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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  Tammie H - 2015 Nissan Rogue Select
  By Tammie H - October 8 - 6:30 pm

  The Nissan Rogue Select was cheaper then all the other SUVs and I wanted just a basic one. I opted for NO Sunroof I did request a backup camera and the hands free phone. We LOVE our SUV!!! It is SO comfortable and the second seat is very roomy compared to the other SUVs. Not a problem on gas it uses the 87 oct not 91 like my Mazda. Its very reliable and I feel safe in it! I am 5 9 and so we are tall people and when we go out we usually take our vehicle with comfort. My dram vehicle was an SUV I am 44 and I am so glad that I picked the Nissan Rogue Select. There only a slight difference between the Rogue and the Select. We made the right buy!!!! I do have to say that I would buy this vehicle again BUT do NOT get it with the luggage racks/rails on top. They cross winds will hit it just right and makes an AWEFUL sound!!!

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  Safe - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By DNC - October 8 - 10:16 am

  I was in a fairly bad crash with this car when another driver turned into me. The car was totaled but no one in my car was hurt, and judging from the damage someone in my car should have been. I am truly thankful that I drove a Versa.

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  Love it! - 2006 Nissan Xterra
  By pinkyjones - October 8 - 9:33 am

  I got my Xterra last November and love it! I never had an SUV before and was afraid I wouldnt be able to handle it. It handles great and is easy to drive. The gas mileage is not the greatest but is better than I expected. Tons of cargo room and lots of extras like extra outlets to charge stuff, cargo tie downs and netting to hold groceries. My only complaint is the stock tires. They do not grip well when it is wet. I also replaced the radio since the stock radio was lame.

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  Good but not Great. - 2007 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Jay - October 8 - 5:43 am

  My Black on Black SE gets A LOT of compliments. I havent had any problems with fit or finish. For $28k the radio feels pretty cheap. It has loads of power but the distortion is pretty bad when cranked up. No aux port or MP3 formats really limits things. The MPG is horrible, I barely get into the 20 range with my highway driving. Driving moderately or aggressively the engine feels strong, if a little too loud. Touch the gas pedal lightly and the engine roars. The third row seats and loads of cargo space proved very helpful over the holidays. The heater has an on/off feel. Its hard to get the right temperature setting. All in all its got loads of style and appeal and I am happy with my purchase.

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  Bought another one - 2012 Nissan Sentra
  By subdal - October 7 - 4:12 pm

  I had a 2007, the beginning of this models current design. I was hit by a red light runner and the car was a total loss. I bought the car for $18,500.00 and after four years of ownership I received a check for $13,000.00. That means this great car was mine for only $114.59 a month. I could not believe it! It held its value so well.

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  Fun Car With Uncertainty - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By arcadianwings - October 7 - 2:26 pm

  Although it is not living up to the advertised gas mileage, Versa is fun and comfortable to drive in daily commute as well as long trips. The S trim is no-frill and down-to-earth. For the price I paid, Id almost think its a steal if I have not come across some of the build quality issues. After a month of ownership, I have found a rattling plastic panel and a clicking hubcap. I have also had some reservation over the performance. The drivetrain is not responsive enough in certain situations and feels sluggish at times when the A/C is on. Overall, I still believe it is a good buy and only hope that the long term reliability will not be an issue.

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  What A Great Vehicle - 1997 Nissan Maxima
  By Pleased Customer - October 7 - 1:20 pm

  I purchased my Nissan at 32000 miles,I now have 394,000 miles. I still get excellent gas mileage 24 city and 30 hwy. This vehicle is driven slightly over 1000 miles weekly. I replaced the alternator due to a recall, only oil changes as recommended, tires and of course brakes. The Bose stereo system still sounds awesome. Slight tear on driver leather seat. If you perform the maintenance required on this auto I can surely guarantee you will find this car to be a keeper.I will continue to drive this car until sadly it has to go to the "Automobile Haven". This is truly is a well handling vehicle on highway.

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  Brakes and Gas Tanks - 2006 Nissan Murano
  By Breaks and Gas Tanks - October 7 - 3:26 am

  Its a Very Good car overall. Its powerful and handles well. Its Roomy inside and the leather feels nice. I had some problems the dealer cannot fix. Brakes squeak in the morning when backing out of the drive way, Complained 6 times and the dealer really try to fix it but cannot. Another problem is when fueling. The pump shuts itself off because the tank does not have "air return"?? The dealer know of this problem and has ordered a new tank. The dealer said its the fuel pump inside the gas tank. About the squicky breaks, dealer said its the type of material Nissan uses on the breaks, no solutions.

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  Stay Away from - 2003 Nissan Frontier
  By BarkleyPup - October 7 - 2:00 am

  I really like the ride and the power, but the gas milage sucks. I would not recommend. Also the bed is not as big as it looks. Most full sized trucks get better fuel milage.

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  Sweet Set of Baritone Pipes! - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By 2003Brickyard - October 7 - 2:00 am

  Nothing compares to starting up my Z! The pipes just let out that sweeeet looooww sound! I love that car! Whew!!! If you are still considering purchasing one, then you are wasting valuable driving time!