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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  Sporty and Pretty Too - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By DinkyDoo - February 23 - 10:40 pm

  Drove several crossover/SUVs, including the RAV 4, Ford Edge, Mazda CX7 and CX9. The Murano was the quietest, most smooth riding and best equipped of the bunch. The auto climate control is better than in any of the luxury cars I have owned. I like the spaciousness of the interior. The smoothness and power of the acceleration is really nice. My major complaint is the front seat. It is extremely hard and the front seat cushion does not adjust independently from the seat back. The seat cushion has a very angled upward tilt, to the point of cutting off leg circulation. (I am 54" and this may be the reason) I am hoping with time the seat may soften up a bit. Good price for so many features.

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  Best car Ive owned Period - 2006 Nissan Armada
  By garrettb - February 23 - 10:33 am

  We just sold her, Annie was her name. The kids still ask after her. What a great car. Great power, huge interior, the kids dont even come close to kicking the back of your seat. We bought used with 50K miles and I sold this car with 90K on it and never put one nickel into it other than regular oil changes, oh yeah 1 battery and thats it. It always got 12 mpg unless on a real long trip. Got 16 once. I watched a friend with an Explorer- Junk and then a Tahoe, nice but not a good as this Nissan and not nearly as spacious.

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  Luxurious Ride, Fun Drive - 1998 Nissan Maxima
  By heyphilly - February 23 - 10:00 am

  I have had my Nissan Maxima GLE for over 4 years now, and its performed like a beauty ever since. The engine is smooth and powerful, the interior is comfortable and luxurious, and the ride is smooth. Never had any troubles, except a small rattling fan which was replaced under warranty.

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  Maintanence is too expensive - 1999 Nissan Maxima
  By kievguy - February 23 - 10:00 am

  I have 99 Maxima SE Limited 5 speed for more then 3 years. The car is comparable to Camry and Accord that I had before but cost way too much in maintenance. Looks like its Nissans way to compete with big guys like Toyota and Honda - for customers expense. Look at new Edmunds topic True Cost to Own and compare to other similarly priced cars. I would not buy another Nissan, period.

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  2002 GLE - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By jetdoc - February 23 - 10:00 am

  It has been six months since we purchased our 02 GLE and we have been very happy with it. We even added the rear spoiler to the car so it looks like the SE.

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  awesome car - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By maxlover90056 - February 23 - 10:00 am

  Solid car. Fast, tight handling. I love it. Well made. Everything feels quality and well designed. 255hp, what more can you ask for.....

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  2003 Pathfinder, worst SUV ever made - 2003 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Jamey - February 23 - 10:00 am

  Poor quality, lousy/noisy brakes, stereo broken from start - replaced 4 times! Poughkeepsie Nissan is the worst dealer around. The front bumber was damaged & poorly repainted prior to taking delivery, dealer denied responsibility and refused to fix damage. Seeking legal help to get a full refund. Nissan customer support offers no help. If you still want a Pathfinder stay away from this dealership.

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  Sweet - 2000 Nissan Altima
  By Valeriy - February 23 - 10:00 am

  When my dad first allowed me to drive his 2000 Altima, I was impressed by the performance of the car`s braking ability and sudden increase in speed. The car can be easily brough up to the speeds of up to 100 milies an hour.

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  xterra - 2002 Nissan Xterra
  By james boehm - February 23 - 10:00 am

  Very impressive handling...quiet...smooth...all around great vehicle!

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  2002 Nissan Altima 3.5SE - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By Levicki - February 23 - 10:00 am

  Excellent power, lots of room front and back for folks over 6 feet tall. I am 64" and have plenty of room even behind the drivers seat with the seat positioned for me to drive. Great visibility, good handling. Would handle better if RWD or AWD. Cup holders are not real convenient. Turning radius is not tight. Guages are hard to read in certain lights.