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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  Bulletproof Car - 1997 Nissan Maxima
  By 97vq30de - May 27 - 9:08 pm

  I bought this car with 188k miles. It now has 231k miles. This is my second car. Ive replaced wear and tear parts like any other car would go through. Ive done some upgrades. Fun to drive. 120mph + stays glued to the ground. I get 24mpg 70city/30hwy. The engine is very quiet, even under load. Awesome Bose audio system. Great looking exterior, especially when lowered with wide wheels ;). Plenty of cargo space. A lot of visibility; easy to park. My girlfriend liked it over her Ford Focus. I plan to keep this car until it literally starts to fall apart. Very good job Nissan.

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  Extraordinary Drive - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By Duane - May 26 - 11:06 am

  I have a 2005 Red SE Max w/ Driver Preferred Package. At the push of a button my steering wheel and leather seat heats up. I added a remote starter so the leather seats are heated when I enter the car. It has been fun getting into the car this winter. I had no problems pulling out of the snow. I just turn on the radio and cruise. My daughter loves the RDS. It shows the name of the artist and the song the radio station is playing. Eight way power seats with memory allows me to preset seat position. The seats and steering wheel actually automatically adjust to let me out when I turn the car off. Once I open the door to get in the steering wheel and seat adjust to let me back in. Extraorinary!

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  I love this car - 2004 Nissan Pathfinder
  By EricaJane - May 26 - 10:00 am

  Great car, fast, sporty. I feel like I am in a luxury automobile with the leather and wood interior.

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  sentra - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By buddygill - May 26 - 10:00 am

  great car to drive lots of power for a 4 cyl

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  EXCELLENT TRUCK - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By KCLUBER - May 26 - 10:00 am

  LOTS OF POWER,EVERYONE STOPS TO LOOK AT IT

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  05 Altima 3.5SE - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By mortd - May 26 - 10:00 am

  Im on week 3 of my black, Altima 3.5, 5 speed manual and love it so far. The radio reception is weaker than what I would have expected but Im enjoying the 6CD changer. The handling is good and the engine performance is superb. Only mechanical problem is a loose cover on the passenger side view mirror.

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  luv my Altima - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By ron - May 25 - 4:40 am

  Great handling. Good gas mileage, quiet ride. Brakes need improvement. Hard to make smooth stops. Overall great car for the money.

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  Love my Versa!!! - 2009 Nissan Versa
  By Blanca Castello - May 25 - 2:51 am

  The only bad thing is that it only has one car charger. Having phone charger, GPS charger or other people in the car it makes it tough.

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  from the big guy - 2001 Nissan Frontier
  By Robvd - May 24 - 12:06 pm

  I am 62" 300 lbs, I like the fuel economy of a compact pickup for in town driving. I have plenty of room and comfort in the truck.

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  Nissan Versa Dream Car - 2009 Nissan Versa
  By nissan versa 09 - May 23 - 12:33 pm

  I got a Nissan Versa 09 in Aug 08. I love my car. I have purchased 4 cars in the past 10 years and was looking for that perfect fit.