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 Third Nissan and Not My Last - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By Justin - August 7 - 5:34 pm

  I have owned this car for one year, and I am still pleased with it. I traded in an SUV, so the Altimas driving dynamics were a large departure for me. Real world fuel economy is near/at EPA estimates. The interior is superbly ergonomic and has held up well for my 25,000 mile/year commute. I like the way it looks and materials/fit and finish are above average. Overall fit and finish (mainly exterior) seem just average, but are an improvement over my last vehicle. Earlier in the year I had standing water in the cabin; turns out water was coming in through two holes in the body, which were sealed and Nissan reimbursed me for the repair despite being out of warranty, as this was a major issue that was not from wear and tear. Other than this one issue, I have nothing but accolades for my Altima. I look forward to many more years of ownership.

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  I LOVE THIS CAR! SL Platinum Premium - 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
  By kamikazijen - August 7 - 2:17 pm

  There are always lemon cars and lemon dealers out there of which I do not have either. So 4 months and 4000 miles mine is going strong no problems! The CVT transmission is different and will bog down if you try to floor it you have to give it gas steadily and before you know it you are passing someone uphill going 80mph! I live at 7500ft elevation in Colorado I have had no problems with power or passing and it handles great in the snow. I have averaged 26mpg on all of my tanks since buying this car. Its a 7 passenger SUV that handles like a sports car! Much better than the 05 Xterra I traded in! That was a tank!

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  Nice quality truck - 1999 Nissan Frontier
  By Hooker - August 7 - 9:00 am

  Bought this truck 5 years ago with 31,000 miles. I now have over 200,000 miles as I commute 200 a day to work and home. No major work preformed except for tires, oil changes, brakes and clutch (at 180,000 mile). Truck is comfortable for my daily trips. I average 30 miles per gallon on the highway with a standard tranny. Dependable truck!!

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  Great commuting car - 2008 Nissan Versa
  By Joe - August 7 - 3:40 am

  100 miles/day and the car is great. Comfortable, but the S needs a center arm rest. Very smooth ride and handles very well. Most interior room of any small car we tested (Yaris, Elantra, Cobalt, Mazda3, Corolla). Im 62" and leg room was very important. This is a great buy for your money. 32 MPG when I drive reasonably, 29 MPG when I keep up with Chicago traffic at 80 MPH.

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  Solid Car all phases - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By Zeike - August 6 - 9:30 pm

  I have had my Murano for nearly 3 months now and so far, so good. The ride is smooth bordering on luxurious. The gadgets and accommodations are enjoyable (iPod interface, panoramic roof, xenons, sensing wipers, memory seats, trunk dividers/shade). Coming from an Audi this car is not as fun to drive but it is certainly responsive and well built. Looked at the Venza and Santa Fe and the Murano is a much nicer ride than the Hyundai and offers more features than the Venza, with better pricing. Only minor complaints are the gas mileage has been right at 20 mpgs while I was hoping for closer to the 23 number and the in dash cd is just a single. Overall, very pleased but need to practice parking.

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  Fantastic!!! - 2016 Nissan Rogue
  By Elle Kay - August 6 - 9:13 pm

  We upgraded from the 2013 Sentra SR to the 2016 Rouge SV for our college-age child. I honestly cant say enough about this vehicle. It looks great, and feels great. I upgraded to the Pearl White exterior with charcoal interior and its a beautiful car. The ride is very smooth and it handles very nicely. The interior feels very roomy. I also especially like the flexibility in the storage area in the back, as several other reviews have mentioned. There are many safety upgrades with the 2016 that are well worth it. My daughters favorite thing is the heated seats and mine is the auto lift gate. We highly recommend the 2016 Rogue SV.

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  Best buy in its class!! - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By Kari - August 5 - 5:50 pm

  I cant believe Ive had my car for five years and am about to pay it off - it looks brand new! Regular oil changes and the car is practically perfect!! From someone whos had to drive junk all her life this was a great and smart first buy. Reliable and perfect for the small streets of Charleston where I live. Good on gas and feels well built while driving, no loose areas except maybe windows and that doesnt improve until you go luxury. Its wonderful!!!

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  CONCERNS - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By yvan - August 4 - 2:00 am

  I got this beautiful truck after owning a tahoe and a expedition, runs wonderful but i start it to have problems w/it since the winter in NY my driver side door wont close ,only in cold weather,my front brakes where gone in 3 months they replace it for free this time,at that time i discover a leak on the power sterring they fix it to,but my driver side door still got the problem NISSAN USA is involved and hopefully will fix once and for all.

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  the winds of change - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By sean124352 - August 4 - 2:00 am

  this truck blows all the other truck right out of the water. it has great performce, confort, and fetures. i bought mine for $89 over invoice. bottom line great truck the power is awusome. the F-150 runs out of power fast on the highway, this just keeps going, like the maxiama

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  2013 Pathfinder Excellent SUV - 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
  By dave_justdave - August 4 - 1:37 am

  I have had my 13 Pathfinder now for approx 6 months and 5000 miles and everything is running beautifully. The leather seats are very comfortable, especially on long trips. The AC is been outstanding during these last few weeks of high heat. I barely notice the CV transmission now, handling is responsive in the city and on the highway. Overall mileage is much better than my last SUV - a Mazda CX9 V6. I would highly recommend this vehicle.