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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  G R E A T Car! - 1995 Nissan Pathfinder
  By aak - February 4 - 2:50 am

  This is my fourth Pathfinder. Purchased in 2004, with aprx 85K miles on it. Currently has aprx 150K, and going strong. No major problems, just normal/routine maintenance. Love the car, but selling to get a newer one. Gas mileage is OK for an older SUV. Nice looking car, love the 4x4, cargo room, roomy front seats, how it handles in snow. This is one exceptionally reliable and rugged work horse! With 150K it still runs like a top and expect it could easily go another 150K+.

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  Happy for now - 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By Rick - February 3 - 8:03 pm

  I just recently purchased the Nissan Hybrid and got a great deal. I got the Precision Grey which I was happy about. The car drives really smooth and defenitly has the power of a small block v-6. The one thing that is going to take getting used to is the engine going on and off. Even though I have only had it for a couple days, the fuel efficiency seem to be doing well. It says Im getting about 38 mpg average right now which Im happy about and this is a range 65% hwy & 35% city driving. The only thing that is giving me problems is the tire pressuring monitoring system which wont go off. Other than that I am very pleased with the vehicle.

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  Love Nissans - 01 SE No Exception! - 2001 Nissan Maxima
  By LovMyNissan - February 3 - 9:10 am

  This is my second Nissan Maxima. My first was a 94 SE, which I loved dearly; it had almost 200,000 miles on it, didnt need any major repairs, and was fantastic, until someone hit me and totaled it. Anyway, I purchased the 2001 SE this winter from a private seller, and couldnt be happier. Mine is "Sunlit Sand", with tan leather seats, moonroof, Bose system, auto everything, spoiler, the works. Its comfortable, stylish, and very well put together - everything I expect from a Nissan. I saw that others have had unfortunate experiences with theirs, but I am still a proud believer in these cars. As long as you take care of it, it will take care of you!

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  moved up from 2004 xe - 2012 Nissan Frontier
  By darmonx - February 2 - 7:02 pm

  impressions coming from 2004 frontier xe. power. step on the gas like i did on the 04 and the tires would spin. had to learn how to ease down a bit but i like that power. noise in the cabin is greatly reduced, i could actually hear the radio at low volume. the ride is alot smoother as well. comfort level compared to the 04 makes me want to take a nap while driving if thats possible while the older one kept me awake for sure with the wind noise and bumpier ride.

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  Fun, Fun, Fun - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By Gary - February 2 - 10:00 am

  First, I love the looks of my white SL - very distinctive. Next, it is one fun drive. You can select Normal, Sport, and Eco drives with a button push. In the first two, it is a screamer. Eco is mild mannered, but will get you better gas mileage. I am 62" and am very comfortable driving. It is one of the easiest cars to drive that I have ever had. Brakes are great. Air conditioning is excellent as expected. The SL is loaded with features and an excellent value for the price. The black leather seats with red stitching and red trim features is awesome. I am an elder who likes cars and I buy a new one every couple of years. This is definitely my favorite driving car.

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  Nice vehicle - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Teal - February 2 - 1:56 am

  Felt silly about answering reliability question as car only has 4500 miles but like this car over all. Just came back after driving 600 miles this weekend and did not feel tired from the driving. Seems that no matter how I drive, that I am getting 30-31 mpg with it.

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  No Complaints - 1st Time Minivan Owner - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Nissan Twingle Mom - February 1 - 9:53 pm

  I have complaints about my 2004 Nissan Quest. I vowed never to buy a minivan and become a soccer mom. However, with a 15 yr old son who is already 6 tall and 6 yr old twins and the constant sports activities and furnishing of rides to tmy childresns teammates a larger vehicle became a necessity. I could have chosen an SUV and almost purchased one, however with increasing gas prices and a desire to have a fuel efficient but spacious vehicle, the Quest won the votes of my family hands down. I am more than pleasantly impressed and surprised.

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  Its a great car - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Al - February 1 - 6:40 am

  Weve had no visits to the dealership for warranty/adjustments on the car. We notice some drivers side wind noise on windy days (highway driving). Also, weve have some larger than expected rock chips on the hood/front of the car. Not sure whether it is the paint durability or just bad luck. Highway mileage in summer is right at 30 mpg. Combined mileage runs 22/23.5 mpg.

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  A Fantastic Car - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By akinchen - February 1 - 3:33 am

  I have owned Toyota Camrys , Honda Accords , and other Nissan Altimas . This yr Nissan Altima had the most dramatic improvement over all previous models built . The quietness and comfort are over the top for this price range . I compare it to a Lexus or similar car . The ride comfort is amazing . I have less than a thousand miles so it is simply too early to talk about fuel economy . But my last Nissan performed admirably regarding fuel economy . My old Honda Accord actually out did my Altima on fuel economy but rode like a tank compared to my Altima . Now the Altima is my preferred vacation car . It also greatly helps with a Sales price and a low interest rate , It is a Winner

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  Wow so far - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By LikeItAlot - January 31 - 11:46 pm

  I have only put 500 miles on my new Sentra, but so far I love it! Fun to drive, especially after driving an SUV for the past several years. The Sentra is amazingly quiet, and smooth. Im not sure why some are having lower gas MPG. I am getting between 34 and 35 MPG as an average. I commute 20 miles each way to work, about 2/3 highway and 1/3 city. No problems on the gas mileage for me!