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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  Looks better than Lex gs400 - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By lwoman - August 3 - 10:00 am

  Great car. It looks better than the lexus Gs 300 and 400 although they do look quite similar. Altima has everything in its class beat. it looks much more expensive than what it is. I have had car since October and I have 14,000 miles on it. sure I drive alot but its fun to drive. the car is simply great. What a beauty. ALTIMA 2.5SL. pEOPLE CANNOT BELIEVE ITS NOT A LEXUS. pARK AN ALTIMA NEXT TO A Gs 300 or 400 and tell me which looks better. The is 300 dosent come close to the altima in s. Great car everyone should buy one. Nissan altima has the accord and camry beat this time. Go altima all the way. you are a beauty. simply the best

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  A WINNER - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By dale ewasiuk - August 3 - 10:00 am

  The Altima 2.5S is a very roomy and elegant car. Power is better than most other 4s that I have driven and gas milage is above average for a car this size. Even though the interior is plane, it is functional with controls in very good locations. Ride is very good and evey though I was told there would be a lot of wind noise, I have found that to be untrue. I have the Bose 6-disk system and the sound is far above average, controls for the systems are well thought out.

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  1st SUV - 1999 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Bill Woods - August 3 - 9:36 am

  Bought this Nissan used in early 2002 with 42000 miles on vehicle. Had only one unscheduled maintenance problem, a computer chip in the polution controls, (check engine light stayed on). Have used for all types of occasions including some medium towing 3500-4000 lbs. It did and excellent job towing. At 7100 miles invested in a set in Michelins LT tires. Its like buying a new car for under$500. Milage has improved about 1 MPG.

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  Better than expected - 2015 Nissan Altima
  By prich - August 3 - 8:38 am

  I looked at all comparable cars similar to a Camry SE I owned except the Nissan Altima! When bringing my wifes Rogue in for routine maintenance I happened to see the dealer had a 2015 6cyl Altima with 4K miles on the internet. This car is above and beyond what I had expected, including the cost.

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  The best car - 2009 Nissan Altima
  By dede - August 3 - 7:43 am

  I love my new Nissan. I purchased the Nissan Altima 3.5Se with the premium package. The car is super fast. The pickup is amazing. The seats are comfortable. The backseat is huge. Enough room for 3 adult size kids. The car is quiet. The controls are easy to handle. The gas mileage could be better. The car still rides like a dream and worth the extra in premium gas.

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  Nissan Sentra Great Car - 2016 Nissan Sentra
  By Art Grandizio - August 2 - 8:56 pm

  Great sporty looking commuter car. Its not a sports car so dont expect it to perform like one but it does have very good performance.

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  I love this car! - 2009 Nissan Maxima
  By scott121671 - August 2 - 4:43 am

  I must admit. I was a little compulsive when buying this car but I do not regret it. After reading all the reviews and having owned it for a few days now I can say that this car is fantastic. It handles with such precision and the ride is fantastic. I can not see anyone disappointed. The rear seats have a lot of room. This is a great car and I highly recommend it to anyone that wants serious sport in a classy looking mid size sedan.

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  Better Than Expected..! - 2008 Nissan Xterra
  By RSchools - August 1 - 8:40 am

  I have been test driving Xterras every year since their inception (2000?) and have always wanted one. When gas went to over $4.00 a gallon in Aug 08 I knew that it was a buyers market and purchased a new 08 for $18K even, or more than 9k off the sticker price -- WHAT A STEAL..!! Overall, I am exceptionally pleased with my Xterra. It gets 17+ mpg around town and just over 21 on the hwy. It is a very comfortable vehicle, even on long trips, and the versatility of the rear cargo area is wonderful. Some folks have complained about its interior plastic, but I luv it, as all it takes is a wet cloth to clean it in a snap. The only negative is that I didnt buy two of them when they were CHEAP!

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  Lets keep it a secret - 2016 Nissan Maxima
  By Chuck - July 31 - 6:23 pm

  After 2 weeks the 2016 is miles ahead of the previous version. Styling, comfort, tech...it has it all. Would not really call it a sports car as there is body lean and it is a big car..But it can really go and if your really buying a sports car are you buying a 4 door...maybe the Porsche for 90K. As far as the CVT, unless your a total car enthusiast you will never know the difference...until you check your gas mileage. My first highway trip of 240 miles I got 33.7MPG. For a car this size...wow. Seats are very comfortable....my only complaint about the car...the passenger seat should have 8 way adjustments...for a car that cost 42k? The controls are easy to read and easy to navigate, the stereo is miles better than the old Maxima, safety additions...blind spot monitor, predictive braking and parking sonar are all a big plus. The fit and finish are really nice, way better than previous version. The ride (while not a Mercedes S550) is extremely quiet and comfortable. The quilted seats, hand stitched dashboard, diamond patterned wood trim, panoramic roof, heated and cooled seats, flat bottom Heated steering wheel; this all comes together in a car that is 1000s less than you could spend somewhere else. Obviously beauty is in the eye of the beholder...but this car looks great and drives even better. It is not the perfect car, but Nissan deals and you wont find more bang for your buck anywhere. Unless you need to pull up with a nameplate to impress people, this car does it all without the big price....Do yourself a favor and if your looking for a FUN SEDAN...at least test drive the new Maxima, you will not be sorry!!!

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  Hot tip - 2008 Nissan Frontier
  By fdxbrad - July 31 - 12:26 pm

  Have used my truck for hunting, shopping, camping and getting to and from work. I love this truck!