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:

• 

  9-year Review - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By romans10nine - February 12 - 10:22 am

  2005 Nissan Altima 2.5 S, White with Black interior, 5-speed manual. Purchased new in October, 2004. Current mileage: 68,000. I have only needed one repair, and that was a crankshaft positioning sensor, which was discovered by the service engine light coming on. I have used Mobile 1 full synthetic from the beginning. The car literally drives like new.

• 

  Slam dunk family vehicle - 2008 Nissan Quest
  By forgetfl - February 12 - 4:33 am

  We just bought our Quest SE model after months of looking at the other minivans, including the new chrysler and looking at the GM crossover vehicles Acadia and Outlook. You just cant beat the interior volume in the Quest and the beautifully finished interior. The Mazda CX9 interior may be the best in the crossover market, but in our opinion the Quest is a close second. The Sienna interior is a bit long in the tooth and the Odyssey is nice, but doesnt have the skylights or the factory trailering option which is key for us because of our hitch mounted bike trailer and cargo carrier. The other minivan hitches significantly reduce ground clearance.

• 

  All survived a roll - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By Jessi - February 11 - 10:36 pm

  I dont have too much to say as I only had the car about 3 weeks..BUT Just yesterday me and two other people went off an embankment and rolled my 2005 Xterra, two huge rocks impacted to car, one right above the drivers head. we walked away with only scratches and bruises. I know the official safety star rating is 4 stars, but I give it 5...and Ill be getting another one

• 

  2003 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab - 2003 Nissan Frontier
  By bucc19 - February 11 - 9:50 pm

  Ive owned this truck for 2 years and Ive had NO problems. Traded my Tacoma in on this with no regrets. It has a better ride, more comfort and much better looks. Im now a Nissan guy.

• 

  Am I driving on a Cloud??? - 2007 Nissan Murano
  By Von Hall - February 11 - 4:30 pm

  Well, after testing the market for a new automobile I chose the Nissan Murano SL. The suspension as well as the transmission is extremely smooth and feels as though were driving on a cloud. The stylish fashion definitely has the "it" as we travel down the road and people break necks to have a look! I chose the glacier white pearl and tinted the two front windows to match the rest of the Murano. This just tops it off on the looks and gives added protection from the hot Texas sun. If you want an automobile that exceeds expectations with an affordable price, look no further. You will not be unhappy with this selection, I guarantee you!

• 

  Bad Start and Bad Ride - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By Bad-deal - February 11 - 9:33 am

  I just bought. I drive to a friend place and want to come back home. I could not start the car. Tried and Tried finally pushing different buttons on remote key I was able to start the car. It was embarrassment and frustration. The car ride is ruff. I never seen a car so bad. I would want to return this car tomorrow. Ride is so bumpy my but can feel ever curve of the road. My Camry is smooth and takes the roughness of the road and gives me smooth ride. I am planning to return this car. I had 1999 Altima for brief time. The ride was good, I thought that I would get the same quality. Take a ride on side roads before you make investment.

• 

  Versa rides bigger than it looks - 2008 Nissan Versa
  By Marty - February 11 - 7:06 am

  I was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable the seats are and the roominess of my Versa, as well as how well it rides and responds to my foot. The car rides and responds like a much bigger car. They could have placed the side mirror controls in a better location so that you do not have to bend and reach to make adjustments. Other than that, my wife and I really enjoy driving this car.

• 

  2008 Versa - 2008 Nissan Versa
  By jgonzales - February 10 - 9:16 am

  Ive had the car less than a month. I really like the interior room. The power of this car is satisfactory. There is plenty of room for the kids in the back. I wish it would get at least 35 mpg on the highway.

• 

  190 K miles and it keeps running - 1996 Nissan Sentra
  By CharlieH - February 10 - 2:00 am

  7 year car, keep running, this is manual trans, with orginal clutch Replace only normal wear and tear items.. tires (now is the 4 set of tires) , brakes (now is on 3 set of the front disk pad, 2 set of rotor, rear brake shoe had been replaced once) spark plugs, fuel filter, etc.. The only problem is the alternator (last for 80 k miles only).. Now is on the third alternator !!

• 

  My new Spec V - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By Panther - February 10 - 2:00 am

  The car is very fun to drive, looks great, the ride is firm and well planted so far (have not had it in the snow yet). Overall is a great car for the price, I mean you get so many performance features on this car for the buck! Features like: 6spd trans, 17" wheels, sway bars front & rear, 11" disc brakes on all 4 wheels, limited slip axle, strut tower brace, 175hp engine with loads of torque, absolutely awsome interior and "RF" sound system.