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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  SHIFT_Certified Babe Magnet! - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By Dr. Jones - January 15 - 2:00 am

  The 350Z is a car that looks expensive, but is actually reasonably priced. Styling is top notch. Handling is superb, and the steering is responsive and crisp. Acceleration is also very responsive in any gear. The interior is very roomy, at least in my opinion, and the seats are very supportive and comfortable. The car is fun to drive and begs to be driven. The car may have a few bugs, and being the first year for the 350Z, its common in any car.

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  Love It! - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By DebP - January 15 - 2:00 am

  Although Ive only had the vehicle for one, week, I still thoroughly enjoy each time I get behind the wheel. I have three children, and there is plenty of room for their comfort as well. The Armada handles beautifully. Ive never owned a Nissan and now I am Nissan fan.

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  Sleeping winner - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By drajsc - January 15 - 2:00 am

  The engine is more powerful than I thought-test drove both the Sienna and the Quest beat hands down. The 2nd &3rd row fold into floor seats are easy to use --the interior space is bigger than I thought and surprisingly fit several big boxes of furniture(even the salesperson was shocked that they were all able to fit). Drove well on icy roads and barely slipped (compared with my old Chrysler T & C). Drove down to Florida with 4 kids and everyone was happy -- 2 screen DVD kept kids happy,centrally placed controls and gauges are so convenient and makes it easy to monitor speed and fuel tank.

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  Loving my Murano - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By PghDave71 - January 15 - 2:00 am

  Had a 97 Ford Explorer and loved having 4 wheel drive. Started researching out the SUVs, and found out my boss had just bought a Murano. 5 minutes in his told me I knew what vehicle I wanted. I went to the dealer, found the color I wanted and worked out the numbers. Drove it home 3 days later. Best purchase I have ever made.

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  georges truck - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By gseher - January 15 - 2:00 am

  Only new truck in 12 years that has not had a squeak or problem in the first month. The best truc I have ever owned.

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  Best Truck I have ever owned! - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By JohnnyS - January 15 - 2:00 am

  The power in this truck is great. It takes off like no truck I have ever driven. The fit and finish have been excellent. It handles very sporty for a big truck. It is very comfortable and the ride is very good. Utility bed and VDC are only available on this truck. It is a great towing truck for a 1/2 ton.

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  A Work of Art in Performance and Value - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By Heinz57 - January 15 - 2:00 am

  I bought my 350Z about 4 months ago. I dont drive it much because I use my Acura 3.0CL as my main car, but I must say that it is hard to go back to driving my Acura after having all the fun with my 350Z on the weekends. This car is so cool! Every line, every detail is hot in this car. The handling is awesome, the power is phenomenal, and the transmission is precise and powerful. Two thumbs up to Nissan for developing such a work of art.

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  HEAD TURNER - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By brewtown414 - January 15 - 2:00 am

  NISSAN HAS OUT DONE ITS SELF WITH THE ALL NEW REDESIGNED MAX. THE POWER OF THIS VEHICLE IS UNMATCHED BY ANY OTHER IN ITS CLASS,ALSO ITS NEW DESIGN GIVES YOU THAT EXPENSIVE EURO LOOK WITH AT AN MODEST COST. WITH ITS NEW COLOR (RADIANT AMBER) TURNS HEADS EVERYWHERE WE GO AND I LOVE IT.

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  2004 Nissan Maxiam - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By EsamD - January 15 - 2:00 am

  This is a well built, comfortable and fun to drive. The features on this model are significantly improved over previous years models.

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  Fun to Drive SUV - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By Mark - January 15 - 1:13 am

  I purchased my 2005 Xterra almost 2 months ago and Im loving every day in it. The Power is more than Ill ever need and the styling is much improved over the previous model. I really like the interior design and the front and rear seats are very comfortable. The dash is well organized and easy to access. The ride is more truck-like than car like-on the street, but its a trade-off Ill make for this beast. My fuel efficiency has been around 16 in the city so be prepared to pay for the thrill. The radio has ok reception but the CD player sounds great. The rear seats are very easy to remove for extra space.