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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  The beautifully fickle beast - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Matt - September 6 - 5:30 am

  I bought the car brand new in 4/04 as an 05 model after reading reviews about how much fun it was to drive. They had just refreshed the interior and exterior and added 10 more hp for the v6. Over the 2.5 years I owned it, I had 3 sets of struts replaced, 2 radiators, 1 alternator, and always had the dealership chasing rattles and squeaks. When it wasnt in the shop I loved it, always got compliments and it was a blast to drive. In 09/06 I rolled it on the highway dodging some debris in the road. It slammed into an embankment and rolled twice. The passenger compartment held up very well and my friend and I walked away, but the car was totalled. If nothing else the car is safe.

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  Great Little Car - 2005 Nissan Sentra
  By Dave Thomas - September 5 - 6:46 am

  Im an Insurance appraiser, covering East Texas, Waco and Houston areas, so I run a lot of miles. For my purposes, my Special Edition Sentra fits the bill very well. Im 61", it could use a tad more leg room. Fuel economy has been in the 31 to 33 mpg range. At 51,450 miles, Im still on the original rubber. I only hope this little car will see 300,000 miles.

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  It has been through it all - 1999 Nissan Maxima
  By dt22191 - September 5 - 2:26 am

  Okay so I purchased this car when I got a job as a client manager. This required me to drive the vehicle roughly 200-300 miles per day. That lasted for one year. I was expecting with a vehicle this old, to have to put some money back into it in the form of repairs...but with just over 200k miles (25,000 of which is mine) the only problem I have had to repair was a broken starter. It has an oil leak but nothing that is not impossible to live with. I love this car and it has been incredibly reliable.

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  Uber-econobox - 1996 Nissan Sentra
  By Nissan believer - September 4 - 7:23 am

  Bought it new and have used it in many roles including commuter, truck and family transport. Have driven it hard with very little problems (clutch, alternator, O2 sensor) and now have 200,000 miles on it. Has plenty of zip with a 5-speed and still gets 40 miles per gallon on the highway. Ive tried to get rid of it before but just cant part with it as it continues to provide outstanding service.

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  High Price, all-electric - 2012 Nissan Leaf
  By east_coast - September 3 - 3:14 pm

  I bought a Nissan Leaf SL and this review tells the pros and cons. The dealer, KoonÂ’s Nissan in Virginia, would not disclose the costs. Here they are: Standard MSRP = $38,100. Processing fee = $499. Tax = $1,157.97. Filing Fee $10. Business License tax = $72.40. Plates = $105.50. Total Price = $39,944.88, not including floor mats. Honestly, you have to pay an extra $175 for floor mats. The Federal E.Car subsidy of up to $7,500 will come in April (tax return) if you buy or is taken off immediately if you lease. I regret waiting 16 months to pay way too much for all-electric. It seems worth about $20-22k. Other than the price, Nissan proprietary GPS, and no floor mats, it is fun to drive.

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  READ ME BEFORE YOU BUY THIS CAR!! - 2015 Nissan Leaf
  By Lora Williams - September 2 - 11:52 pm

  It depreciates QUICKER than any other vehicle, so dont buy it if you plan on selling it. However, the return on investment doesnt take into consideration the money you get from a state rebate, plus the money you save in not paying for gas or oil, or repairs associated with gas and oil. Dont be fooled by the federal tax credit. It is a credit, NOT a rebate OR refund. You cant roll it forward or backwards in tax years. You must actually owe that amount or more in taxes to get the full credit. The salesman will try to tell you that makes the car cheaper ( state tax rebate plus federal tax credit equals $10,000 off cost of car) NO IT DOESNT! You have to pay for the full amount of the car up front and interest accrues on the full amount. So if you go and try to lower your tax liability in the NEXT tax year, by buying this car for the federal tax credit, you are kind of actually paying for the tax ahead of time in the form of an interest accruing loan on a rapidly depreciating car to MAYBE get UP TO $7,500 off of your tax liability in the next tax year. My car cost $32,000 and 18.3 months later the private party resale value in really good condition with only 15,000 miles on it is only valued at $13,436 and I only got $2,500 for the tax credit, plus you get a 1099 from the state for the $2,500 rebate you got naturally adding to your income changing how much refund you qualify for. On the good side, my electricity bill only went up $10/month while my fuel cost of $1,972 / year (oil changes and repairs not included) went away completely! ;) ON THE VERY BAD SIDE. .. the fast charging stations are very limited so if I wanted to go to Frisco or Plano from Denton starting with a full charge (118-123 miles on my gauge-a 64 mile round trip to REI or whole foods-should easily make it) If I didnt stop to charge at 380 Walgreens on the way up, I would be white knuckling it on the way back because the only way there is freeway or 55+ speed... no 35-45mph roads so dashboard reports mileage lost 2-3 miles for every 1 mile driven :( The sweet spot for this car is 37 mph. I can drive for free (no miles lost even though Ive driven 10-20 actual miles! Sometimes Ill go that distance and sometimes I actually GAIN miles! !! Lol totally cool!

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  Worth the money - 1995 Nissan Pathfinder
  By camper4lyfe - September 2 - 10:00 am

  Great all-round vehicle. I can drive it to work every day, then head out camping on the weekends without a problem. Installed a set of AT tires, and I feel nothing can stop me. Love the 5spd tranny. Bought mine with 76,000 miles 2.5 years ago, am up to 115,000 with only normal wear and tear (brakes, tires, and oil changes)

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  Absolutely Great Car for the money - 2012 Nissan Versa
  By Choo Choo Kornitzer - September 1 - 4:31 pm

  We bought new for our son who decided to go to HS a 45 minute drive away. Price and safety features were the reasons for our choice. He put 60K miles on it in 2.5 years. We bought 1 new set of tires and changed the oil. The car was perfect every day and never a minutes trouble and thats with a teenager driving it.

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  First review - 2001 Nissan Maxima
  By Ed - August 31 - 3:10 pm

  Good car, poor dealerships. Ride is too firm for passengers but road handling is excellent. Fuel economy is very good, city and highway, even with regular gas. Every accessory still works.

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  first car - 2001 Nissan Altima
  By fidel - August 31 - 2:20 pm

  this car is a good first car. i have not had any problems with this car since i bought it. very good performance.