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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  LOVING IT MORE AND MORE EVERYDAY! - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By CARLOS - March 13 - 10:00 am

  WHEN I WAS 16 HAD A 2001 ALTIMA SE, GREAT CAR!!! I WANTED A V6 SO IN JAN. 2004 AFTER I TURNED 18 I BOUGHT A 2003 MAXIMA SE. W/TITANIUM ED. PKGE AND LTHR INT. 1 MONTH LATER AND WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE THAT NISSAN WAS GOING TO DO THIS...THE REDESIGNED 2005 ALTIMA 3.5SE IS LAUNCHED. I COULD NOT TRADE IN MY MAXIMA AFTER HAVING IT FOR ONLY 1 MONTH SO AFTER WAITING FOR OVER 8 MONTHS, LAST WEEK, I WENT AND TRADED IN BOTH MY 2001 ALTIMA AND 2003 MAXIMA FOR A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5SE. I DID NOT NEED A CO-SIGNER!!! I GOT THE SATIN WHITE WITH THE CHARCOAL LEATHER... EVERTHING EXCEPT NAVIGATION SYSTEM. MY MAXIMA WAS AUTOMATIC SO I DECIDED TO TRY A 5-SPEED MANUAL.

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  Safety First! - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Michael Richardson - March 12 - 8:30 pm

  I was not sure that I was going to actually make the purchase of my Murano. Yet while taking it for a test drive and to show it to my wife I was rear ended. Only a few scratches were on the bumper and one quarter sized dent on the tailgate. However the other driver was in a Isuzu Rodeo and had major damage done to the vehicle to the extent that it could not be driven. I still to the Murano and showed it to my wife with damage and all and explained what had happened. (My wife also drives a Isuzu Rodeo) Needless to say on returning to the dealership I picked out another Murano the just had come in that morning an immediately made the purchase thinking safety first.

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  Tough Rig! - 2002 Nissan Xterra
  By hobosix - March 12 - 2:31 pm

  We bought our 2002 Xterra SE (4x4) new in 2002. So far we have logged 150k on it and outside of normal maintenance, the only thing we have had to replace was a O2 sensor. This little rig has been an absolute joy to own/drive. To say it was "Over Built" is absolutely correct. Built with the same transmission used in European 3/4 ton trucks as well as the rigid frame under it makes it as tough as youll need. I will not hesitate to drive this vehicle on to the 200K mark. Well done Nissan.

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  Great car - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By Jason - March 11 - 4:53 am

  I have owned about 20 cars in the past 15 years and the 2005 Nissan Maxima is by far the best car I have ever had the pleasure to drive

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  Commuter - 2010 Nissan Altima
  By altimabb - March 11 - 12:56 am

  I have had my car since 6/24/11 and it had 100 miles on it at purchase. It now has aprox 23k due to the fact that Im a highway commuter of aprox 100 miles/day. I have found this car to be very comfortable & convenient for my long drive. I live in Missouri so, I experience all types of weather and I must say the car does great in the snow, ice, rain, cools & heats fast, etc. When we had a lot of snow and also when we had ice this past winter I went into a parking lot & attempted to just see what she could take. It handled very well & the traction control did an awesome job at correcting itself. The bumps can be a little rough sometimes but overall I love it.

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  Fantastic Car! - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By mac444 - March 10 - 8:50 am

  This is a luxury car disguised as a subcompact. It drives and has most all of the features of a car that costs $10,000 more than this car. Its a steal!

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  The Best Car I Have Ever Owned!!! - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Tiffany - March 10 - 4:03 am

  Originally looked at the 2.5 Altima but needed more "pick-up" with acceleration. The salesman suggested the 3.5. I drove it and loved it! There was no looking back at the 2.5...I love the look of the car, the comfort AND room inside; the reliability cannot be more satisfying. I felt for the price that I was paying, I was getting a lot of car and more. My friends and family are jealous. They all want one now.

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  Great car! - 1997 Nissan Maxima
  By Derek - March 10 - 2:00 am

  Car is very fun to drive and my first 5spd.

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  9 month review - 2003 Nissan Pathfinder
  By HoopUte - March 10 - 2:00 am

  240 hp engine is very nice. Maybe a little small on rear storage space. A trip with 4 for a week would probably require a roof rack to hold everything. 4WD basic system serves my needs well. Did very well on winter roads in Colorado & Wyoming. City mileage about 16mpg but have gotten up to 24 mpg on highway. After 9 months Im extremely happy with this car.

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  Hard to Walkaway after Test Driving it. - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By Phil B - March 10 - 2:00 am

  All we wanted to do on New Years Eve was see the Murano up close and see what it had to offer. The dealer drove one out from the back lot, Pewter with a loud "orange" interior. It looked like a concept car put into production. We looked at the Saturn Vue the day before, granted different price ranges, but the Murano was tough to walk away from. Drove it home that night!