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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  Careys 2 cents - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By CareyD - May 29 - 2:00 am

  A fun to drive head turner

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  Silver but not gold! - 2004 Nissan Frontier
  By GaryXE - May 29 - 1:24 am

  In general a great little truck. With regular maintenance it has held up well. The only complaint I have is gas mileage!

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  Six years and going strong - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By mike v - May 28 - 7:36 pm

  I have been a Nissan fan for many years. My 03 Maxima is my fifth Nissan. I have a 92 max with 175,000 mi on it that I use as my daily driver. I have the titanium ed with gray leather.The car has 37,000 mi on it, and is garage kept. The car is not perfect but overall I like it very much. Although this car dates back to the 2000 model year, I still get compliments all the time. There are some things that do bother me and should be considered. The rear suspension is of the solid beam scissor link variety. This is old school tech and Nissan should be ashamed. To be fair the set up works reasonably well but cant compare with the multi link suspensions that most cars have today.

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  My 2005 Pearl-Xima - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By vkmaxima - May 28 - 1:04 pm

  Well my last review was in November 2010, and I must say my car is doing great. Even though it is 6 years old, I still get plenty of compliments. The ride quality, performance, and basic usability in this car has been awesome. I get about 24.7 MPG, on premium fuel, in mixed driving. City is about 19-23 MPG, and 30-33 MPG on the highway. As for the transmission, now that Ive realized, I should have checked the transmission oil often than rely on the manufactures recommendation. Its been over a year since the rebuilt, and she is still shifting smoothly. I do the oil change myself, and ONLY use Nissans K-Matic Oil. Do it yourself, its MUCH cheaper than having the dealer do it for you.

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  great! - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By kelsey889 - May 28 - 10:00 am

  i love this car.

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  Great Car!!! - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By lh90 - May 28 - 10:00 am

  I absolutetly love this car. I bought this car about 12 days ago after test driving the VW Jetta. This car has way more passing power and handles curves great. All of the controls are easily laid out. I got the moonroof and spoiler and the side moldings on this model really gives it a sporty look. I thought about getting the Rockford Fosgate option but the standard 180 watt CD system has a lot of booming base in its own right. An overall excellent car for under 20K!

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  Great Value and Great Ride - 2001 Nissan Pathfinder
  By kais48 - May 28 - 10:00 am

  Ive still yet to see a 4WD vehicle that surpasses my 2001 LE. The ride is incredibly smooth and carlike, with impressive acceleration. The interior is extremely comfortable and convenient, although the rear seat room is too limited. Gas mileage is rather poor, but what can you expect from an SUV? I have had many people express how impressed they are with my Pathfinder both from a value and luxury standpoint, and I agree - Nissan has made an exceptional vehicle that belongs in the "luxury" category.

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  A lot of car for the money... - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By perdajz - May 28 - 10:00 am

  Just purchased a 2002 SE. I did some homework and simply could not elsewhere find this much car for the money.

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  A good reliable runner - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By archie85375 - May 28 - 10:00 am

  Great performance. Outboard visibility is excellent. Reliability is the best. My third Maxima. Toyed with the Infiniti G35. 5G more and it doesnt yet have a track record.

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  Shivers Down My Backbone - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By ny2la - May 28 - 10:00 am

  I have owned this car for six months and I still have goosebumps nearly every time I drive it. In fact, I often find myself taking longer routes to and from destinations just to spend more time driving this car. Simply stated the 2002 SE Maxima was designed and built, as the manufacturers ads say, to be "Driven."