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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  05 Titan - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By 05 Titan - June 29 - 2:20 am

  Outstanding Truck But the brakes are crap. Had to have them upgraded at 8,000 miles. The upgraded kit was no charge and now its all good

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  Love my X!! - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By SciFiChick - June 28 - 9:46 pm

  I love my X. Bought it in 2006 after a lost love affair with BMW. Had an X3 which I traded for the X-Terra. The X-Terra blows away the BMW. Love the stereo, though suggest if you like Sirius, get it factory installed. Love the seats, love the handling. There is a little paint drip mark on the rear gate, but I am a nitpicker. Handles like a dream, and, where flooding is prevalent, it skims over most anything. Highly recommend this SUV to anyone looking for a sporty, fun drive. Get the SE, or the Off- Road. Power doors/locks make the difference. Need to upgrade (too many guests in the car), cannot bring myself to get rid of my X-Terra.

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  Is anyone else having this problem - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Don - June 28 - 3:50 pm

  I really do like my 2.5S, but when accelerating from a stop, between 25-45 mph there is a noticeable missing and loss of power. The dealerships service dept. could find nothing wrong with it, and suggested that I had gotten some "bad gas." I upped the octane from 87-89 before they even suggested this. One of the reasons I bought the car was for its good gas mileage. If I end up having to buy super premium gas for it to run well, I have defeated my purpose. Also, there is little lumbar support in the drivers seat which makes long drives uncomfortable. Otherwise, I really like the car...

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  A fun little 4 cylinder...2 year lease - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By MD - June 28 - 1:23 am

  Ive owned this car for almost a couple years and have had zero problems with it. Regular maintenance at the dealer but no surprises of any kind (the bad kind). It has decent pep for a 4 cylinder, can keep up with most cars on the road. Not a huge fan of the CVT, but can switch to the paddle shifters. Lots of head room and very comfy seats in the SER. Needs to have VSC, tilt steering wheel and sound control on steering wheel. A little bumpy on harsh roads, but very smooth and firm on normal roads. 26.5 MPG on mostly city driving. Overall, Ive enjoyed the car, but Im getting close to 40 and need the V8 roar, so Ill be turning this pup into the dealer at the end of the leas

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  Still Happy - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By Post SP311 - June 27 - 7:50 pm

  My 2003 Murano SL is my forth Nissan/Datsun vehicle 24 years. It is by far my favorite. Granted it has the most creature comforts, but my satisfaction goes well beyond. After 3 years, no big surprises, and my dealership has taken good care of me.

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  shock & awe - 2007 Nissan Maxima
  By wall&the goose - June 27 - 7:10 pm

  we found this maxima to have power when needed and also gives a smooth ride when your touring the highways. The car handles very well in icy conditions . its not a strictly sports car , but does hold its own getting onto a highway.

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  2.5SL on a 100 mile commute to NYC - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Altima Pilot - June 27 - 5:16 pm

  I bought this car primarily due to my experience with my 2003 2.5S that I bought used and drove to 130,000 miles before giving in to treating myself to an upgrade. At the time I drove 1000 miles or more per week. Yes, Per week, so I wanted some additional items to comfort my drive a bit. I opted for the 2.5SL since gas was over $3.69/gal at the time but I wanted a nicer interior and added the connection package so I could have Bluetooth. Honestly, I was disappointed in the Bose stereo upgrade. The headrests lack a forward/backward adjustment which can prove a bit uncomfortable at times. I flipped them around to solve this issue.

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  Great SUV - 2009 Nissan Pathfinder
  By saraivasitaly - June 27 - 4:53 pm

  Had it for about 2 months. Drives great and comfortable. Wife is 4 10", the standard power pedals and driver seat make sure she has no problems driving. Handles like a car, very smooth ride. Comes with more standard equipment than competition and priced lower than most. I love my Pathfinder and I dont regret my choice. Averaging 16MPG in city.

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  Youve got to try it! - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Razjr1 - June 27 - 4:26 pm

  The 2005 Nissan Altima is by far the best vehicle Ive purchased in my 50 years of buying cars. This sports edition is not only extremely stylish, but also is outstanding in performance. I urge everyone to take a look at the Nissan line, test drive them, and dare to compare to other makes and models. Quality, Comfort, Excellence. All conspire to make your driving experience a great enjoyment!

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  family sports sedan - 1998 Nissan Maxima
  By pa funk - June 27 - 10:00 am

  Bought it 2 years ago used with 30K miles, and it has been the best car Ive owned. It drives great, and is bombproof as far as reliability. Tight handling and, as it is loaded, a fairly plush ride. The Bose stereo is great!