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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  Poor quality Nissan car - 2006 Nissan Sentra
  By dlcruze - October 3 - 10:20 am

  Bought the car new in 2006 and had problems with throttle body system and fuel system repeatedly. Luckily, I purchased a warranty that handled it. Right under 75k miles (warranty expiration)it was in the shop again for throttle body issues. less than one month later and 2k miles over warranty, Im still having similar issues and Nissan Corporation will not repair. I lose power while on the freeway and it has put me in dangerous situations. I will never buy a Nissan again because Nissan Corporate does not back their vehicles or parts.

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  Great for the price - 2005 Nissan Sentra
  By Ethereal - October 2 - 8:30 pm

  Ive had this car for almost a year, and I do not regret buying it. It handles amazingly well, and I keep pushing it further and further with no complaints back. The car is great for the price.

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  Dont fool yourself. Go beyond the look. - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By VSW - October 2 - 4:46 pm

  My first brand new car. I decided to pay for it because I did not want to deal with mechanics any time soon and the bluetoothd be good. So wrong. As other mentioned, tires pressure light keeps going off and it stopped only after changing 4 tires. There are TOO many blind spots, the more I drive the less comfortable Im with the car. Few problems: blinds are broken, side panel badly aligned, so are the doors, brakes have to be replaced, battery over charging, bluetooth is not worthy and now the transmission is giving me problems, and the dealer cannot reproduce it. I do have good gas mileage, but Id not mind spending little more on gas for better quality. Think it through!

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  Worst Nissan Car Ever ! - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By rtat - October 1 - 11:39 pm

  I bought my 2.5 SV 40 days ago, I had a noise on the drivers headline, the dealer tried to fix it but the couldnt, I request to change it, Nissan gave me another one, before accepted me and the Nissan dealer manager did the drive test, it had exactly the same noise at the same position as well as the power steering noise, now Nissan looking for alternative car for me!!! I think this Altima will be the worst Nissan car ever.

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  My 2003 Nissan Altima - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By dgzlz - October 1 - 7:32 pm

  I just felt the need to give special props to my 2003 Nissan Altima that is not at (372 THOUSAND MILES) yes I had to spell it out so no one would think it was a typo. She needs a new catalytic converter, but other than that she is still the greatest money maker I have every had. I drive 172 miles a day, 5 days a week. I have tried reading online to see if anyone else was running with this many miles, but it saddens me to see some have not been as lucky. A mechanic not long ago told me mine car must have came off the line on a Wednesday. I tried looking that up with no sucess.

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  Best car for your money - 2005 Nissan Sentra
  By PAT - October 1 - 6:26 pm

  This is my second sentra and i am very pleased with this one as well. my next one will more than likely be another sentra. i have had no problems with either one so why mess with a good thing?

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  Doesnt Owe Me a Dime! - 1996 Nissan Sentra
  By Bob - October 1 - 1:13 pm

  The car just turned over 223,000 miles and Ive had nothing major to complain about. Mileage with the 5 speed is still VERY good at about 37 MPG average for all types of driving, and upwards of 42 mpg on the highway. Just got my first tear in the cloth drivers seat, and one in the carpeting under the clutch pedal. A bit of rust inside the door openings but thats about all. Im going to be sorry to see this one go, if it ever does! Just maintain the regular service schedule and you should always be good to go.

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  Cant go wrong - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By J Cromwell - October 1 - 6:33 am

  I sold Nissans for about a year. I drove an Altima for a demonstrator for about 3 months and have never driven a better value. As soon as my wife graduated college we ran right out and bought one. There are nicer, more expensive vehicles out there but for the money you will not find a better buy. Any problems you find on JD Powers website are almost certainly the salespersons fault for not explaining fully the cars features and how to opperate those features. Remember that they only count "problems", which could range from a blown engine to how to open the fuel door. Dont fault the car for an incompetant salesperson. You cant go wrong with the Altima reguardless of trim level.

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  Amazing value - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By OT - October 1 - 4:36 am

  This is a car that feels way more expensive than it was. Consider the motor: its got liquid-filled mounts and at idle, its so quiet I once tried to start the engine while it was running! More torque than most 2.0L engines, and I love the 6-speed (which Renault co-designed and uses in their cars). The seats are plush but supportive, good for at least 4 hrs continuous driving (Ive done it). Way more backseat and trunk space than "compact" cars used to have. Tire pressure monitors, computerized (RFID key) ignition cutoff, high safety rating, all standard. Plus Nissan reliability and resale value!

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  Amazing - 1997 Nissan Pathfinder
  By cbusam - October 1 - 2:00 am

  The car is not only reliable but also fun to drive. So much fun!!!!