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:

• 

  Love my new Altima! - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By ChopinLiszt - November 26 - 11:56 am

  I love the car! I was driving an older Infiniti I30 with a V6 before I purchased my altima and really the 4cyl is almost as peppy! Its a super sporty sedan. I am so glad that I decided to go with the altima rather than the accord. I HIGHLY reccomend this car.

• 

  Luv my Max except.... - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By l.smith - November 26 - 3:26 am

  I bought this car two months ago. I love the ext. styling. It looks so great. The SL model has everything and is comparable to Infiniti feature-wise. The one thing I really hate is the turning radius. I could make tighter turns in a bus. U-turns in one try just wont happen unless youre on a four lane road. Thats very disappointing that a car with so many great features comes up short in this one area. I dread even trying to make tight turns and sometimes wondered if I had been aware of it when I test drove it, if I still would have purchased it. From looking at 2006 and maybe even 2007 Maximas, Nissan still hasnt corrected what would make this car an absolute 10 in my opinion!

• 

  fantastic, but no workhorse! - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By badkelly - November 25 - 1:46 pm

  It is my wifes car, and our all- purpose 4wd go anywhere-do anything vehicle. We love it for family use, and will go skiing in it soon. However, dont expect to pull a trailer effectively. It will, but a 6x12 U-Haul cut the gas mileage clean in half, and it struggled the whole time. I should have checked the torque numbers more before I traded in a 99 Yukon for it. Other than that, the problems/specifics Ive noted are: rattling inner dvd panel(fixed by me), moaning brakes(at 6900 miles) gas mileage is more like 15-16/19-20, must set the 2nd seats up from recline to fold 3rd seats down, and need more of an arm rest on the drivers door. minor issues, though, for an otherwise great vehicle.

• 

  willieG. - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By willieG. - November 25 - 12:20 am

  the handing is great. fun to drive. if you keep a light foot on it youll get good gas mileage. dont let your kids drive it, if ya still want tires on it. hp is unbelievable.

• 

  Great Car - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Steve Nesbitt - November 24 - 9:56 pm

  Purchased the 2005 Murano after driving a 2002 Tahoe for three years. Car performs great. Fun to drive, great power. Only one problem since purchase date...engine sensor...was repaired with no further problems. Gas mileage is close to 20 in town and 25 hwy. Service dept is great.

• 

  2005 350Z best sports car for $$$ - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By Peg - November 24 - 6:33 pm

  My 2005 Nissan 350Z is amazing! It handles very well, is fun to drive, looks sharp, and has great pick up! The Touring pkg. comes with almost all the bells and whistles at a great price. The Bose audio system has a great sound. Pit falls - no ash tray, no auto head lights, cup holders are behind driver except one (which I use as an ash tray). I would highly urge anybody looking for a sports car to take a look at the 2005 350Z! No regrets here!

• 

  A sight to behold! - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Margot - November 24 - 2:20 pm

  The Murano is a car that Ive admired since it 1st came out. The design beats many more expensive competitors, like a Lexus RX without the price tag. Smooth quite ride, very roomy interior and nice aluminum accents throughout. I really love the Murano, my only complaint is that the Sunlit Copper color is not available in the S model. Now I am contemplating whether I should trade in my S Merlot for an SL Sunlit Copper. Having the Murano in the "orange" color would really make me a very satisfied and long term MUrano owner. Now Id have to think whether the color is worth a few k over. Otherwise, the Murano is highly recommended, you wont be disappointed. Just a beautiful SUV overall!

• 

  Great all around truck - 2008 Nissan Frontier
  By Nick in WA - November 23 - 2:13 am

  I have wanted a truck for the last 10 yrs so I finally bought it. It was either the Tacoma or the Frontier that I narrowed it to. The exterior of the truck is gorgeous. The interior has a lot of hard plastics but are assembled nicely. I am amazed how smooth the powertrain is in this truck. It provides plenty of power for passing on the freeway. The optional stereo sounds very nice. The audio controls on the steering wheel are handy as is the bluetooth. Seat comfort is very good in the front seats and acceptable in the rear. Fuel economy is about 16- 17 mixed and 20-22 on the freeway so far. Purchased for invoice plus $3000 in rebates. Nissan was a better value than the Toyota overall.

• 

  Great buy for a big man - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By jaydee - November 21 - 8:03 am

  Sticker on my 2006 Altima was over $30k and I paid $26,100 with $1000 dollar rebate. Never owned a Nissan or a car that had a power sunroof because of my size. I am 65" and weigh 285 lbs. I have more room in this vehicle than I have in my Ford Explorer. Tilt/telescopic is wonderful and center console is situated in such a way that I can spread my legs and drive. Legroom length is wonderful. The things I like are the power, this baby is fast. Faster than the Maxima which I also considered. Test drove a Toyota Avalon and the seat for a man my size was not adequate. I was glad I didnt fall in love with the Toyota because it was my first choice, however no deals from Toyota.

• 

  Value, Quality and Reliability - 1999 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Jim of Phoenix - November 21 - 2:00 am

  When I purchased my Pathfinder, I was seeking a mid-size SUV priced under $30,000 that was reliable and had some "get-up and go". Having been a previous Honda owner, my reliability expectations were relatively high. Nissan has met those expectations up to this point. Other than standard maintenance, I havent put any money into the vehicle. Im at 69,000 miles and still ticking!