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 and reliable - 2001 Nissan Sentra
  By Nismo#1 - November 7 - 11:20 am

  Bought it with 12,600 on the ODO. Now has 95,200. Used Synthetic in it since I got it; engine runs great. Overall, Ive been very happy with it as a commuter car that does about 80-90 miles a day. The most major thing Ive had to do was the recent suspension upgrade where I replaced the stock struts/shocks/springs with something a little more sporting; this move totally transformed the car. The GXE was designed for comfort, not handling! The materials used in the interior are cheap (except dash) and show wear easily. Also, get the windows tinted as the sun fades seats/carpet. Nissan really skimped on the interior to save money, but its got good mechanicals and a solid chassis to work with.

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  LPs Review - 2001 Nissan Maxima
  By LinP - November 7 - 10:00 am

  I am addicted to the Maxima. This is my 5th one, and anytime I have tried to switch to another car, I havent been happy. I always come back to the Maxima.

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  Love the acceleration - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By tcaliber - November 7 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive - Easy to operate

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  Se-R Turbo! - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By deadforeverturbo - November 7 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car back in 2003 and I got ripped off, but I now that I look back on it,it was worth every penny. Itsa nice entry level car for teenagers, and I love the torque steer!!!

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  Still Smiling! - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By Defrons - November 7 - 10:00 am

  I have been driving my Sunlit Copper SL AWD for nearly a year now. This is, by far the best vehicle I have ever owned. Yes,the mileage is not what they said it would be, however these are only comparison mileage figures, I dont know of a car that actually gets what the sticker says. I get around 19 mpg if I drive like I have good sense. The CVT tranny is tricky at first, if you put your foot in it, it will eat gas. Once I got used to the way it operated it was all good.

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  BMW X5 Killer - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By LeeSki - November 7 - 10:00 am

  Read Pro car reviews on this vehicle all very highly rate this car. Outperforms BMW X5 and is 10-20K less. If you enjoy driving performance you will not find a better car in this class for the money. Have had car for 7 months now and I am very glad I got the Murano and not the Pilot,Highlander,Ect. This car is fun to drive! It gets lots of looks and people always asking about it. Have driven car on some long trips and through all types of roads, terrain and deep snow. The CVT trans and the 3.5L 245HP is an awsome match. The trans is computer controlled, no gears so it is always at the perfect RPM at any given condition up hill or down hill.

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  Great Car for the price! - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By Dave1901 - November 7 - 10:00 am

  Loved the car from the first time I saw it. Had been looking at the Infiniti FX35. Murano had all the same features but for 10K less. I have had no problems at all with the car. Its the best car I have ever owned.

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  Why so much double sided tape? - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By Miguel Fabre - November 7 - 10:00 am

  I like the truck I Just think they should have used more screws than tape and snap together parts. My dash makes noises like it is about to fall out of the truck, and the mud flaps are held on with doudle sided tape. I mean come on $30,000 for a truck that after 1000 miles parts started falling off. Whats next? I wonder what holds the engine in chewing gum? I have a date with the service department monday hope they can fix it, or i will have to go ford.

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  The Bar Has Been Raised! - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By leronrich - November 7 - 10:00 am

  This could "hands-down" be one of the best full-size trucks ever conceived! I test drove all the major contenders and the only one that even came close to touching the Titan was the Ram. The handling is second to none and the power is beyond impressive. Also, having the ablility to buy a vehicle and not have to worry about upgrading the engine or the tires made me feel even more comfortable about my purchase. Nissan has defined the new standard of what truck building should be!

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  Remember The TITAN - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By TITAN MAN - November 7 - 10:00 am

  From its soulful exhaust note right down to its FACTORY sprayed in bedliner, this is not only one of the BEST trucks that I have ever driven, but one of the BEST VEHICLES around. Great acceleration, visibility, comfort, and utility. Traded in my FX45 for this and am much happier; 0 - 60 in 6.9 secs!?! - what a beast. The Titan crushes road imperfections and never gets "tossed around"; has great road manners and never loses its composure; feels ultra safe. Constant "thumbs-up" from other drivers of all vehicles. If you are looking for the ultimate vehicle, "Remember the Titan"!