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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  Switched from Titan LE Truck to Pathfinder Platinum - 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
  By chaseco321 - December 23 - 5:10 pm

  Absolutely Love this vehicle. Bought 3 weeks ago, I average 25K miles a year, and so far it is wonderful with no problems. Does not have the power of my previous Titan V8, but for a V6 with a CVT Transmission, it does great for my needs. Researched Ford Explorer Limited and Pathfinder, mulled over all the blogs, comments and bottom line for me, the Price for the vehicle & all the Premium Platinum features verses the Ford Explorer Limited, along with the "trade Value" three years from now, Nissan won this buyer over again. Especially love the remote start and heated/cooled seats. So Far So Good!! 360 camera view also a neat feature!!

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  altima is crap - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By nissan_is_crap - December 23 - 11:55 am

  3-month new, two cracks at different location. No paint damage nor dent, body just got cracks from nowhere! cheap cheap plastic!

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  Dodge Ram no match for the Titan - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By Rob Word - December 22 - 9:40 pm

  I recently purchased a new 2005 Nissan Titan King Cab, and I truly love it. After ditching my 2003 Dodge Ram Quad Cab, the Titan is a breath of fresh air compared to the bucket of bolts of the 4.7 V8 of the Ram. The power of the truck is amazing and the gas mileage is already better than the Ram, althought it is nothing to get excited about. Averaging 15-17 so far. Comfort is nice, but the controls are a little weird to get used to. I love the way the back doors open out to 180 degrees. The tailgate feature is a real plus also, taking only one hand to open and shut it. It rides like a cloud on the highway and has NO problem when it is time to make a pass. Nissan quality is all I ask.

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  new engine - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By 87000 - December 22 - 6:06 pm

  my car is not over 100,000 miles and already had to get a new engine and other expensive parts

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  Nissan did their homework. - 2008 Nissan Titan
  By Drew Hensarling - December 22 - 1:06 am

  Ive looked at the Titans for a long time and was excited about the remodel for 2008. I took advantage of the rebate offered and am pleased with the price paid. Nissan really did a good job designing this truck and the interior room is outstanding. The only options that I got on the SE were floor mats and a bedliner. Thats really all I need because there are already lots of features that come standard. The ride is stiff but comfortable and Ive been surprised at the quietness of the ride so far. All in all, Im very pleased and am glad I chose this over the F-150 and Silverado.

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  So far so good - 2007 Nissan Frontier
  By Juanito - December 22 - 12:16 am

  This is a very fun truck to own. It replaced a stolen F-150 which I liked very much, but this is actually more truck for the money. Gas mileage is what youd expect from a 261 hp V6 and the ride is good. I love the 6M transmission and it shifts like a car. I finally got a chance to fully use the 4wd low in Escalante National Monument in Utah and I can say this truck certainly has the ability to craw up steep slopes. Overall, I have been very pleased with the truck. My only complaint has been a consistent rattle on the drivers side rear door that I will have looked at under warranty. At 3500 miles, I can fully endorse this truck.

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  The rounded cube! - 2009 Nissan Cube
  By Cube lover - December 21 - 9:30 pm

  I purchased the car two weeks ago. While having initial doubts, I have to admit that I love this car. I have a combined city/HWY of 30.5 MPG. This is much better than I expected and what it is rated for. It is very comfortable and I like the bluetooth. It drives smoothly below the 70 miles. If you expect to drive at a higher speed, this is not for you.

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  Excellent Car - 2001 Nissan Pathfinder
  By lcplorbinati - December 21 - 5:34 pm

  I have had this vehicle for 5 years and since over 102,000 and after owning this one I would buy a Nissan again. No problems up to about 136k but I take responsibility for the major problems that could of been prevented with good preventative maintenance. The car has 141,800+ miles and has been through CA and driven from CA to NM and to few destinations in NM. I trust this vehicle to roll with me anywhere and I will even drive my family around in it. It also survived several big accidents with minimal cost and big damage. One big problem is the stock cd changer, no problem swapping out for aftermarket radio

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  Altima Coupe, a good choice - 2010 Nissan Altima
  By Dukester1a - December 21 - 3:43 pm

  The ride is very quiet and comfortable but Im still getting used to the CVT transmission. I previously owned a 4 cyl. Honda Accord (manual transmission) which had more low end power. Vision is somewhat compromised by the coupes design. Mirror adjustment is thus important.

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  Love this roomy little car, but... - 2008 Nissan Versa
  By Jim Beeman - December 21 - 9:37 am

  Great interior room. Amazing leg room. Incredible trunk capacity. But, had to replace CD player twice and the second replacement has gone out. Really annoying that the tire pressure sensing valves have a battery that dies and then the entire $200 sensor must be replaced times four!! As a result we just ignore the bright yellow tire pressure warning light on the dash. Have loved this car for over 8 years. Bought another one!