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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  My Maxima rocks - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By B & B - October 29 - 2:00 am

  Leased this car originally & it has been such a great car, I bought it a few months before lease was up. This is the only car Ive ever wanted to buy after leasing it! Love the handling, comfort& power. I like a car that will jump out in traffic when necesary, & accelerate quickly when needed - this car does both very well. Even though GXE was the base model, it has many extras that I really appreciate. It feels like a luxury car, & is a great value for the price. It has been very reliable & weve had absolutley no problems,. Just replaced original tires at 39K miles, & have not needed to do anything else other than scheduled maintenance.

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  Great car - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By All66an - October 29 - 2:00 am

  Well worth the money

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  New 350Z Roadster Touring - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By Jack Gerrity - October 29 - 2:00 am

  As a young man, I always hungered for a sports car. For one reason or another, I never satisfyed this hunger, until now. This car is such a rush to drive, I now anticipate my wife sending me on errands. The pickup and go, the looks, the quality amd workmanship that Nissan has placed in this vehicle. I think this car is going to be a big seller, and I couldt be more happy with it.

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  nissan maxima new york - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By tonypremiumnissan - October 29 - 2:00 am

  great,lots of fun to drive

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  Great car - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By STEELROBS - October 29 - 2:00 am

  I love everything about this car.

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  The 2 Gs, Good Looking&Gas Guzzler - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Joel2002 - October 28 - 10:00 am

  Folks, this vehicle is everything everyone claims it to be, no wonder its the Editors choice. I test drove several of its competitors and for my money this is your best midsize SUV on the market today. In fact, my wife loves this vehicle so much she wont drive her car SO now Im going to have to buy another one for me. Give this one a look!!!

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  2003 maxima - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By projo - October 28 - 10:00 am

  good engine,fine interior, excellent head lights,superior handling. No opinion on traction control until the snow falls. The odometer reads about 2% short,as did the 2000 model we just sold.

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  Overall great experience. - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By ckeegan - October 28 - 1:56 am

  Ive had about 10 weeks and 3,623 miles in my fully loaded 3.5SE. Overall, let me just say that I love my Altima. After A LOT of research (spreadsheets comparing mpg, leg room, head room, insurance costs, etc), I know I made the right decision. The 3.5 receives outstanding marks by WardÂ’s Best Engines. Performance is exceptional, and the CVT took getting used to, but now I have trouble going back to a normal auto. The Altima is comfortable, and has great front leg room, and rear leg room exceeds my Â’03 Accord, the BMW 5-series, and MB E-Class. I have averaged 21.8mpg city, and 29.4mpg hwy on a 1,152 mile trip (I dont drive slow). This means more room, mpg, and power than the E350 or 528i.

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  Love the Options! - 2016 Nissan Rogue
  By Dee Summers - October 28 - 12:47 am

  What I like most about my 2016 Rogue SV (with premium package & moon roof pkg) is the adjustable seats for my 5 3" frame. Most vehicles are challenging for my height, but the Rogue is not. In addition, for a 4-cylinder, it has considerable pep, and the steering is exceptional. The interior is comfortable, and of better quality than the Subaru Forester, Subaru Outback, and the Honda CRV, which I also considered purchasing. Its great to know that Nissan realizes that not everyone wants leather seats and, as such, provides the buyer an opportunity to select the premium package and/or the moon roof package, with fabric seats. I definitely recommend that the Nissan Rogue be considered among comparable SUVs. You WILL notice a positive difference!

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  Love to the Max - 2007 Nissan Maxima
  By rideordie - October 27 - 2:36 pm

  Ive had my max for a few weeks now and I love it. Ive driven many V6s but this CVT is, by far, the smoothest, and one of the quickest. It adjusts to your driving style so when your taking it easy, it drives in a higher gear for better fuel economy, and yes as someone said, it can feel a bit lethargic off the line in that mode. Feels like it starts in 2nd? However, if you drive a more aggressively, off the line, at 100 mph, or anywhere in between, this car is a beast! It automatically adjusts and rides in higher RPMs to stays in the "sweet spot" where are the power is. Its very sure-footed in corners with hardly no body roll, but feels a bit heavy. All around a quality built car.