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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  Nice Car - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By gols4379 - November 2 - 4:10 am

  This car is great to drive on a daily basis and it looks fantastic. This is my second Altima in a row (last one was a 2001 SE that I traded in for this one). I got the SL package which includes heated leather seats, a sunroof/moonroof and a great Bose audio system.

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  CUBE POWER - 2009 Nissan Cube
  By BILL D - October 29 - 5:13 pm

  I have purchased the cube about 4 weeks ago one drive is all it took. Im 63" big build type of guy and i slid right in very roomy interior super easy to drive the visibility is awesome and this car in bitter chocolate is a head turner. Everywhere I go people stop me and ask me about the CUBE. I love this design so easy to get in and out of. A lot better than the new cars today, every car seems to be aero dynamic forcing tall people into Suvs or Trucks. Thanks Nissan for making a economical roomy vehicle.

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  Could have been great - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By Dave - October 29 - 3:03 pm

  The Murano is a very good vehicle, unfortunately it could have been a great vehicle. Very poor interior design, the dash instrumentation is some kind of cream, off yellow color. It should have been a brilliant white. The Bose stereo is very hard to use, too many button to look at while driving, very confusing and not all that great of sound quality. Performance is outstanding, fuel mileage is acceptable. The roof rack is a joke, no cross bars came with the vehicle, Nissan wants to sell them to you separately!! Very cheap of them I think!

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  Good car for the money - 1997 Nissan Sentra
  By mholly99 - October 29 - 10:00 am

  Bought my Sentra used with 94000 miles on it. Good reliable little car with GREAT gas mileage. No problems so far and I got a great deal on it. Perfect for a college student like me.

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  Disappointed to the MAX - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By madpro - October 29 - 10:00 am

  steering and suspension too soft, would like to see suspension and steering similar to Infiniti G35 Sport. Tiptronic Transmission is a joke! Shifts are non-existant, automatic nonshifts feel like there is a Govenor. seating is not firm enough and 10 speaker stereo/CD system is ok when you can get a radio channel clear

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  Great Toy. - 2005 Nissan Sentra
  By DeshispecV - October 28 - 11:33 pm

  Even tho I bought my Spec V with a lot of miles on it, it still runs real good. Its a champ on the streets. Its a sleeper car stock and a beast with mods. I love driving it and seeing the looks on peoples faces when I fly past them in their V6s. Great toy to have.

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  Wheel shakes also! - 2006 Nissan Maxima
  By Wheel shakes also!!! - October 25 - 6:40 pm

  Ive had the car for 3 years (since new) and love to drive it. The only problem is that the darn steering wheel has had a shimmy since I test drove it. I didnt think much of it and asked them to check the tire balance before I took delivery. Big mistake. 3 years and more than 15 attempts to get it fixed and it still shakes. Nissan mechanics dont have a clue why. Nissan has given up on trying to fix it and Ive given up trying to get it fixed. Luckily its a lease and itll be their problem next month. Its too bad, my family has been loyal to Nissan since 1985, not any more...

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  Almost perfect - 2014 Nissan Pathfinder
  By tykes - October 24 - 5:00 pm

  Updated review- Bought 2014 SL 4x4 in Aug. 2013. 3k - 5k miles we experienced the shudder, took it into the dealer, they fixed it. 22k miles the CVT started acting up again, took it in and they replaced the transmission! At 32k miles it did it again, again they adjusted it, at 37k it hasnt done it again, so far. We have been very lucky/happy with our dealer and the service they have provided us with on this issue. Pros - Smooth ride, great features, love the leg room, good gas mileage, fun to drive, reasonably priced, Got into head on collision, very impressed with the safety features of this car. Car was totaled. Really love this car but will not buy again until CVT is fixed.

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  Limited Edition Pathfinder - 2010 Nissan Pathfinder
  By carnutz99 - October 24 - 1:28 pm

  we own a 2010 Nissan Pathfinder LE and we love it. plus it does have a navigation system and we used it but we are not so crazy about it and it does have heated seats. it has 3rd row seats to but we never use them because we only have 3 people in our family.

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  Not bad for first time out - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By James - October 24 - 12:50 pm

  Very impressed with the Titan. Drove a Tundra prior and there is no comparison. The Titan is bigger, roomier, and definately more powerful. Sure the Tundra is more refined and luxurious but this is a truck, not a Lexus. The Titan identifies what the truck owner needs.