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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  Xtremely Xcellent Dudes - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By unfiltered - December 19 - 10:00 am

  I love everything about my Xterra. From inside out it fits my lifestyle like a glove. Bodyglove that is! I test drove the Vue the Crv,Rav4,sorento as well as the escape and they were all ok, but dont take them camping unless its in a hotel parking lot. Thanks Nissan this is the first Vehicle I feel good about buying...MCP IN NC

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  A treat to own! - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By thequeen - December 19 - 10:00 am

  After test driving and researching several "crossover" SUVs, we bought the Murano. Both my husband and I enjoy the roomy interior and easy to reach controls. The engine feels as powerful as larger engines in more expensive SUVs. The adjustable drivers seat and pedals make it easy for both my tall husband and I to drive. The sunroof is a great feature not available on some other makes we tested. It is smooth and quiet on the road. An added bonus, my handicapped dad finds it easy to get in and out of. This vehicle is a pleasure to drive and own.

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  Nissan could give more for your money - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By Julia - December 19 - 10:00 am

  My experience has been ok. At 60,000 I was having several mechanical problems. I had to bring it in several times before they would bring attention to the real problem.

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  awesome - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By Evalee - December 19 - 10:00 am

  All I know is this car is so cool. It will make all of your friends jealous. I love this car!

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  stand out from the pack - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By altima fan - December 19 - 10:00 am

  I have had this car for 2 weeks now and I love it. I cant wait until it hits 1200 miles so I can really open it up. I have the black interior. If you scotchguard the seats and carpet you can avoid the lint problem. I noticed a bad seam on the door panel. The dealership has already ordered a replacement door and it will be replaced next week. The car is very roomy, great looking, and so fun to drive. I dont even get mad when I send in my 360 a month.

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  My Nissan Maxima - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By FDCROSS3853 - December 19 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive sporty sedan. Lots of bang for the buck. A large upgrade from pervious model years.

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  Drive it to belive it! - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Lalu Patel - December 19 - 10:00 am

  This is my third Nissan Maxima that I have owned and I have to tell you that the Maxima keeps getting better and better.

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  Great Car For A Great Price - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By KID TOKYO BRAND - December 19 - 8:30 am

  Right off the bat I noticed that The motor is very quiet and has great acceleration. The power you get with 33 MPG you cant really go wrong. The steering and handling has great response. All the controllers, knobs, switches, and whistles are very easy to use, they are easy to get to, and are easy to remember where they are located. Everything is great about this vehicle, even down to how solid the doors close.

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  1999 Nissan Maxima - 1999 Nissan Maxima
  By ..."Boomer"... - December 19 - 12:50 am

  This is my second Maxima. The first one was a 1992 that got T-boned by a full sized pick-up truck. I was impressed by the structural integrity and believe it saved my life. There was no hesitation on another Maxima as a replacement vehicle. The car is the right size with good interior room and comfort. The engine is deceptively quick when accelerating hard and I do think of the car as a Japanese BMW in terms of performance, comfort, and handling. I rated the fuel economy as a ten because I switched to Mobil synthetic oil and filter and highway mileage went from a true factory rated 29 miles per gallon to 31. In town mileage remains at 24 on average. Want to use synthetic transmission oil too.

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  Excellent small car- Miss it so much! - 2001 Nissan Sentra
  By kris - December 18 - 4:36 pm

  We bought our 01 Sentra as a young couple. Its design, size in its class and handling were the features that sold it. In 7 years of owning it, we have never worried about taking it for long trips. It holds its own on snowy and icy VT roads in winter with the right tires. Everything about this car was solid - the doors were heavy and tough as were the lid of the trunk and the hood. The mileage was a fuel sipping 35 mpg on the highway. It is a compact car and the room behind the driver can be a little less if the driver is tall, but that is true of all compact cars of 01. I have finally traded our Sentra in for a Quest as our family requirements have changed. This is a great Nissan product!