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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  SE-R - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By Dale - April 24 - 12:20 pm

  If you have not driven an SE-R before you bought a normal Sentra, you have missed out on a great small sedan. With the larger 2.5 engine out of the Altima and the 6 speed paddle shifters it is great fun to drive and yet we have averaged 27.4 mpg to date in suburban type driving. It has good low end torque and will cruise effortlessly at 80+. Be sure to get the upgraded stereo system. Try it and you just might be hooked like I was.

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  Best Vehicle Ever Owned - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By Pat - April 24 - 10:16 am

  Its a pleasure to own this vehicle it rides well accelerates smoothly handles great around corners and handles well in snow. I have had some minor issues with the low tire indicator, outdoor temp sensor but thats it. I have put a lot of miles on it by making lots of trips and its been a great car. Gas mileage is great i have averaged up tp 29mpg at 75mph.

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  5 Star Car! - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By tobysunny2 - April 23 - 10:56 pm

  We love our Nissan Altima. It is so Low Maintenance and Reliable. We Highly recommend it.

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  Rating of Murano - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By love the Murano - April 23 - 11:20 am

  This is by far the best vehicle I have ever owned. I previously drove a Nissan Altima so when in the market for a new vehicle, Nissan was the clear choice. I test drove many others but this one was the smoothest ride and definitely the best looker. It still turns my head!

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  The Most Fun to Drive for under 30,000 - 2006 Nissan 350Z
  By Erich Wolmart - April 22 - 7:33 pm

  It is an awsome vehicle, I trade my 1998 740il rocket for this and the only thing i realy miss is the interior space. But I will buy another one in a hartbeat.

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  Happy new Owner - 2008 Nissan Versa
  By Krystal - April 22 - 5:10 pm

  I am replacing a 2002 Nissan Sentra (which I LOVED) and after test driving several competitors I came back to Nissan. I also drove the mid-level Sentra and the Versa has a much better interior layout. LOVE my bluetooth phone and intelligent key. As a small business owner, this feature is a lifesaver and worth every cent! The ABS upgrade has also paid for itself with a $300 per six months savings on my car insurance over the old Sentra. Car is peppy and ROOMY.. almost like the fabled Tardis.. way bigger inside than it looks! I plan to drive this car for 10 years and think it will be a happy love affair.

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  Love this car! - 2015 Nissan Altima
  By Maggie - April 22 - 4:10 am

  Ive read through all the reviews here and quite honestly, I dont hear any engine noise. The car handles like a dream and the fuel mileage is fantastic. The steering is a bit loose compared to what Im used to, but I like it. There is plenty of room for all my grown children and grandchildren. The only thing that took some getting used to is the acceleration. It accelerates from the current speed with little or no shifting. It takes off quickly, its just the feature is not what you expect. Although I do enjoy it. Overall, its a great car!

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  1996 300ZX - 1996 Nissan 300ZX
  By apudapus - April 22 - 2:00 am

  This car was my dads and my dream car. We dreamed of owning it when we first saw pre-production models in 89 (my dad works for Nissan so we were in the know about it). Because of its price, we werent able to afford for the six years it was on sale in America. In 2001 we found a black 1996 2+2 NA with a fair amount of miles on it but in perfect condition. It is a fast car that handles perfectly. The styling is beautiful and unforgettable. It is very comfortable inside and the dash and controls are futuristically and conveniently incorporated around the driver. The only bad

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  An outstanding car - 2001 Nissan Maxima
  By ISD - April 22 - 2:00 am

  This is a gem! I have a Honda and earlier owned a Mazda and there is no comparison. At 222HP, this baby can leave others gaping at the signal lights in Chicago! We extensively test drove the Camry and the Accord before we settled in for this car. The interior leg room is the best for any car, even the bigger American cars have less leg room. There is no road or engine noise at all in the car. Its beautifully designed and has tons of space in the back seat too. This is one car which will last us for another 10 years (we havent needed a single repair in the last 3 years).

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  My first SUV - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By myMurano - April 22 - 2:00 am

  This is my first SUV purchase and Im glad I went with the Murano.. I test drove other SUV but nothing caught my eyes like the Murano did. Everyone is asking me what kind of SUV it is that it must be very expensive until I tell them how much I paid for it. Its definitely fun to drive and so much ROOM! My newborn baby will have plenty of space in the back =). The remote pull down chair for the back is really great!