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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  Pretty Good vehicle - 2006 Nissan Quest
  By quest888 - August 18 - 1:53 am

  I bought my Quest brand new in january 2006 and I take good care of it, always have. It has paid me back well since I have never had any engine problems and its going on 128,000 miles now. this van has taken me and my family everywhere. the only thing i have replaced is the engine mounts, one catalytic converter and lower control arms all after hitting the 5 year mark. it was expensive to replace these but considering the amount of driving ive done on it i didnt feel too bad and chalked it up to wear and tear. as far as the engine goes, no problemo! still running smooth like new! just take care of it and do not neglect regular maintenance services and this van will keep running well......

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  Still my favorite vehicle - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By fronteeer - August 18 - 1:40 am

  After about a year and a half of owning this truck, I love it even more than when it was new, because Ive had a chance to haul and tow with it, Ive routinely driven it in deep snow, taken it off-road, and loaded and unloaded an ATV and a motorcycle several times. After 47,000 Km (~29,200 mi) Ive really come to appreciate the incredible balance Nissan has struck between car-like handling and performance, and truck-like utility. This is my daily commuter, and I cant say enough about the comfort, handling, versatility, and that incredible engine. Im glad I bought a mid-size. I get great MPG and I can pull a 30ft. camping trailer with an ATV in the back and three passengers with luggage.

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  Cost-wise - best vehicle Ive ever owned - 2001 Nissan Xterra
  By Nancy - August 17 - 11:13 pm

  No, its not the most comfortable but its not a luxury vehicle. When I paid it off 2 yrs ago, I knew I wanted to keep it for another 2 or 3 yrs and so I put $2100 in it to get a/c fixed, tune-up and timing belt replaced. Other than that all Ive ever replaced was a battery, tires and brakes.

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  Great Truck - 2007 Nissan Frontier
  By David D - August 17 - 11:10 pm

  Ive had the truck about one month and so far, I love it. Mine has just about every available option and is really comfortable and attractive. I havent taken it off-road yet, but the highway ride is outstanding. I compared it to the Tacoma, but ended up going with the Frontier for its better ride and more available options. The Frontier also feels more powerful to me, although supposedly the Tacoma is faster. Both are good trucks, I just thought I got more for the money with the Nissan. Bottom line is that I strongly recommend this truck.

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  Good All-Rounder - 2011 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Happy Mountain Climbers - August 17 - 6:14 pm

  High marks for style, comfort, and driveability. I would like to see better mileage from a six cylinder, though. Excellent views to the rear for lane changing with just the right height for visibility all directions.

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  Im loving this Car! - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By JoHB78 - August 17 - 1:46 pm

  When I first saw a Murano cruising down the freeway I knew I wanted to own one. The Murano mixes class and sportiness all in one package. It almost resembles the Lexus RX type SUVs (My first choice) but cost much less. I use to drive a 2000 Eclipse but thanks to a timing belt problem I ended up driving my very first SUV, my Nissan Murano 04. It drives like a dream and the interior is so comfortable it almost feels like Im driving a Lexus. Im loving this car! I only had a problem with the drivers window automaticaly opening half way after I close it all the way up. This happened on my first day. I immediately brought it to my dealer were it was fixed asap.Did anybody else have this problem?

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  Fantastic Car - 1996 Nissan Sentra
  By DoubleA - August 17 - 8:13 am

  This was the first car my wife and I bought together. Got it from a second owner 8 years ago with 72,000 miles on it for $3,000. Its had all new gaskets, brakes/rotors, rebuilt transmission (I think a mechanic loosened the plug and it dropped out while driving), starter. The thing is with all that Ive only put about $3,000 more into it to keep it going for this long. It just wont die. Now Im in northern Michigan and I want a Subaru for the winters. This thing is a manual and gets 40 mpg, yes 40 and on all highway driving Ive gotten up to 43mpg. Its now at 188,000 miles and its good for at least another 30 or 40,000 more. Finding a new owner for it will be bitter sweet.

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  What a van! - 2005 Nissan Quest
  By Bleu50 - August 17 - 7:26 am

  I sold a 2001 Windstar to get this van. Its HUGE inside! It handles and stops like a sports car. It flat flies! Its getting about 3 MPG more than my Windstar! There are no blind spots! The Bose system is worth every penny. The DVD system is excellent. The build quality (fit and finish) is far better than the Windstar. It doesnt look much like a mini-van, it took a while to get used to the center guages, but I kinda like them now. Tons of storage inside, all over the place.

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  Pretty Car but.... - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By woodstudio - August 17 - 5:00 am

  Ive had various problems with this car that I didnt expect on a new car. Such as: crankshaft sensor (dead in driveway), rear rotors replaced at less than 40K (fronts I could understand), defective latch on console door (cant close it), no heat, and improper rear suspension (bottoms out with people in rear seat). I do not recommend.

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  I love it so far - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By John - August 17 - 4:33 am

  Ive had my Altima for a couple of months now, and Im very happy so far. Ive read some other reviews where people have one problem after another, but I must be lucky because I have had not a single issue, and I have pushed this car hard. Its a real rush when you hammer it, and the Bose sound system is great.