. This car is beautiful, I recommend it to everyone!

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  Stunning Car - 2009 Nissan Rogue
  By Moodles - August 18 - 3:56 pm

  We absolutely love this vehicle. We had looked at the Honda Civic but this is head and shoulders over the Civic. Its much more stylish and a joy to drive. Very reliable, weve had no problems with ours at all. A great vehicle.

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  My third Nissan - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By Pete Lange - August 18 - 3:43 am

  This is the third Nissan that I have owned. It is the second Truck, and I am more than satisfied. It is a very sporty looking vehicle and has the motor to back it up. Also the ride is very comfortable. I really cant think of any gripes at all.

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  Perfect 10 - 2007 Nissan Frontier
  By Awesome Truck - August 17 - 2:30 am

  I love everything about this truck, the way it looks, the way it drives, the cupholders, the sound system, seating position and yes, even the fuel economy. I got 21.25 mpg on my last tank with mixed driving. I do use the cruise control whenever possible but I sincerely doubt there are many other V-6 4x4s out there that can make that claim. I think it will give me 23 -24 mpg for all hwy miles. The overall value is awesome.

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  Greatness! - 1998 Nissan Frontier
  By white_nissan - August 17 - 12:23 am

  I bought this for my first vehicle. At first I didnt know much about the Nissan name. I thought it was a cheap Toyota knockoff but I bought it because it looked good and was cheap. I have buried it up over the hood in mud, wrecked it, and constantly go off-road in it and it is still running strong. I gas it until the rev-limiter kicks in all the time. This truck is great! I have literally put this truck through things where my buddies have blown their trucks up and mine is still strong. Its not real fast but it handles terrific. It will also surprise you on the power/torque. This is an all around great truck I usually get about 20 mpg but could get more. With 140,000 miles on it, its great

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  I love this car! - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By astrosjunkie - August 16 - 7:13 pm

  This is my first car w/ any automatic/keyless feature and I love it! Just crossed the 2000 mile mark and getting 32-34mpg mixed ciy/hwy driving. The crash test results came out right before I bought this car and I feel safer. Visibility seeing out while driving is awesome. The standard audio package sounds great and Ive had so many people tell me that they cant believe how much room is inside for a "small" car. Love the exterior-- sleek-almost european/mini-cooper like. Love the fabric/interior-plush. Handling is great and the ride is smooth, but could use a higher quality/performance or slightly larger tire.

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  Dont let the looks fool you !!!!! - 2010 Nissan Cube
  By DN - August 16 - 4:36 am

  I have to say, I have never taken the time to do a review on anything. But after purchasing my 2010 CUBE and having some time to really get a feel for the car, I could not help from expressing what a pleasure it is to drive. I traded in my 2007 Nissan Sentra and was actually going to buy a NEW Sentra, but something told me to take a look at the CUBE. YES...it has a funky look to it, YES..I might be having a mid life crisis..But I have to tell you that this car does not drive anyway that it looks. What I mean is that at first glance, you would think very light, lots of road noise, not stable on the highway at high speed...NOT TRUE....I love this Car....