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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  BIG BUT DRIVEABLE SUV - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By JMD - December 27 - 2:00 am

  VERY COMFORTABLE ON THE HIGHWAY. WITH FOUR KIDS AND DVD IT WAS ACTUALLY A NICE TRIP. SECOND ROW SEAT LEG ROOM IS AMAZING. THIRD ROW ISNT BAD EITHER FOR ME 6FT 1IN., MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR SMALLER PEOPLE. ENGINE IS STRONG THROUGH OUT DRIVING RANGE. EASY FOR ME TO DRIVE IN TOWN. PARALLEL PARKING IS NOT BAD ,ESPECIALLY WITH REAR SENSORS. NAV SYSTEM IS EXCELLENT AND EASY TO USE.

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  Good Car - 1998 Nissan Altima
  By xs6dfg0 - December 26 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car in March of 2002 with 60,000 miles on it and so far it has been perfect. I dont expect to have any problems with it as this is my third Altima. This is a solid and reliable vehicle and you just cant beat the value. They have lousy resale value because Nissan saturated the market with them, but this is a good thing when youre picking one up used. I have the 5-speed manual and I dont like it very much, the shifter feel is too vague and slushy. My wife has a 2000 Altima SE with a really good automatic transmission and that seems to be a much better option in this automobile.

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  Happiness in one Package - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Nicoles4x4 - December 26 - 4:50 am

  This is my 2nd Pathfinder, first being an 02. Great SUV! Drove me around in a foot and a half of snow with ease. Amazingly fast with quick pick-up. Dont let the size fool you into thinking it is going to be slow. AWESOME navigation system!! DVD Player is great for the rear passengers as well. Overall I love this truck. In the 02 Pathfinder you were able to roll down the front windows via the remote control for the alarm, now you cant, just wish they still had it work that way but its minor.

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  Great Max - 2001 Nissan Maxima
  By Guantanamo - December 25 - 2:00 am

  When it came time to replace my 93 Maxima (with 175,000 miles on it) it only made sense to give Nissan another try -- and boy am I glad I did. The 2001 Max is better in every way - bigger, roomier, faster, and more powerful. Its comfortable for long trips, has great front and rear passenger room, and the V-6 is one of the best on the planet.

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  From 540i to great value in 6.3 seconds. - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By Old 280 Guy - December 25 - 2:00 am

  This car is the best value for the money out there. I test dove both the Acura TLS and the Lincoln LS, both nice cars but without the 6-speed they dont compare. The quality and options on the car are exceptional for the price. My previous car was a BMW 540i which you cannot compare, except that you get 75% of that car for 55% of the price. The next generation I believe due next year may effect resale.

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  Love it - 2007 Nissan Xterra
  By baramos - December 24 - 2:00 am

  We use this veh. heavily off-road and it is a performer, for sure. Now have 27K miles, with no problems ever. Have taken it over some really horrible roads, and it takes all in stride, keeping up with Jeep Rubicons, and all comers. my wife and I love it, and it is a pleasure to drive, both on road and off. Will keep it until it dies. We did beef up the suspension as it is weak stock----add- a-leafs in rear, and 2 1/2 inch leveling kit in front---helped a lot. I highly recommend this vehicle, especially with the up-graded suspension. Destroyed 2 of the stock BFG Rugged Trails tire, so replaced all with BFG All Terraign AT KOs---- they work great!

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  Exactly What I wanted - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By AL - December 22 - 7:43 pm

  The Murano SL is exactly what I was looking for in an urban SUV. It is fun to drive, comfortable and has all of the cargo room that I need. Personally, I enjoy the smooth acceleration provided by the CVT. I enjoy the layout of the instrument because everything is in front of me.

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  A Solid Car... - 2013 Nissan Sentra
  By mrcarfan2014 - December 22 - 11:58 am

  Reading these reviews, it seems almost like someone only does a review when theres a problem. I have had my 13 Sentra SR since around the first of January 2014 and have put 21,000 miles on it during that time. Thats a lot of miles but I bought it primarily as a commuter car. I can tell you that I have had no problems, it runs and drives just like when new. Gas mileage averaged around 31 when new and started averaging 35 (about 65% highway overall). After owning 9 Nissans Ive found they dont start getting their better mileage numbers until about 12-15K on the odometer. I think it would average about 3-4mpgs better if they didnt sell 10% ethanol gas where I live (North Louisiana).

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  Buy It - 2003 Nissan Frontier
  By Ole Miss - December 22 - 4:26 am

  I bought my Nissain Frontier new in November 2003. Ive owned Toyota, Chevy (Luv), Mazda, Ford small pickups. I like to have a small truck. If you need a heavy hauler, get a full size truck. Ive put 65,000 miles on the truck and have not had a single problem. It tows a trailer with ease and goes from city to highway driving with ease. Its quieter on the Highway than my Honda Odyssey. I get 20 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway which is better gas mileage than most get. Only bad I can say the A/C compresser has always had a bone chilling "clang" when it kicks in.

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  Nissan Maxima issues 2007 model - 2007 Nissan Maxima
  By mbartk - December 21 - 11:40 pm

  My Nissan Maxima has had a few issues. The battery died at 21,000 miles. The air conditioning goes on any time I try to change the mode on the heating system. The tires at 26,000 miles have to be replaced. The car does a poor job of handling on snow covered roads and because I live in NE Ohio this has been an issue. My previous car was a Chrysler 300 and I did not have any of these issues and the interior leather was of much better quality.