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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  you gotta get this truck - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By irishtj - July 29 - 3:23 am

  I have only had this truck for 2 months but it is AWESOME...265 horsepower on a mid size truck. this thing hauls butt. It is solid, well built, fun, and The looks i get at every light, people keep asking me about it and are impressed by the looks of this truck. I was not impressed by the looks of the full size titan but it works on this truck. it is a guys truck nothing wimpy about it at all..it handles beautifuly but you still have the truck feel due to its heavy duty frame

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  Great truck - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By bensimmons_99 - July 29 - 3:06 am

  Great all around truck, I am impressed with its comfort, its smooth ride and its power. I shopped around for over 3 months, and finally found a great deal. For the money it is the best truck!

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  This car ROCKS! - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By Stew - July 28 - 12:00 pm

  This is one the fastest, most responsive cars I have owned. $75G plua cars have pulled aside it sneered, and then were left in the dust with only factory equipment and settings. The body is gorgeous! Definitely spend the coin on 18" wheels and rims. When you turn off the traction slippage control, this car becomes a rocket.

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  In Love - 2010 Nissan Altima
  By Kenna - July 28 - 10:00 am

  Looked for 8 mths at only fuel efficient cars, considered the Mini, the Insight, the Civic, the Jetta TDI. Then, on a lark, because I thought it the most beautiful car out there, I finally drove the Altima and immediately fell in love. This is a great car! The ride is so smooth, I feel like Im floating on air. I have comfort, beauty and function all at a great price. I have never been so happy to write a check.

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  Love It!!!! - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By Brad - July 27 - 10:26 pm

  I just recently bought the 2007 Altima with the CVT..I got the SL package, Bose Stereo with Sirius, Rear Spoiler, splash guards, and ABS. Man this car is fun to drive. For a 4 cylinder it has some good pick up. I definitely recommend that you get the Bose stereo..The car I bought invoiced at $24,915 and paid $24,500..so Im happy with that...and Pebble Beach exterior looks sharp with Black leather interior.

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  I luv it - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By Swamy - July 27 - 10:16 pm

  I owned this crossover in Dec 07 and I loved it so much. Its fun to drive in Highways. The exterior is good.

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  Great Purchase - 2009 Nissan Maxima
  By ltret98 - July 27 - 3:23 am

  Traded 05 Maxima SE for 09 with Sport pkg. Difference is night and day. 09 is a dream come true. Great handling, interior, design and gas mileage to boot. If they made this in a convertible, might consider trading in 02 Vet roadster. Hardest decision was which package to purchase. Utilized on extended trip, shortly after purchase. At highway traffic speeds, gas mileage was unbelievable, great on the open road and got lots of rave comments on design throughout the southwest US. Since return, seen avg gas mileage of 25, in town. Handled well in first snow of season.

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  Love our 2015 SV. - 2015 Nissan Pathfinder
  By JP350Z - July 26 - 4:50 am

  First let me say that I am a real car guy that races sports cars and karts on the weekend so I know cars. Dont let the bad reviews scare you, we are 6 months and 7000 miles onto our 2015 and are very happy with our choice. I believe any issues with the CVT have been sorted in the first 2 model years. Just a few weeks after buying it we took it on a 2000 mile road trip with 2 small kids and it was flawless. I would drive it again that far in a moments notice. I made 26 mpg with it in 2wd mode with the cruise set to 78mph. Best highway road trip vehicle ever. Our previous car was a 2011 Forester that we never "loved" even though that is Subaru slogan. This car my wife loves. Car seats fit well and still allow 3rd row access. Jogging stroller fits even with 3rd row upright. My only complaint is the SV model Bluetooth will not allow you to stream audio only talk by phone. Also Nissan does not play well with my Samsung Galaxy. For streaming audio you must buy the SL and Tech package. I think thats crazy. Also heated seats are a must for us so we added dealer installed aftermarket heated cloth seats for $500 and didnt have to pay for all the extra SL items we really didnt want. Got 0% financing and a 2 year maintenance package included as well.

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  Titan of Titans - 2009 Nissan Titan
  By Go_Vols! - July 25 - 11:50 pm

  My 1st was an 05 LE 4x2, now I have an 09 LE 4x2. The 05 was a beast that never let me down. It had initial quality issues, which were mainly fit & finish, squeaks & rattles, but the dealer fixed all. I drove the 05 65K trouble-free miles then sold it for $15,100. The 09 incentives are too good to pass up. My 05 didnt have DVD, Navi, Sunroof, or tow package, which is why I wanted a loaded one. The Â’05 was a terrific truck, but the Â’09 blows its predecessors out of the water by far! Fit and finish is tops and the new interior adds some much needed class! With a tow rating of 9,100 Lbs, I can now buy & tow a bigger cabin cruiser when I join the Volunteer Navy in Knoxville on game days!

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  Great little car, cute. - 1999 Nissan Sentra
  By Sue - July 25 - 5:26 pm

  This is my first car and I bought it at 6 years old about 5 months ago. It had no problems when I bought it and still has no problems although Ive taken it on a several road trips since .. Pittsburgh to Philly, Philly to DC and back. It feels comfortable and is nice to drive and its small so its great for parking but not too small as to get intimidated on the highways. I love my car :)