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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  Bionic Frog - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By warpedscout - April 3 - 5:46 pm

  I purchased my Juke a few days ago and have been pleasantly suprised by this car. I have been wanting a Mini since they came out again but too many maintenance issues (Transmissions going out) and having to take it to a BMW dealership for service (1 1/2 hours away). The styling is love or hate but in my opinion very cool!! If you drive it right and keep premium fuel in the vehicle your will get good mileage (K&N air filter will help also). I am currently getting about 27 MPG just tooling around enjoying the car. Seating is good for my family and the interior is comfortable and fun.

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  15 days is too long to wait for a part - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By Cayman owner - April 3 - 5:30 pm

  Faulty gas gauge. Vehicle returned for warrranty repair and remained un-usable for more than 15 days while we waited for Nissan North America to source a replacement part. Never again.

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  Great Car! - 1997 Nissan Altima
  By Andrea - April 3 - 5:13 pm

  I bought my 97 almost 4 years ago for $2800 with 162,000 miles on it. Its up to 215,000 now and is running great. I did have some major repairs the first year but since I switched mechanics I havent had any problems. Definitely worth the money.

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  Best car Ive ever driven - 2009 Nissan GT-R
  By bigmclargehuge - April 3 - 9:10 am

  Its the complete package. Performance, handling, and comfort. No car I have driven is a better combination. Interior is high quality and seats are comfortable. Comfort mode does help the harsh ride, though I like the solid stance in R-mode around corners. Shifts when you want it to, unlike many auto/manuals. Always ready to follow your instruction. An excellent long-distance cruiser or boulevard blaster!

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  Love my Pathfinder! - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Arnold - April 3 - 1:26 am

  Its gas mileage is better than we expected (avg 18 city) and I get up to 23 sometimes! Wish it didnt take premium, but thats okay. We love all the room in the back and the 3rd row seat is perfect for packing in extra family members. All around very happy with it!

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  Excessive noise in Altima 3.5S - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By crypton - April 2 - 4:40 pm

  I own 3.5SE 5-speed manual Altima for two weeks and I really enjoy it’s performance. However, I had to visit dealership two times due to excessive noise problem coming from back suspension. It is some kind of rolling-metallic-hollow noise, sometimes reminding kicked-basketball sound. It occurs at any speed and its frequency is not related to speed - just the volume which peaks at around 90km/h resonating and piercing ears. Dealership so far was not able to fix this problem

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  the frontier and me. - 2006 Nissan Frontier
  By mahoot - April 2 - 1:03 pm

  very easy to get in and out of. cloth seating area seems to stay clean. left foot rest and steering wheel surface feels comfortable when behind wheel.

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  A Great Family Van - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By KDeVoogd - April 2 - 10:00 am

  Overall my wife and I really like the vehicle. Family travel is much improved since we opted for the DVD entertainment system. The navigation system is nice but not used enough to justify the 2K price tag. We love the interior space. It is easy to move around in. Engine performance has been great, but gas mileage is no where near the sticker values. The best weve one on long hauls is 22 mpg. (expect 17-18 mpg avg.) We have had some intermitant trouble with the electronics in the transmission. Nissan claims that no problem exists, but at times the van will not accelerate past 30mph. This is usually remedied by turning the vehichle off and restarting.

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  Best car Ive owned so far - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By ranman2000 - April 2 - 10:00 am

  Extremely comfortable, good performance, unique looks, lots of creature comforts, decent gas mileage (20 MPG average)... what more could you want?

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  Buyer beware of Nissan warranty - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By Joline - April 2 - 10:00 am

  We purchased a new 2004 Nissan Murano "All Wheel Drive" and in four (4) months, noticed a small 1/4-inch rust spot on the roof. We took the vehicle to the dealer where it was purchased only to wait over a month for them to schedule an appointment with the Nissan representative. The Nissan representative failed to show up for the appointment and stated the paint on their vehicles could not possibly contain a flaw causing rust. Nissan denied the warranty without the courtesy of looking at the rust. The Nissan warranty customer service was impersonal and denied to even inspect the rust spot. Beware of Nissans false warranty.