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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  So far, great car! - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By erichards - February 2 - 10:24 pm

  Bought my 07 Altima (loaded) used w/38k miles in Dec 11. Started off on the wrong foot - had to replace battery (dealer covered) and front brakes (dealer didnt cover) in the first 10 days. Brakes werent worn out, but had a pulsing feel under braking the tech wrote off as "slightly hazed rotors". I replaced them with high quality aftermarket rotors & pads, and they have been perfect in the 13k miles since. Since then, the car has been great, no other problems, just regular maint. I love the handling & power of this car, and the sound of the Bose system is the best Ive ever heard from a factory unit. The seats could be a little more supportive, but for a sedan theyre not too bad.

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  Im in Love!!!! - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By SheShopper - February 2 - 9:20 pm

  Just brought this baby home Monday and wish I had more places to drive its such a joy. Its classy with the silver exterior and tan interior. I did notice a little wind noise but Bose can overcome that nicely!

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  doing search i found it is the best - 2001 Nissan Altima
  By leo - February 2 - 10:00 am

  2.4 liter engine for average size body. good ride

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  doing search i found it is the best - 2001 Nissan Altima
  By Leo - February 2 - 10:00 am

  2.4 liter engine for average size body. good ride

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  2002 Maxima SE - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By Keithkoz - February 2 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car. Ive been a Toyota fan for years, but the Maxima advertising campaign coaxed me into trying something new. Engine performance is outstanding, going from 70mph to 90mph without hesitation nor strain, almost instantly. Solid construction is noticibly better than my 2000 Camry.

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  Best Car Ive Ever Owned - 2015 Nissan Altima
  By Cydney Ginter - February 2 - 8:57 am

  I am completely and utterly amazed by this car. Compared to my pervious car which was an suv, the altima is extremely comfortable and drives amazingly. It has an extremely quiet cabin, which Im not used to but I absolutely love. The power is phenomenal. My SUV didnt have any special features and with the altima, I have bluetooth, and push to start which is an added bonus. I have the limited edition therefore I also have the remote car start perfect for the winter! I have absolutely no complaints! I would highly recommend this car to anyone!

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  Really Fast - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By KillerZero - February 1 - 6:13 pm

  This car is the fastest car Ive driven so far and its great. Very fast acceleration and awesome brakes. Speeding with this car is a unforgettable experience.

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  Still love it after 1 year - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By James - February 1 - 4:03 pm

  I bought my Nismo Frontier just over a year ago. I still volunteer to drive friends places just to drive it and look over my shoulder after I park it just to see it again. Its been great in every way. My favorite vehicle Ive owned yet.

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  2001 Nissan Sentra - 2001 Nissan Sentra
  By robert lins - January 31 - 2:23 pm

  This is truly one of the best cars I have ever owned. My first two were American ( Chevy Impala and a Plymouth Duster, both pieces of JUNK).

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  This car saves lives! - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By Jen - January 30 - 6:43 pm

  I bought my 2007 Versa in April and on Memorial Day my kids and I were in a serious car accident with this car. The impact was so serious that it caused this brand new car to be deemed a total loss by the insurance company. Essentially, my kids and I walked away from the accident with nothing more than scrapes, bruises, an airbag burn here and there and a rotator cuff injury. As soon as I settle with the insurance company I am going out to buy yet another 2007 Versa because this car has proven its safety-worthiness to me and my family. Kudos to the engineers at Nissan for designing such a "green", affordable and SAFE automobile!