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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  fast Spec v - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By suave0007 - May 24 - 10:00 am

  I bought my Spec v in Jan. of 2003 that is the best car I have ever owned. The speed the car has is great. Its a quick car and good on gas. Just the wheels are very weak.

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  Best SUV in price range - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By WRC - May 24 - 10:00 am

  Shopped around and researched the Internet for several months before purchasing my 03 Xterra. This SUV provided the most bang for the buck and looks great. Contrary to some other reviews, I really like the interior comfort. If you are looking for a truck type SUV, this is your vehicle. Well- built vehicle with lots of add-onÂ’s for the $$.

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  Week 1- I still like it - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By pk - May 24 - 10:00 am

  Likes: styling-its been a head- turner; I dont get fatigued driving long distances; initial quality has been near-perfect;front cup-holder is an accident-waiting-to-happen; gas mileage could be better (17-22 initally-Im hoping it will improve); rear visibility is so limited, Im having a back-up warning system installed;passenger room is ample; cargo capacity is adequate (barely); power-wise, its not an FX35, but its got plenty of off-the-line zip and passing power. Overall, I am more than pleased.

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  a good car - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By katie - May 24 - 10:00 am

  this is a wonderful car its sporty looking and very comfortable at the same time. i have had little to no troubles with this car.

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  Great Value on and Off Road - 2010 Nissan Xterra
  By xterraoffroad - May 23 - 11:23 am

  I went from a Frontier to upgrading to the Xterra Off Road and WOW. This vehicle is an incredible performer on and off road. Its filled with everything you need like hill-descent assist, locking diffs, 4X4, lots of space and cargo hold, and nothing you dont. The seats fold completely flat, the roof rack has plenty of room for the kayaks, and the awesome 4.0 V6 has more than enough power to tow my 26 ft sailboat. I cant say enough about how smooth this truck rides and how well it conquers terrain off road. Surprisingly, I have been averaging 20mpg. I thought I would have done much worse, but it just makes this rig that much sweeter. Nissans 4.0L is indestructible. Highly recommend!

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  great truck - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By john - May 23 - 11:03 am

  I love this truck!! It has plenty of room inside. Also has great pick up and go when needed. I can cruise nicely on the freeway or give it some go when I need to get passed people when needed. I got the 4x4 for hunting and camping. And the bed has the sprayed in liner, great forwhen I need to haul stuff. I dont have to worry about scratches. I havent had any problems, knock knock. Cant wait to see how it pulls the trailer when we get it!! I do wish the seats in the back reclined a bit. My kids fall asleep and their heads fall forward. It also has the side airbags for the back too!! Makes me feel safer for my kids. They love the truck too. They like the windows,have minivan too.

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  Tacoma Killer! - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By Paul - May 23 - 8:50 am

  I love the Nissan Frontier! I have had other Nissan trucks in the past and test drove the 2005 Toyota Tacoma, but the Frontier tops them all. Nissan did their homework and learned a lot from the Titan. The powerful 265hp 4.0 V6 engine pulls hard to 60mph+. The 5 speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly and never hunts for the right gear. There is a solid graceful feel to the chasis and it handles corners very well. The build quality is excellent and the cab is very quiet and roomy. This truck drives and feels much like its big brother, the Titan. The Rockford Fosgate package has a great sound, it is a must! The quality of interior materials are very good. This truck has become a major player in the midsize class! THANK YOU NISSAN!

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  What a car! - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Neil - May 22 - 2:00 pm

  I traded my 99 A6 for this Altima and have ZERO regrets. Handling is similar. The Altima with the 2.5 4-banger eats the Audi for lunch. Amazing power for a 4 cyl. The suspension is just stiff enough to feel sporty, yet does not sacrifice comfort. Ive been actively trying to find something to find fault with, but have no complaints. Excellent value for the price. The fit and finish are top notch. Even the stock sound system was good enough that I didnt go for the Bose.

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  One of the best purchases Ive made! - 2008 Nissan Armada
  By gs451 - May 22 - 7:43 am

  Two years ago, I had been off of a my Lexus GX lease and wanted something bigger. I was interested in the new However, I just happened to stop by the Nissan dealer to look at the Pathfinder and fell in love with the Armada. It has everything that is needed in a vehicle of its caliber. The rear parking sonar is standard on the Armada while toptional on other large SUVs (should be standard on every large car for safety reasons). But its been a true gem to drive and very reliable. Lease is about to end soon so I am looking into getting another Armada.I would definitely recommend this car to anyone looking for an SUV. Poor gas mileage, but it is reliable, safe and has good resale value later.

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  My Second Murano - LOVE IT! - 2007 Nissan Murano
  By tommyguy10 - May 21 - 1:26 pm

  I just traded my 2003 Murano for a 2007. I was very disappointed with my 2003 because after 100,500 miles, the "pressure sensor" in the transmission started to go out so they told me the only fix was a new transmission ($5200!). There was nothing wrong with the CVT, just the sensor. I was very upset over this and said I would never purchase another Murano. Well, after driving all of the 2007 cars, I could not find anything close to the Murano. So, I bought a new one. Looks like they have ironed out all of the kinks. I am sure they have fixed the pressure sensor issue. If not, there will be tons of screaming customers before me.