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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  Disappointing Quality - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By SRK - September 29 - 5:00 am

  I researched this purchase extensively and the Pathfinder won out over several competitors. One of the reasons was I had some quality issues on my prior Explorer and felt the Nissan would be superior in quality. Unfortunately, this has not been the case. I have had numerous problems, though all are small. In 10k miles the dash has developed a squeak that cannot be located. The RR power window does not work. The domelights work intermitantly, and the LF door speaker buzzes even when the radio is off. In 3 trips to the dealer only the domelight is fixed. The power window and speaker parts have been on backorder for 4 months. I like the truck but cannot recommend it.

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  2005 Nissan Frontier King Cab LE - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By Grenadar - September 29 - 1:23 am

  Our new Frontier LE is an absolute joy to drive. The powerful engine is incredible, yet the ride is quite comfortable around town or on the freeway. The interior is extremely well thought-out, with compartments everwhere and with (mostly) well- placed controls for the driver. The seats are comfortably supportive. The factory bedliner with Utili-track system is extremely versatile for carrying almost anything and the locking tailgate latches nicely with no concious thought required (unlike my brothers Ford Ranger). Ive only had it a month so I cannot comment on reliability yet. I am only getting 22 mpg on freeway trips, but at least it can use regular gas without a problem. Looks nice, too.

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  Love the Rogue! - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By Jill - September 29 - 12:30 am

  I dumped a 2004 Audi A4 that had given me constant trouble. I still wanted something fun to drive that got great gas mileage but not so pricey or high maintenance. Did a lot of research and chose the Rogue. I drive 18-20k miles a year and need something reliable and comfortable. Having owned a Camry, Maxima and A4, this my favorite. Excellent gas mileage (25-31 mpg), fun to drive, comfortable, and looks great. I was concerned about the CVT after constant problems with the Audi CVT but so far it has been fine. For a small SUV its unbelievable how much it holds. I tailgate at football games and am able to fit the whole setup, luggage, and 3 passengers comfortably on 6 hour road trips. Love it!

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  Safety - 2008 Nissan Versa
  By Joan Blumena - September 28 - 1:13 am

  I was in a car crash in 2007 with another type of vehicle. I was very concerned about replacing my vehicle. I had to have a safe vehicle with airbags and a proven safety record. My Versa met every requirement that I needed and believe me I spent many hours reading reviews and also looking at all types of vehicles. The Versa had everything I needed and was at a great price. The dealership that I bought from was friendly and they were very patient with me, answered all my questions and realized how much safety was important to me. I love my vehicle and have recommended the Versa to others without hesitation.

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  It does its job - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By rob - September 27 - 4:53 pm

  It does its job. Obviously the gas mileage is insane but its a huge truck. Everyone who sees it says they love it. I love it too but there are are many things I would change. Has a lack of brakes.

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  Good Value; Commuter Car - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By Parrot_head - September 27 - 2:00 am

  Less than a month of ownership. Overall a good value in the market. Older design as compared with the makes. Avg. 35 mpg overall. Closer to 40 mpg would be nice. Responsive handling, good brakes, good headlight illumination, good overall visibility (sans the rear spoiler). The seats were a deal maker for me, great!(1.8/automatic)

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  nissan altima 01 - 2001 Nissan Altima
  By kq - September 27 - 2:00 am

  great car, my first. accelerates great, handles even better. wicked fun to drive. heater starts up quick, good for Boston. i got a ltd. edition with 33000 miles used, no problems after 500 miles

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  Lots of fun - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By AV8RBJ - September 27 - 2:00 am

  So far it has been definitely a lot of fun to drive. It has a lot of spunk and it handles better than my previous car, a Vette C5. At higher speeds it handles incredibly well. It grabs the road like no other car Ive ever driven. The finish on the interior lacks luxury and the seats are not as comfortable as one would like. The interior has a few cubby spaces that are not easily accessible and therefor are useless. It definitely is a much improved model compared to previous Z models Ive had, 280ZX and 300ZX. The interior in comparison to previous Zs in my opinion, has become less comfortable and less plush. Overall I think its a great car for the dollar.

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  my #1 nissan & not my last 1 - 2006 Nissan Sentra
  By robertchance - September 25 - 3:20 pm

  I Drive at least 100 miles a day to and from work in city & highway travel I average 35 MPG never did ever get that mileage from my Pontiac grand-am .The Nissan sentra special edition has more standard features than the grand-am se has and a lower price also.There is no wind noise &very little road noise un like the Grand-am had .I rate this car very highly and can understand why you dont see many on the used car lots

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  Its a pretty good car - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By axxess1 - September 24 - 3:58 am

  I bought the car back in 2013 with 77k miles on it, now i have about 106k and had to do some maintenance on it.. ex brakes, engine mount, water pump.. but overall it a pretty good car, A/C is awesome and gas is pretty good !