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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  Consider the Maxima - 2007 Nissan Maxima
  By maross - December 8 - 10:20 pm

  I was getting sick and tired of the cost of upkeep so I traded an Audi A8 for my new SL. First let me say the Maxima doesnt come close to the overall ride quality of an A8, however for 1/3rd of the price the Maxima drives very well, is tight, quiet, and has every feature and more of an A8. If you forget about "image" and think about a good, solid, dependable, feature loaded car, at a reasonable price, you have to look at the Maxima. I have only had the car 3 days but I have already taken it on a 300 mile road trip and am very pleased. I am counting on it being dependable and inexpensive to maintain, not like the A8 but my Pathfinder that I bought new in 1990 and now has 175K miles

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  Ill never go back to driving a car !!! - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By mo - December 8 - 6:56 pm

  This is the first truck Ive even ownwed or driven.I just love it. It is wonderful! I dont have to clear out the driveway fill with snow any longer I just drive right over it and the ride is wonderful. I even got my 94 year old Mom into the front seat and she had a ball!!!The seats pick up in the back and our Lab can jump right in and take a spin with us....And Home Depot here I come! No long will I have to make five trips with the car for house items everything just fits in the cab just right.and so easy to clean out. Plus I found out that no one cuts me off on the road any longer or for that matter gives me a hard time at all in the truck Take this truck for a test drive and see!!

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  my 1st car ever bought, out of 4 today! - 1996 Nissan Sentra
  By daddy-danny - December 7 - 7:36 pm

  Despite the fact that it was and still is a dull car, it was a ride or die! I bought this car for 1700 dollars, with 180,000 miles on it. It saved so much gas, and rode like a boss. I went to the bay area 3 times, and what not. But now that it has 230,000 miles, this car has faced a bit of problems. The catalytic converter is messed up, so it wont pass smog. But overall, this car has proved itself. I never had a tran problem, nor engine problem. It still turns on without hesitation, and still rides hard. I will always love the car for the memories I put in it, and the reliability.

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  A Solid, Reliable Workhorse - 1998 Nissan Frontier
  By Buster - December 7 - 7:23 pm

  I bought this truck new. It now has 112,00 miles on it. The clutch, rear brakes, exhaust system and radiator hoses are all original, and based on the local dealer service department, are not in need of replacement. I have the 4cyl engine with 5 speed manual and get a consistent 25mpg; best mileage was 28mpg. This truck has never let me down, and with regular recommended service intervals, will probably outlast me!

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  Not bad - at all - 2004 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Jan - December 7 - 5:46 pm

  Third Nissan in this household (Stanza, Maxima, and now Pathfinder. Got a good deal at end of year (October), so easy choice. It is a high profile vehicle (like any SUV), so does not like sidewind much. Does however like its gas.

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  Fun economy car - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By chris - December 7 - 9:03 am

  Ive had my altima for a few months now. Its comfortable and powerful. Averaging 28 mpg (30% city/70% highway) which is what I expected. The transmission is excellent though it takes a bit getting used to. The seats are comfortable and I can fit my 3 kids in the back (3 car seats). I compared it to other similar models and found it was more fun to drive than your camry, accord, fusion, sonata, etc. Between that, the looks, fuel economy and price, I found it was the perfect combination for my tastes.

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  Factory warranty wont save you leg work - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By Texas Driver - December 7 - 3:20 am

  Bought brand new b/c previous vehicle was at the shop twice. Didnt realize this vehicle will have me living at the dlrshp waisting the time I dont have. Bought in April/07 and June/07 was the start of my problems. I took it to the shop for the tire pressure light, brakes were also making a funny noise. Dlr would reset the light sensor and the problem would appear weeks later The break problem was never fixed. After repeated attempts to have both problems fixed only ended up frustrated, with a feeling of hopelessness after hitting "wall, wall, wall" with their customer service department. The last time I took their shuttle back home and noticed shuttles tire pressure light was also on.

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  Best Compact on the market - 2003 Nissan Frontier
  By Johnnyboy07 - December 7 - 2:00 am

  I looked at all the compacts and even some full size trucks before buying my Frontier. Overall, the Frontier is the most practical for towing, hauling, and carrying passengers while still being able to fit in a parking space and not have to stop every 100 miles for gas. The long bed option is a must.

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  overpriced garbage - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By jrb1978 - December 7 - 2:00 am

  i bought my vehicle new. 18 months later, my paint has that "orange peel" look, rockford-fosgate radio doesnt work, and on one occasion the car suffered total electrical failure at 60 mph and left me stranded on the side of the road. the upholstery on driver and passenger seats have worn terribly. this car is a far cry from my 1985 300zx, quality-wise. according to nissan, nothing is wrong with my car. local dealership refuses to do any warranty work. worst car ive ever owned.

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  Already Traded It In - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By townhome - December 7 - 2:00 am

  This was my fourth Maxima, and it was not what I expected. Its probably my fault for buying the SE model, but the car rode really, really rough and was way too loud. The interior seemed cheap, but it was roomy. I traded it in on a used BMW 523i after only a few months and I havent looked back.