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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  I am so very sworry to have to say goodbye - 2006 Nissan Murano
  By michael hudson - June 21 - 9:22 am

  i purchased this scar with 71 miles on it. It was the 1st new car I ever bought,although I have owed several Z cars a 240 2 plus 2 a 260 and a 280, in fact my first car was a datsun wagon. The Murano has been the best. i purchased warranty and most work was done at Nissan. After the warranty ran out I used the mehcacai cI have use for 13 years

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  Great Truck - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By Michael - June 21 - 2:23 am

  I have been very pleased with this truck. I did consider a Colorado at first but very soon discovered that the L5 engine was just not a best choice for the powerplant. The 4.0 in the Frontier is very strong and will leave all other midsize and most fullsize trucks in the dust. The only complaint I have was that splash guards werent a standard feature. The tires sling up and leave a lot of chips on the paint. There is a hint from the ride of a larger truck but soaks up the bumps fairly well. All and all its a great truck and I am very pleased with my decision.

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  Great Sedan! - 2013 Nissan Maxima
  By austintx13 - June 20 - 8:23 pm

  Have had the 2013 Maxima SV with premium package for 3 months and Love it. Was coming out a 2002 Acura RL sedan & did a lot of research on imported 4 door sedans in the $35K - $45K range - Maxima SV won hands down against all competitors. Great ride, strong engine, CVT transmission with shift multiple options responsive handling, strong brakes, attractive body style very nice interior with Bose stereo. Local dealers were aggressive in their pricing too - all around I an quite happy with the Nissan Maxima SV Premium car - you wont be disappointed.

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  A Comfortable Exciting Ride - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By Jeter786 - June 20 - 2:30 pm

  In mid October I purchased my Sentra for an amazing price, new from the dealership. I had test drove the new Civic and Accord but unless leased they were out of my price range. I drove the Sentra and instantly fell in love. The advertised gas mileage was just what I was looking for. Almost 5000 miles later this is the best vehicle I have bought yet. It has acceleration even with the CVT and a quality interior as well as a sound system to match. The bluetooth phone is outstanding and the car is quiet. Recently I drove it through the mountains on the way to North Carolina and it was a joyful drive. This car really outperforms all that I test drove and its one you cant beat.

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  Nissan Altima 2010 - 2010 Nissan Altima
  By nissan - June 20 - 4:10 am

  Smooth, excellent engineering. The best car I have ever driven in the last 23 years.

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  Fun Car to Drive. - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Michael - June 20 - 1:23 am

  This is a great car. Although I do have some cons but overall experience has been great. My cons are the option package by Nissan, poorly put together. When changing lanes I do experience some blind spots. At last the interior design could be a bit better. Other then those, I would recommend this car to anyone.

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  great suv - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By MEW - June 20 - 1:10 am

  I got my x brand new in 2003, I drive a lot on the road with work, I have 201,001 miles on it, I get it serviced once a year, I use only bf goodwich tires ruggend trail, so these people saying they got stuck in the mud and snow, can u drive, I like to fish, go go down in the ditch and the x brings me back out, ive driven my x in 32 states in the rain, snow, ice, Ive had no problems. And the super charger has no problem getting up and going. Besides normal wear and tear, I have no problems with my suv, I use full syn oil and fuilds, I only changed my oil once ever 10-12,000 miles, I get 17- 21 miles per gal, if u want a good suv for yrs to come this is it, Im over 200k and running strong!

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  Great Buy - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By GRJD - June 19 - 8:50 am

  3 months and 8,000 miles. I really love the car. Great sporty fun on the back roads; very long-legged and comfortable on the freeway. Originally looked at the manual, but read up on the CVT, tested it, and I love it: the powerful and smooth acceleration is hard to describe. Manual-mode is great fun too. A real head-turner. You dont see many coupes on the road, and Ive had LOTS of compliments on it (mines black). For the money, I dont know how you can beat the power, handling, and styling. For me this car is a good mix: a sporty "drivers car", but still comfortable and practical for the daily commute (especially the front-wheel drive for winter).

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  jareds review - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By jar - June 18 - 11:46 pm

  This is the best suv there is on the market period.

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  Great car! - 2009 Nissan Altima
  By SSRoberts - June 18 - 4:33 pm

  Although Ive only owned this car for one week, Im already in love. It handles well and the ride is so smooth. I initially went to purchase the 2009 Nissan Rogue, but quickly changed my mind after test driving the Altima. The price compared to the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord is good. The car looks very sporty, yet still feels like you are driving a luxury car. Im now a dedicated Nissan customer. I bought the fully loaded Altima, with the exception of the navigation system.