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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  A value leader - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By Little John - March 30 - 2:00 am

  This is a car that can run with an RSX at Civic dx prices. Build quality is very good. Styling is understated (read not all riced out) compared to its class. The power/weight ratio, suspension upgrades, and good seats make driving something to look foreward to. Steering is precise with good feedback, brakes are more fade resistant than most and easy to modulate at the limit. I appreciate the limited slip diff., especially with all that torque. From a performance standpoint it is among the better sport compacts, but it lacks the refined and intuitive driving feel of some Mazda and Honda products, but then it costs a lot less.

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  Great buy. - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By birmingham - March 30 - 2:00 am

  Previously owned several Toyota 4runners so the Tundra was the obvious choice when looking for a truck. Glad I waited. Maybe if I would have waited a little longer I would not have had to pay msrp! This truck is bigger, has more power and very close money wise. It is a dream to drive. All the power you could ever want with a very tight feel although it is a big heavy truck.

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  Agree with "Awesome Car" review - 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By chasator - March 29 - 9:53 am

  Bought this car after looking at the 09 Accord EX-L. The Altima is more sporty, quiet, and more fun to drive. Not to mention the excellent gas mileage. With the current Nissan rebate of $3250 and tax incentive, the price is hard to beat. You will not be disappointed in this car.

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  Excellent - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Zina - March 28 - 11:40 pm

  This car is as good as it looks. There is more space inside than you can imagine and is very comfortable. It gives you a sense of comfort when you drive. I love the navigation system. But make sure you dont get the black one because it gets dirty very quickly. Fuel consumption is very good. I have no complaints about the car. But the dealerships should have more options available. Some of the options, I truly did not need but had to get it because it came with the other options I needed. Enjoy your car and love it!!!

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  Great car - 2006 Nissan Sentra
  By George J - March 28 - 1:40 pm

  Well since this is the second Nissan Sentra I have owned. I was not surprised by the car. The thing about the 2006 model is how quiet it is compared to the 1994 model. The doors and the whole car feels a lot stronger. The only thing I can see is they need to move the center console back 2" so the cup holders can hold a big cup without hitting the radio. With Edmunds I was able to get the best deal. Dealer was only going down to $15,500 but after telling them about Edmunds and the price I should be getting I got down to $14,790 with all the options. So now I have a 2006 Sentra Special Edition.

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  Max Rocks - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By madaboutmax - March 28 - 10:00 am

  I test drove Passats, Accords, Camreys, Legacys and domestic sedans before choosing the Maxima. The combination of power, built quality, design, resale, and reliability was just not matched by any of the others. Its simply the best car Ive ever owned and the best car Ive ever ridden in thats affordable.

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  Family sedan/ Sports car - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By Jet - March 28 - 10:00 am

  I am very happy with my Maxima. This car had really high ratings in consumer reports and has a very smooth ride. Exceptionally quiet on the high-way. I know several people that have owned maximas and not one is unhappy.

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  WORTH IT - BUY IT - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By K&B - March 28 - 10:00 am

  We looked at several full size cars, such as the Chevy Impala. While they were priced under the Maxima they did not come close to the craftmanship, design and performance of the Maxima. The car handles very well. It has a smooth ride and yet it drives like a performance car. The 3.5L engine can really accelerate the car well. It is pure fun to drive.

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  Best bang for the buck - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By MaximaJohn - March 28 - 10:00 am

  I went to town to buy either an Accord or Camry, but ended up coming home with a Nissan Maxima SE. Ive had a 97 & 99 Accord, so I know theyre good cars. I took a 02 Camry SE for a 10 mile test drive and liked the ride, but wanted to try the Maxima too. Its a great car, lots of power, and very comfortable. The things I dont like are the taillight design and not having the steering wheel controls (cruise, stereo, etc) illuminated at night. I really like the intense headlights and the stereo system. The moonroof and rear spoiler are nice too. For all I got on the Maxima SE, I would have only gotten a 4-cylinder Honda or Toyota.

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  Travelin in Comfort - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By T Rahm - March 27 - 12:10 pm

  This Murano is my first Nissan. Ive had many SUVs in the past dozen or so years. This crossover was the answer to my needs. The Murano has been a very comfortable and enjoyable vehicle. I recently moved from Idaho to Washington and it pulled a 3,000 lb load trailer like a dream. It easily made it through the mountain climbs and averaged about 15 MPG with the heavy load. On another trip with no trailer, it averaged about 24 MPG. Im very pleased with the performance and ride. It is surprisingly quick when punched and handles well. I especially like all the bells and whistles it comes with. The voice commands and bluetooth work very well. Overall - Im very pleased with this Murano.