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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  In love with the V6 Power - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By Altima3.5Fan - April 17 - 2:00 am

  Ive been wanting this car since March of 2001, when I saw what they have been doing with the redesign of the car and I must say Ive been quite pleased!!! The car is a dream to drive, compared to my previous Altima, it was a 98.

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  Dont buy a Frontier - 2010 Nissan Frontier
  By Tom LaBathe - April 16 - 11:36 pm

  After only 7 months and 11,000 miles the paint is peeling off of the rocker panels. Klines service department said it was caused by sand in the street and fix the problem.

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  What a sports car is all about - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By Billy D - April 16 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned my car for over 6 years and purchased it new. It is a true drivers car with emphasis on going fast and doing it well. Practicality and comfort are afterthoughts. The trunk will take a reasonable amount of stuff, as long as you "pour" it around the strut brace. Its handling is very confidence inspiring and the car always eggs me on. Its like its always taunting me: "You know, you couldve taken that turn faster!" I recently replaced the OEM tires with BF Goodrich KDWs. Gas mileage plummeted, but grip is outrageous. The new tires turned my Z from a nice car to a race car. Engine is fantastic: incredibly reliable, predictable, smooth

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  Transmissions - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By PRDR - April 16 - 2:00 am

  Same problem radiator fluid leaked into the transmission. This is my second Nissan I love my 92 Nissan SE, and I still have it, so it is why I brought the second Nissan Pathfinder 2005 SE 6CL 4WD, but I will never buy another Nissan again. Not only that the electrical modular that controls the car went, it shuts down the car down completely, which cost a pretty penny to fix. Now I see they have a recall on that starting in December 2010. They need to do the right thing and recall these particular Makes and Models fix their issues and any revert of those issues. Come now Nissan do the right thing and keep loyal customers. Oh heat shields rattle like mad. Same problem on 1992 model too.

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  Best yet - 2008 Nissan Frontier
  By wayne - April 15 - 10:43 pm

  This is my forth pick up truck and second crew cab in 12 years. I had a B2200, Sonoma, Canyon and now the Frontier. While they were all good vehicles this one is by far the best. I did a lot of research and a lot of test drives before making the decision. The Toyota and the Dodge were both good but not quite good enough. I found the Frontier had more get up and go. Gas mileage is pretty standard. We have 20k and 9 months under our belt.The interiors were also very close. I am not sure what Auto reviewers have against hard plastic interior finishes but in the real world they work very well. This is probably the best all round vehicle for anyone balancing work and family.

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  Traded 08 Subaru Outback for a 13 Pathfinder - 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
  By highlands1 - April 15 - 7:27 am

  Traded up to a Pathfinder SL Premium for more size and more power over the 08 Outback. Love the power and dont feel the speed with the quiet ride & lack of shifting gears. I really needed the extra space in the rear more than third row seating, but its handy when the office goes out for lunch or on a site visit. The extra shoulder & hip room is appreciated! I got the arctic blue metallic - a darker medium blue - with black interior. Im driving in the mountains on open, winding country roads, getting 20-21 mpg. Got the car for $300 under Invoice plus Kelley Blue Book value on our trade.

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  Will buy another just like it. - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By 2003 Murano - April 15 - 1:23 am

  I am very happy with this vehicle. The overall quality is great, it performs great, good gas mileage, and good pricing.

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  1997 Pathfinder SUV - 1997 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Gene Ferioli - April 14 - 8:23 pm

  My 1997 Nissan Pathfinder has been rock solid. It is poor on gas mileage, but worth it. I just bought another 2005 Pathfinder. The redesigned body is great!

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  Not perfect, but a very good truck... - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By Oompa - April 14 - 10:03 am

  I test drive this truck and was amazed by the power and some nice features it has. Its a very good truck, but I still believe there are some things that can be done to make it even better. All in all, I really like it and would certainly recommend anyone in search of a nice truck to go and test drive one. Im certain youll really like. Styling is much better then that of Dodge and Chevy. Ive owned both a Ford and Chevy before. The Chevy was a good truck, but not as good as my Titan. The Ford on the other hand was nothing but headaches...something was always going out on it. Again, check out the Nissan and you wont be disappointed. Oh, and its fun driving this truck!

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  Great Car!! - 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By Hnotts123 - April 14 - 6:13 am

  After 5 months and 5000 miles, the altima has really served us well. We have been averaging around 33.8 mpg, which is a bit below par, but much better than the previous cars we have driven. Acceleration and pickup is sporty for a hybrid and the ride is very smooth. The mpg does take a hit in the winter when the heater is turned on, but with careful driving it can be offset. Nissan always provides solid and reliable vehicles and this one is no different. The navigation is a gem and has helped us get too many destinations. The leather seats are very comfortable and the bluetooth has been flawless as well. Initially it is hard to adjust to the smart key but you get used too it after a while.