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:

• 

  I Love My New Altima! - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Retzy14 - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Get in and go baby! This car rocks my world! I never thought I could have so much fun in a car, especially after having a Jeep Wrangler. Im a kid all over again when I step on the pedal!

• 

  VALUE CAR - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By pinoyii - March 8 - 2:00 am

  You cant buy a camry/accord with the load of the altima for the price close to 19k. Since its cheaper, it wont be perfect and there would an aspect that would be inferior. In the case of the altima, its the interior. Its inferior in quality but nicely done. In the same vein, Camry is also using the cheaper 15" tires. If people buy cars based on performance such as horsepower, acceleration, torque, braking etc. the altima is far more superior. Im so used in driving the altima that when I got to drive a 2003 camry xle, i could tell the difference in power. Nissan wisely puts where youre money should be - performance.

• 

  A different Maxima - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Timmosk - March 8 - 2:00 am

  I previously owned a 1998 Maxima GSE, that I traded with 104,000 miles on it. The new Maxima is a different car in every way, power, performance, comfort. I cant say enough about it, I just drove it to Vegas last weekend, it performed flawlessly and what a blast to drive. The price is right.

• 

  Great Car - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Ken Hartsaw - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Wonderful car Sporty,fast comfortable, great gas milage, unbelievable price, turns heads on the road, overall the best car I have ever purchased

• 

  2004 Maxima SL - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Stan McCadam - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Most outstanding noticable feature is the motor performance - - smooth, very good response. Handles easily. Interior is excellent, very comfortable with passenger controls. Many features. Interior is very roomy. Significantly larger than the Camry we owned previously.

• 

  Buy it!! - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By G. Holder - March 8 - 1:43 am

  Best sports car Ive ever owned. Fun to drive, fast, quite the head turner.

• 

  The perfect choice - 2011 Nissan Pathfinder
  By redg - March 7 - 4:48 pm

  we bought a 3800# travel trailer and my Isuzu Rodeo just wasnt quite up to the task of towing it. I wanted a powerful V-6 with comfort. Got this car from a dealer (it was the salesmans wifes car) with 6300 miles. Ride is pretty stiff and busy but better than the Rodeo. Step on the gas and youre GONE!. It tows the trailer very well and gets good fuel mileage doing so. We spent 3 weeks on the road last year, up and down some extremely steep roads without a problem. My one complaint was the standard radio was terrible. I replaced with one from Crutchfield and now love everything about this car.

• 

  New Altima - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By newaltima1 - March 7 - 1:55 am

  I traded in a 2010 Honda Civic because I was looking for a bigger car as I am 62" tall. The selling point for me is the gas mileage. I was averaging 31 with the civic, do a little better with the Altima but its a bigger car. All the bad reviews on here scared me at first, but I think those may be the first 2013s released. No problems with mine (1,000 miles) yet. Car is very quite and smooth. Steering is different, does wander a bit, may be the tires. Again, it is a bigger car than Im used to. Good luck, very pleased thus far.

• 

  My Z gets An A - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By dkramrog - March 6 - 8:46 pm

  Driving my new 350Z Roadster has restored a sense of youthful "joy of the road" to my middle-aged heart. This car is quick, responsive and eye- catchingly beautiful. But simultaneously, it gives me the sense of reliablity and safety that I require. Sure, there are minor flaws-- the interior design doesnt match the exterior elegance, the headlights dont come on automatically as darkness falls, although the dash lights do. But all in all, this is an exciting and responsive way to get around.

• 

  great car - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By mitch - March 6 - 1:26 pm

  i love this car,a lot of bang for your buck.good power for a 4 cylinder, great aerodynamics, good interior design. love the smart key, makes feeling of german luxury. all round this is a great car,my only gripe would be the quality of the factory paint, i only put 500 miles of all highway driving and noticed many paint chips on the nose and lower passenger side door. i live in new york and we really have not had any snow so salt wouldnt be to blame. i think car manufacturers are cutting many corners to turn in more profit!i will contact nissan to try and solve this matter being i am leasing i do not want to incur any more damage and be held responsible when my 3 years are up.please get the nose mask