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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  Fast and Reliable - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By Rich255 - December 4 - 10:00 am

  Great acceleration, good handling, bullet-proof reliability. 18k miles in six months and not hint of a problem. Cruises effortlessly at highway+ speeds. If it wasnt a work office I would have gone with the 6-speed.

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  Former Camry Driver - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Former Camry Driver - December 4 - 10:00 am

  Having just traded in my 1998 Camry LE, Im quite pleased so far with the Altima 2.5 S. It drives smoothly and picks up speed very quickly. It was also more advantageous to purchase the S model and add leather from a source outside of the factory installed leather.

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  2006 nissan frontier - 2006 Nissan Frontier
  By prince - December 4 - 9:10 am

  I bought my frontier 4x4 last Nov. and I love it. I love the rugged look, the power and especially the interior space.

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  The Camry Killer? - 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By andrew - December 3 - 2:36 pm

  Although we test-drove the Prius and Camry Hybrid, the Altima was the only full hybrid we actually found fun to drive; its responsive and powerful, and feels like a performance car rather than a boat or oversized cart. While the jury is still out on gas economy (it was a cold winter in Toronto, after all), its still pretty good. Couple that with its attractive exterior, and I would have to say that the Altima is the best hybrid out there right now.

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  My desert dwelling Frontier - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By Pete - December 2 - 9:10 pm

  I just purchased my Frontier last week and I love it. This is my second Nissan product. They make an excellent vehicle that the dealer will really stand behind if there is ever a problem. I drive over 80 miles daily to work and back, and the last thing I need to worry about is " Will I Make It ". It is also a beautiful, well designed midsized truck that my 6 foot 230 pound frame will fit in comfortably.

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  Rocket Update - 2001 Nissan Maxima
  By rudepuppy - December 2 - 1:30 pm

  Original review 02-14-2003. A very good car, now with 64,000 miles. I dropped my comfort rating from 9 to 8 because I have tired of the firm ride. Economy rating from 9 to 8 because we avg. 24 mpg, down from 27 mpg first 3 years. Quality rating from 10 to 9 - anyone else have peeling paint? I washed the car this week, and paint is coming off the hood in quarter sized pieces - NOT GOOD! Well see how Nissan stands behind their cars now.

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  Murano - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Sue - December 2 - 5:16 am

  Just picked up my 2005 Murano the other day. I enjoy it! I have wanted one since they first came out in 2003. Very stylish, easy to drive, and comfortable. Only thing missing is a heated steering wheel (had one in my 2002 Maxima and just loved it) so now I will have to buy a pair of gloves for our Ohio winters. My husband and kids enjoy driving it also...I think there might be a fight to be the driver!

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  2009 Murano LE AWD with Nav/Tech Pkg - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By DavidV - December 1 - 8:50 pm

  All the luxury items make this a great crossover. Ride is very smooth as youd expect from a luxury sedan, and steering is soft - no feel of the road while you float along. Plenty of power at your disposal when you need it. However, when you are going slow (under 30) with minimum gas pedal pressure, you can feel the CVT seeking the best gear ratio. Car is very roomy front and back for when you have 5 adults to carry.

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  A Gem, Actually a Pearl - 2016 Nissan 370Z
  By Deborah Vollmer - December 1 - 7:54 pm

  This my third Z, and Im more than brand loyal. The Zs are fun to drive, incredibly reliable, and relatively safe for sports convertibles. You could buy two of these cars for what you might pay for a Porsche. The Bose sound system is crystal clear, and the road sound dampening improvements in the 2016 cars are a real plus.

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  No, you may not borrow my car - 2009 Nissan 370Z
  By rodster - December 1 - 10:03 am

  Bought this in June and have 8k miles on it. I love the power that this Z provides so that even when I hit the gas at 70mph Im pushed back in my seat! The Bose stereo provides great sound quality and includes some nice sub woofers. Its amazing how many people turn their heads to look! I commute 50mi/day (mostly highway) and avg 25mpg which is acceptable. No comfort issues here. The cockpit wraps me like a cocoon (very cozy!). My oil temp never exceeds 240 even on my July roadtrip at speeds of 80-90mph. Rear visibility works for me since I attached small wide angle mirrors onto the side mirrors.