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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  great - 1998 Nissan Maxima
  By jdub - August 5 - 11:23 am

  THis is a great car and it has a great engine

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  Beats all American made Trucks - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By Tim - August 5 - 9:46 am

  I have only had my Titan for 3 weeks so my rerview may change over time, but I dont think so. This is by far the best ruck I have ever owned. I have had Ford, Chevy and Dodge over the last 8yrs. and this truck is better than all of them. The list would go on forever if I was to point out all of the things that are better on this truck than the aforementioned ones. Everything on this truck has been well thought out from the rear sensors to the seats. I know of 3 other people who have purchased a Titan and are as pleased as I am, I also know of 2 others who are also going to buy one based partly upon my recommendations. the only thing that I would like is to have better gas mileage.

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  Its just OK - 2001 Nissan Xterra
  By bored - August 5 - 2:00 am

  Not for Highways, not really for off roading in the original configuration. Not for anyone over 56. GOD I Miss my Windstar. I cant even get a weeks work of grocerys in the back!

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  An overview 2002 Nissan Maxima SE - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By mmarsola - August 5 - 2:00 am

  Very well produced car, excellent quality and build, very good mpg 24.5 overall. A real value for money

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  NO BUYERS REMORSE HERE!! - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Arizona - August 5 - 2:00 am

  I searched for a year, to find a car I could love for 5 years or more. The Altima 2.5S was that car. I looked for a 2002(checking for a deal), and couldnt find one, cheaper than a 2003. Whoever, says they are not holding there own on re-sale, try looking in Arizona. They are hanging in there with the Hondas and Toyotas. Which there body styles are in no comparison to the Altimas. I got my Altima - I absolutely love it. It drives like a dream. The interior is a little "plasticy" but what do you except for a car in that price range. Honda wasnt any better.

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  Desparately Wanting to Love My Car - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Mindi - August 4 - 10:30 pm

  I want to like this car because it is so much fun to drive. I purchased this car new with 9 miles on it. It has 17k miles now and the following repairs have already had to be made to this car: air conditioning, struts, and all the parts in the sunroof with the exception of the glass. We have had it in the shop 9 times now and have been told all are manufacturers defects. The worst part about it is that we are so tired of having an unreliable car that we decided to sell it... the resale value is HORRIBLE. So, I guess we are just stuck with a lemon. I really like Nissans styling on all their cars... but their reliability isnt proving to be so great.

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  Best car I have ever owned. - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By sheer - August 4 - 12:07 pm

  It really is the best car I have ever owned! I basically just drive it. I bought from a friend six years ago with 50,000 miles. Now I have 276,000 miles on it and all I have done is basic maintenance, struts, and one sensor. It never breaks down. The motor still runs smooth. Its still peppy, though I dont push it like I did when I first bought it. I expect to see well over 300K miles out of this one.

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  Great gas mileage - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By Great Summer vehicle - August 4 - 7:56 am

  When I first saw this vehicle I fell in love with its body style. The interior is great and I love how spacious it is. This vehicle gives great gas mileage. However,I live on Long Island and during the winter months it is very difficult to drive on ice and snow. It is also hard to control on windy days. It is a great vehicle for long summer drives.

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  Great Car - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By Aimee - August 4 - 5:13 am

  This car drives wonderfully, and the power is great. Considering the size of the engine and the power, fuel economy is pretty good. My mom got into an accident, and the rear right door has a large dent in it from mid- door down, and although it looks awful from the outside, it did nothing to the inside, which shows how well it is built. There is plenty of room in the backseat for long trips, and it is very comfortable. The turning radius is large. After four years and about 56,000 miles, the only thing that needs to be done (other than routine maintenance) is that the timing belts have to be replaced.

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  Cheap, not inexpensive - Could this be the "throwaway car" of our generation? - 2015 Nissan Versa Note
  By jobone - August 4 - 4:17 am

  This car is victim to three factors: 1) Nissan design, 2) Poor manufacturing QC and 3) Poor dealer networks. Fit and finish issues all over. Locations of things (like 12V power, USB) are poor and subject the connections to accidental contact and theyre far away from the dash. Just really bad engineering as if the designers take the bus to work. The car could have been a Honda Fit/Toyota Yaris-killer but they just dont take the extra few moments to do it right. Initial quality has been the worst of any vehicle Ive ever purchased. Considering Ive been buying new cars for 30 years, thats pretty sad.