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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  ITS GREAT!!! - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By usmc0802 - December 11 - 2:00 am

  Nothing but satisfaction with my new Titan CC SE 4x4. Full of power, tons of neat features, & I draw looks everywhere I go.

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  GREAT CAR BUT....... - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By stockcar races - December 11 - 2:00 am

  I love my new Maxima Sl, Love the heated steering wheel and heated seats for those cold days, Car handles great, controlablity arounf turns excellent, But, I wouldnt buy this car from Nissan 112 . The salesperson who sold me the car was rude and inconsiderate, wants to rush you with the sale and presures you to take the car home ASAP so he can get paid on his Commission, plus the day I was to take home the car, they added on to the sale price of my car that we agreed on, and added on alot of other misc. charges.

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  Better Than Expected - 2011 Nissan Murano
  By such - December 10 - 10:58 am

  We purchased an AWD LE with all the optns. We are a family of 4; 2 girls 58", 1 girl at 5 & 1 male at 62". We have a Sequoia 3 row in addition to the Murano. The Murano is so easy to maneuver at malls & parallel parking. The auto lift gate is very easy to access, especially when hands are full. Highway driving is very NICE even w 20" wheels. It has a very smooth ride, dont feel the highway but its also not too "soft" of a ride. My mom has the 04 & there are so many impvts in both quality of ride & fit & finish of interior components. The space is great 99% of the time. No prob for people space on trips but Im getting cargo box for luggage with all 4 of us (my girls do pack a lot)

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  Not your typical SUV - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Andrew - December 10 - 8:50 am

  This is a fun car to drive. Bigger than it actually looks with plenty of cargo space. Its a nice change after driving a true V8 SUV for many years. Feels like driving a luxury car more than on SUV.

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  Murano Love - 2007 Nissan Murano
  By eddie - December 10 - 3:16 am

  The 07 Nissan Nurano is the perfect SUV. It is very versatile, comfortable, stylish and fun to drive. It has everything that I need and like in a vehicle. I traded an Acura TL for this. I loved the Acura and thought why am I trading for the Murano. Now I know why. I look forward to buying my next Murano, it will be interesting to see how it changes in the coming years.

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  NISMO WINS !! - 2013 Nissan Juke
  By Happy with NISMO - December 9 - 11:53 am

  Have had my NISMO for about 3 years, and Absolutely NO problems with this car. I love it. Gets great gas mileage! The ONLY thing that could be improved is, it is equipped with Summer Sport tires and would be much better with All Season Tires for those who live in snow prone areas; but then a lot of new sport cars are equipped this way. (When its time to replace them, Ill get all seasons.) I get many compliments on my NISMO, because it has tons of sporty "personality".... it certainly does NOT look like EVERY other car on the road!! Everybody wants one! Mine is a 6 speed manual. I live up a very steep winding hill. Driving in in "Turbo" is an absolute blast! Great acceleration and grip. Lots of cargo space in the back. Great dealership service. Check one out!!

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  its the best! - 1996 Nissan Maxima
  By youngest max driver - December 9 - 10:00 am

  I have now had my Maxima SE for four years. I bought it used in 99 as a 96 model. I havent had any major problems with it yet. The fuel pump is fine, the altenator is fine, and the car will stop on a dime! Even though it squeaks I think its the best 4 wheel brake car around!

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  Impressed - 2010 Nissan Altima
  By bdruggan - December 9 - 3:46 am

  I am a Nissan fan as I have found that their customer service is tops. So it was not a tough decision when I traded in my 4x4 08 Pathfinder for my 10 Altima Coupe. The same week I got the Coupe, a snow storm hit burying us under no less than a foot of snow. I was concerned about driving the Coupe and wished I still had the Pathfinder. No need to be concerned. The Coupe pulled through the snow like a champ. I love this cars interior design and love the Bose with back up camera. CVT feels odd at first, but give it time. Well done Nissan! By the way, I now have two Altimas, an 09 Sedan and now the 10 Coupe.

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  22 Months With 05 Titan - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By quattroa4m - December 8 - 11:10 pm

  This is my 5th full size truck (Chevy, GMC, Ford, & Dodge) and by far the Titan has been the best experience. The drive-train is second to none, the interior comfort for long hauls is terrific, and the reliability has been rock solid. Yes I did have the brake recall performed (at 32K miles), but it just wasnt a big deal. Im very picky about braking, handling, and performance and it was pretty obvious that the front rotors were undersized. Since I was using the truck as a long distance runner, it just wasnt a big deal.

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  God I love this car!! - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By meghand19 - December 8 - 3:20 pm

  This car is so fun to drive! This is the first car that I have ever had that people stop me at lights and in parking lots to tell me how much they love my car. It does take a little while to get used to only having two seats, but there are two spaces for papers and a bigger cubby behind the passenger seat. For such a quick sports car, it gets mileage that you can live with(about 20 miles/gallon). If you want a car that turns heads, but wont break the bank then stop looking and buy a Z!