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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  Good SUV, Bad dealer Service - 2006 Nissan Pathfinder
  By america964 - December 4 - 3:36 am

  The car is great. I have the fully loaded XE model with the navigation. Navigation was easy to use and better than other one that I used before like Lexus. The third row seat are great if I need to squeeze the little ones back there. SUV towed cars and boats with ease. Had problems getting issues fixed. For example, my heated seat work intermittently. The dealership turned it on and of course it worked. I had to make a scene with the service rep. and service manager to have their tech look at it. Same thing happened when my heater didnt work.

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  Nissan buying back my Altima - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By cindy in poway - December 3 - 5:00 pm

  I have the altima 3.5 sl loaded. I really like my altima but it has had a lot of problems. I am in arbitration right now for Nissan to buy it back because they want to switch out engine because they cant figure out what is wrong with it. It was stuttering and not running smooth. After 30+ days in shop, they recommended total engine replacement. Starting at 18k miles, I had headlight, sun visor go out. I had to have belt and tension pulley replaced, master cylinder replaced; emergency brake light was coming on. Brake wear out fast

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  From Old to New - 2010 Nissan Xterra
  By hirosfca - December 3 - 1:20 pm

  Upgraded from my 2002 Xterra 4x2 to the 4x4 Off Road package. I actually use this vehicle for the road trips, on and off road. Sometimes, I would venture onto a path or pseudo-road that turned off road and regret that I only had a 4x2 so this new addition of the total off road capability is very nice. Now I wont be worried about getting stuck or stopping our adventure short due to the vehicles off road capability. I love the sparse easy to clean interior and the tough chunky looks. I have the 100,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty and that is a great piece of mind to know that Nissan will back up the reliability of the vehicles they make.

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  I like it my car but I dont love it - 2005 Nissan Sentra
  By Melissa - December 2 - 8:03 am

  I like my 2005 Nissan Sentra but I dont love it and will more than likely be trading it in for something with MUCH more power. The only thing I dont like about my car is how when I go to accelerate there is a brief hesitation and the car jerks before it will take off. Everything is just perfect for a single person is who usually driving solo on most days.

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  2002 Ready To Go - 2003 Nissan Frontier
  By jefpay - December 2 - 2:00 am

  5th Nissan pickup since 1987. They just keep getting better. Could use a bit more performance..Didnt opt for the supercharged in that it takes high test gas. With prices the way they are I made the right choice. Have rarely had any serious problems with any of them and routine maintenance keeps them going well.

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  High quality, sensible price - 2000 Nissan Sentra
  By A-OK Sentra - December 2 - 2:00 am

  For under $16K new, the Sentra is simply unbeatable. The car has a substantial feel that others in its price range lack. The doors close with a reassuring thud, the interior materials dont look or feel cheap, and you get lots of features for the money. Mechanically, my Sentra has been flawless--the engine is smooth and very quiet, and the transmission shifts smoothly. It has been outside for three Minnesota winters, and it starts easily morning after morning. Its no sports sedan, but few cars in this price range are. Its nice to stand out from the fleet of Civics at every shopping mall, and laugh at SUV drivers paying through the nose at the gas station. Highly recommended.

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  After 50K miles I am happy - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By aterces - November 30 - 6:48 pm

  I purchase the car on Oct 2012, and after 50,000 miles I can say that I am happy with my purchase, havent had a single problem with the car and has been very reliable. I did have an issue with a weird noise coming from the engine I took it to the dealer and it was the alternator but it was replace free of charge since I was under warrantee no problems after that. The gas mileage is very good, I avg between 30-32 miles

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  Much Needed Improvement - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By twshield - November 30 - 6:00 pm

  I bought my 2007 Sentra 2.0s new. I have had 3 previous models of sentras and i would have to say that the 2007 is a big improvement. The 07 Sentra now has quality unlike previous models. I feel it can actually compete with civic and corolla now. Being an overweight person, I have found the cabin to be very roomy and quiet for a compact car. The car has a much better ride than previous models as well.

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  actually a decent car (2.5 s) - 2015 Nissan Altima
  By ray - November 30 - 12:24 am

  This car isnt so bad actually. CVT is nice and efficient. Gives the car much better pick up that most compeitors. Amazing milage well over 30 mpg. Super comfortable seats. More than enough room in front and back for almost any size adult. Great sound system on the base. Nice quite ride despite what critics say about CVT noise. Its only noisy if you rev the engine up to 4000 rpm or so. Handling is above average at best but very smooth effortless power steering. Only complaints are some weird noises this car makes. You can hear the gas slosh around the gas tank if you break hard. And the power steering pump constantly hums. Just pet peeves that dont really affect the cars drive ability. Overall its every bit as good as a camry or sonata. Just depends on what you prefer. For me it was the money I got mine brand new for just under $19k.

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  Reliable SUV - 1999 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Derek - November 28 - 6:10 pm

  This has been a reliable SUV for us. Poor gas mileage has made us trade in our other car to get one with higher gas mileage. The Pathfinder drives more like a truck due to the noise of the motor and low HP. The only two problems we have had are as follows: O2 sensor went out, and the gas tank door broke. Other than that it has been a reliable car. The leather isnt that nice and the display is kind of dated, but what do you expect from a 1999. We dont like the new Pathfinders, so we will probably trade in for a different SUV.