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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  2.5 SL w/nav and Loving It - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Jeff - March 11 - 7:23 am

  I traded in 2 gas guzzlers, 15.5 and 18.5 mpg. Im now getting 27 mpg traveling the same route. I always wanted an Infiniti but couldnt justify the price, mpg, and rwd. The 2.5 is fine performance wise, the SL, connection, and nav packages give you everything you could need. Things I miss are memory seats, power pass seat, and folding mirrors. The 3.5 folding mirrors with turn signals will swap out for less than $300. The car has state of the art features and is well put together. I purchased on 11/12/07 and have 500 miles on her. Im looking forward to many more.

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  So far very pleased - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By smdobbs - March 10 - 9:50 am

  I heard that the sentra was a very reliable car. We have an 97 altima in the family with over 220K miles. My last two cars (cavalier & integra) went over 230K miles and I hope to go to 300K on this one. Looked at Civic, but just out of price range. This car is packed with features features for the price. The inside is unbelievably comfortable and I am 6 feet all. Dash layout is great. Gas mileage improves with every fill up. Dont rely on the trip comuter to tell you your mileage. I found that by doing the math myself I am getting around 34 MPG. Trip computer tell me 30. I drive about 70% highway.

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  Good sports sedan - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By abenator - March 9 - 10:03 pm

  Overall a good car. Fun to drive and is eye catching. See favorite features and suggested improvements.

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  I LOVE IT - 2011 Nissan Rogue
  By TamaraP - March 9 - 10:00 am

  I am a Nissan owner. I traded my 2007 Nissan Xterra for the 2011 Nissan Rogue. Yes, there is a difference. Height wise, I am 5"11 and 250 pounds, but I fit comfortably, I have only had it for 2 days. Gonna see how it does with fuel for a month. I had a 97,2001,2004 Pathfinders & 2007 Xterra and loved them all. I am a Nissan lover and not many things upset me about any of my vehicles and I had them all brand new. I researched them all before I bought them. I was a little skeptical over the Rogue at first because of my size and height, but it is an adjustment that I can make. The steering wheel size drives me crazy. Need a cover. Any ideas, they seem to all come standard 14.5 or 15.5.

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  I love this car! - 2009 Nissan Rogue
  By Kari - March 9 - 12:56 am

  We just bought this car, and it is a thrill to drive! I love the CVT, very peppy and smooth 0-60. I researched and tested Rav4, Volkswagen, Mazda, etc., and none compared to the Rogue style/value. I traded a Pathfinder only due to poor gas mileage, but have always loved Nissan quality. This car looks awesome and is a blast to drive. It is very nimble and responsive... you dont even notice that it is a 4 cyl. I chose the AWD because we are moving back up North in a few months. I was impressed with the 5 star crash rating. I couldnt be more thrilled with this crossover!!

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  excellent - 2005 Nissan Armada
  By Rod Hill - March 8 - 11:40 pm

  When driving the Armada, heads are turning and just about everyone says that it is their dream car. The only weak point was the recall on the brake pads, otherwise the Armada is the best SUV on the road today.

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  Wifes Birthday present - 2016 Nissan Murano
  By Richard - March 8 - 3:19 pm

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  The Murano Adventure - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By wstafco - March 8 - 8:46 am

  The vehicle handles well and is very comfortable on long trips. I personally like the shape, which I thought was unique and interesting. It would have been nice if it had third row seating and rear ac & heating controls. Also, they should make satellite radio a standard option.

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  this is great truck - 2002 Nissan Frontier
  By 10 speed - March 8 - 5:56 am

  this is my first owned pickup truck but have driven many at jobs that i have had. it is a very good truck and i have an average gas mileage of about 17 and a half around town and highway if on highway only i get about 20 mpg if i set the cruise control and let ride. have not had any trouble with it except the seat belt lite keeps going on and off and have had to have the switch replaced already and is now doing it again. would recommmend this truck to anyone. family or single. needs some more power under the hood but runs good. i got a great deal on it over 6 thousand off the sale price, when purchased new. fun to drive and even my buddy likes it to drive and ride it.

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  Great Car - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By LLP - March 8 - 4:33 am

  Love the styling, comfort, power. The room is sufficient for daily Dad Duties, including coaching. Mileage is not up to rating, but not by much. Leg room is critical, and ample.