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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  The best yet - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By Carl Long - July 30 - 10:00 am

  My purchas was decided on the comfort of the seating for my wife on the passanger side --- after my first 250mi. trip I recorded 22.3MPH and everything seems to get better from there

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  Look out am comin! - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By dhump - July 30 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive, looks great and handels like a dream.

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  Great Van - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Ranjan Bhai - July 30 - 10:00 am

  Worth the wait for my family. The skyview roof decided Quest over Sienna. Great for long drives.

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  ZGOZIP - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By RJE - July 30 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive, handles with little or no effort whether in a straight line or in the curves. The sunvisors rattle and the deck lid arm binds when closing, otherwise it is my dream car. Contemplating on the roadster. Nothing but thumbs up by the onlookers and the younger enthusiasts look for the speed. Easy to get caught up in the moment to drive the car, but know your limitations as you can get in over your head with this car very easily.

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  350Z SPORTS CAR WITH AN AUTOMATIC - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By Vicki - July 30 - 10:00 am

  I Love it. A true sports car for everyone. You get incredible styling,power,all the bells and whistles, comfort, luxury in an incredible package all with an Automatic transmission (5spd). You get it all without having to lose the performance and features when you order it with a automatic transmission versus an 6sp manual. I had driven a 2004 Mazda RX-8 and the model with an A/T was doggy and after researching the specs you gave up alot as the vehicle was totally different when equipped with an A/T versus a manual. This drove me to the Nissan 350 Z. I have owned many sports cars and had traded in a Honda S2000 for this 350Z.

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  The BEST of the BEST !!!! - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By Ronald Remis - July 30 - 10:00 am

  More Bang for the Buck! I have owned Ferraris, Porsches, Corvettes, Benzs and this new "Z" is simply remarkable!!! Great exterior looks, Dramatic interior, Superb handling, Bose stereo system, Ease of operation drop top and just FUN TO DRIVE! Why spend more and get less?

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  Most lovable car - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Maria Heinrich - July 30 - 10:00 am

  I just love it, this is the 3rd Maxima I have owned and will continue to buy another when I am ready

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  Magnificent - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Bethzaida - July 30 - 10:00 am

  Experience is a great car I love my car

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  Great Car - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By T-mony - July 30 - 10:00 am

  This is truly a drivers car, and the bose 320 watt system is great.Nissan went all the way with this new design.This car turns more heads than a Mercedes!

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  A Dream.... - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By happymetoo - July 29 - 7:53 pm

  This car is a dream! I just traded in my Nissan XTerra for the Murano. We loved the XTerra but this feels like I am driving a Cadillac which just happens to be an SUV. In Alaska where we are, handling on ice & snow are primary for us with a vehicle. This couldnt handle better. The heated seats are a plus too, along with the dual climate control for both front seat passangers to be comfortable. The sleek design leaves me looking back at my car each time I park it to see how beatiful it really is. The back seat is so roomy for passangers, along with the fact they recline also makes it a great driving experience for all.