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:

• 

  Outstanding! - 2008 Nissan 350Z
  By RTLBT - May 15 - 10:00 am

  Bought used 1 owner only 7858 mi! Has all warranties. What a car! Had a 280z, no comparison, but I loved it. No nit-picks (like telescoping steering wheel). Have had several sport cars, this one is it! So easy to drive, do not get tired after 3 hrs, like my Chevy, must be the seats. Mileage is great for this h. P., 21-24 mpg like book says, but did get 26 mpg at 75 mph. Love to clean it and feel fine lines of car, I know, Im a nut case.

• 

  Sporty-Classy - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By NC_Altima - May 15 - 5:40 am

  In terms of looks, driving and performance for the 4-cylinder segment, this is a great car. Havent been able to compare to the new 2008 Accord yet, which looks to be nice but not as sporty as the Altima. This car is very responsive in acceleration, braking and steering. Really fun to drive. Controls are all easy to reach and understand. Good selection of features/packages. Nice redesign in both exterior and interior. I have an S Conv package, with added leather, sunroof, fogs, spoiler, ABS, alum kickplates, splash guards and floor mats. Couldnt be happier.

• 

  Z lover - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By G.F.Paolini - May 15 - 3:26 am

  You get a safe feeling when in the Z.It feels like your driving a much heavier vehicle.It hugs the road on tight turns and steers like a go-cart- that is very responsive!

• 

  Best Midsize Truck - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By Steve - May 14 - 8:20 pm

  The Frontier rides better then our 2001 Buick Lasabre. Smooth quite ride, plenty of muscle in the 4.0 V-6. Comfortable seats. Does have a wide turn radius. Like the hidden storage under the back seats. Dislike the exterior key lock only on the drivers side.

• 

  1.8 With Good CVT - Bang! - 2010 Nissan Cube
  By AEB - May 14 - 7:33 am

  Measuring the Toyota XB, Hundai Tuson, and Kia Soul for dollars and sense. The Cube came on top for me. If you are seeking 100% Japan made econo utility vehicle with functionality, the Cube is a home run. It s an excellent commuter and can comfortably travel long distances. The wind does become turbulent and feels light in the front end above 80 mph, but what other encono -vehicle doesnt. You drive any 15 to 20 K$ car and tell me it drives like BMW feel at 80 mph. I think people tend to get over critical on value vs. quality. Remember this car was made in Japan for 10 years before coming to the states. It is a small multi-purpose vehicle for 30 mpg on regular. This is a great car for the US

• 

  A lot of Car for the Money - 2009 Nissan Altima
  By tempexec - May 14 - 7:30 am

  We shopped this primarily against the Honda Accord Coupe and are very glad that we went with the Altima. After about 30 days of ownership, car is exceeding our expectations. Price paid is also a big plus since we were able to negotiate a total of almost $5k off the sticker price of $28.2k.

• 

  good bang for the buck - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Val - May 13 - 11:46 am

  I purchased my 3.5 SL in September of 2005, and I have been loving it ever since. I did have trouble with the passenger airbag light when I first bought the car, but got it fixed quickly. This car is so powerful, you cannot really understand unless you drive it. I would buy this car again in an instant because of the acceleration speed alone, not to mention the good looks. I got the mystic emerald color with the light beige leather interior. I get so many compliments on it.

• 

  What a great little SUV. - 2000 Nissan Xterra
  By Lily - May 12 - 10:46 am

  My wife and I purchased this Xterra almost 7 years ago (when we had no kids) and it was worth the price. We finally paid it off and it has been a very reliable vehicle. It is very comfortable on long and short trips with the family. A family of 4 will fit comfortably. As I am now finding out, 3 in the back seat is a little too snug. Other than that I think 7 years ago we made a good decision that we still own today with over 81,000 miles on it. Other than one recall from the dealership, we have had no problems at all. In the future we probably would be better off with 3rd row seating. Other than that I would keep it.

• 

  "Sport Utility?" w/o roof rack? Cant be - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By MW - May 11 - 10:46 pm

  Totally love the car, but when I found out that Nissan will not sell or install the roof rack (side rails and cross bars) for Muranos that didnt come with one, I was disappointed because I ski and would like to put my Yakima ski carrier on top of the car. No Go!! So how can Nissan call it an SUV if you cant even use it as one?? I dont understand why Nissan didnt engineer for an after market roof rack...OEM or otherwise. If your car didnt come from the factory with a roof rack you are out of luck, because not even Yakima or Thule make an aftermarket rack system. The manufacturer leaves the consumer out in the cold. The rack is available, just for those already with one

• 

  I would recommend the Quest - 2012 Nissan Quest
  By Mark - May 11 - 9:51 am

  I find the Nissan Quest a very capable minivan. I test drove the Honda and Toyota and came running back to the Nissan for three primary reasons: 1) The interior fit and finish and organization was far superior to the other minivans. 2) The interior noise was much less than the competitors, and 3) I liked the way the seats folded and the rear storage area. The Nissan gets a bad rap for the non-traditional storage compartments and seats but I find that on a daily basis the set up is far superior to the alternatives. The rear covered storage compartment allows me to store a stroller, blankets, emergency equipment all while still allowing groceries and other items to be hauled. While the total storage area may be less than the competitors, who the heck is hauling around that much stuff without the kids. I find that laying down the second and third rows provides plenty of space when needed. Also, I average 26-28 MPG when traveling at 55-65 miles per hour in the summer. This is great gas mileage for a minivan. I currently have about 30,000 miles on the van and only one maintenance issues so far (rear shock replaced on warranty). Yes, the OEM tires needed to be replaced at 20,000 miles, but who really cares. Very few OEM tires last that long anyway and it gives the owner the opportunity to put on good tires for the winter. The heated leather seats are wonderful and the automatic doors and reach hatch save the day. The only complaint I would have is that it was hard to find a used one. Overall, I recommend this van without hesitation. I bought the LE version with 12,000 miles for $22,500 in November 2014.