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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  Looks great but some problems - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By speedy52 - June 2 - 5:21 pm

  Had a 2010 altima that avg 31 mpg. Purchased new 2013 altima avg 33 mpg. Passenger seat vibrates when empty, also seatbelt hitting against seat. Brought in for sevice dealer said seatbelt causing noise and there is no fix yet. Driving home from service the red brake light goes on. Too busy to bring in light has come on two times since. Wish I waited until 2014 altima model to come out. Have 8k on car now but wondering about nissan built quality.

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  Approaching 210,000 miles! - 2000 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Jeff - June 2 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car new in 2000 and have had it ever since. I came close to trading it in several times...Thank God I didnt. Till this day, it runs great, sounds great and looks great. Very minimal scratches, mostly because I dont mind hiking it across the parking lot to get to the store. Other then your basic wear & tear and routine maintenance, Ive had zero problems. Without question, the best vehicle Ive ever owned. The most expensive service I had was an oil leak from a seal that needed to be replaced between the engine and transmission (not sure what its called). That bill came in around $550 mostly because of the labor. Ill keep this car till it dies, its a keeper!

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  The Need for More Room - 2007 Nissan Quest
  By CarNut - June 2 - 10:00 am

  I cant believe we just purchased a minivan. That was our thought over a year ago once we found out the twins were on their way. With a total of 3 kids, a large dog, and places to be we needed a larger vehicle. We looked at SUVs, crossovers, and we kept coming back to the minivan. For the cost and versatility, it won us over. The Nissan does everything well. Great power off the line, good gas mileage for hauling all of us avg about 20. On highway trips avg 25-26 mpg. The DVD screen is a hit with our 3 yr old and the wife and I love the rear power door. You get a lot for your money on the "S" version versus other makes and models. We picked up a used one for a great deal.

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  SUV on a grand scale - 2010 Nissan Armada
  By KS - June 2 - 10:00 am

  I had my Armada for almost 11 month and it has been exactly what I expected it to be. Its comfortable, safe, powerful and very reliable. Given its massive size it rides well and has a predictable steering response making it easier to maneuver. Brakes feel strong and do a good job stopping without fading. What really won me over this SUV compared to others is Nissans 5.6 L engine that is highly refined and in my opinion the best in its class. In fact Japan issued unofficial warranty on this power plant up to 250,000 miles and name designation of "Endurance V8".

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  Great blend of style and substance - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By Steve R. - June 2 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car! Used to drive Honda Civic Si but needed room for three car seats in back. 4 cylinder has plenty of power (though the 6 is amazing as well as my brother-in-law has an SE), good fuel economy but does drop in town a bit. Comfortable on the road but can handle the curves when you want to. Some of you people are incredible nitpickers. Sure there are a few minor things (power seat a little strange, CVT takes getting used to) but what car doesnt have this? If you are a car performance nut who is on a budget with kids look no further. Would buy another if our van goes to hell.

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  Excellent Value - 2007 Nissan Maxima
  By dethbest - June 1 - 6:00 pm

  I have put about 18,000 miles on this car. I have had more fun driving this car than any I have ever owned. Much more fun to drive than the Honda Accord EX-V6 that I owned previously. Tremendous acceleration - with awesome power and responsiveness. I always feel like I have plenty of power and can pass on the highway with ease. Very comfortable and loads of extras for the money. This car is as good if not better than the BMW 5 series at 1/3 less cost. CVT is excellent - smooth as ice.

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  Great SUV! - 1999 Nissan Pathfinder
  By hatchergirl86 - June 1 - 1:23 pm

  Love, love, love this vehicle! Great little SUV! Have owned it for about a year now and never had any real problems. The passenger window has never been able to roll down (power windows) and the switch for the cruise control broke, other than that, no engine problems at all! It is a little small for a family. Only fits 4 people comfortable, 5 is too tight. Four- wheeling is a blast! Overall I recommend this vehicle to anyone who wants a fun little car with a small family.

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  Very happy first time Nissan owner - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By Marillion fan - June 1 - 10:40 am

  I have had this car for about 3 weeks now and am extremely happy with my decision to get it. The 09 is so much better looking than the 07s I looked at. The interior in particular is superb in the leather and aluminum trim. I prefer the SL trim to the wood of the LE. On 2 long drives (500 mile round trips) I have gotten close to 26 MPG which I think is good for a care of this size and engine capacity. I plan on keeping this one for a long time.

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  Beautiful Ride and comfort - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Tony - May 31 - 11:46 pm

  I have had car 2 days and all I can say is Heaven. The ride is so smooth and the seats are so comfortable. Great feel and fun to drive. No road noise and Bose system is excellent. I enjoy the dash layout and sunroof. Fold down seats by handle in cargo is easy access. Intellikey was great idea. Will comment in future after owning it for a little while. Highly recommend! Got fantastic deal before 2006 comes out with little changes expected. I leased SL AWD with Touring pkg.

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  So far so Good - 2010 Nissan Rogue
  By ALSAVILLNY - May 31 - 11:46 pm

  After researching and comparing the Rogue with the CR-V and CX7, I finally decided to go for the Rogue. I bought it as a gift for my daughter. I am happy with my purchase. It is fun to drive and did not notice the engine drone I have been reading about. I got the SL in wicked black on black interior and Im sure she will love it. Bose 6 disc in-dash changer and bluetooth is cool. And Nissans financing option tops it all. Quality of interior materials is very good. I gave it mostly a 9 to maker room for improvements. As far as reliability, I have to re-assess in a year or two. Otherwise, it is a fun small-midsized SUV that drives like a car.