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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  New Car Owner - 2006 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Frances - September 28 - 10:20 pm

  Ive just had my new Pathfinder for about a month now. It rides great and plenty of storage room. It does well on long road trips.

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  At this Price Point -Its an indisputable Winner - 2015 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Siva Yel - September 28 - 8:45 pm

  Pros: AWD, Leather Seats, Seat Heating in 2nd Row, Spacious 3rd Row, Best in Class design (Super Innovation) for access to 3rd Row, Excellent interiors, Fabulous sensors for Traction, Knob shifts between AWD and 2WD, Traction Locks for SNOW stuck, Intelligent use of Cargo bins, 12 V power, One touch Lift gate, BlindSpot, Rear Traffic, Parking Sensors, Sporty Design with steel bumpers and chrome plates, 5000lb Towing capacity, 27-29 Highway MPG (City 18+ MPG) , Great dealership support, Excellent Cargo space if you fold away all seats, Fog Lights, Innovative Cruise Control Button set up ( Set, On , Off) LOWEST PRICE POINT in comparison to Highlander, Pilot Cons: No AUX port (How could they ?), BlueTooth Audio is not standard (though telephone is) even in SL version, Entertainment buttons (basic switches to change radio channels- they jump in multiples of 5.. so you have to use the knob). The panel switches if you are not buying the 2.5K Tech package are ancient and unacceptable when you are spending 35k+ on a car.

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  Best SUV in its class - 2007 Nissan Armada
  By Donony - September 28 - 6:16 pm

  The Armada is exceptional to say the least. I compared it to the Yukon Denali. After driving both, it was a "no-brainer". The Armada wins! I love the style, the engine is very quiet and the Bose sound system is a plus as well. If youre looking for an SUV with a lot of "bang for not a lot of money" then this is a great buy.

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  Great Car!! - 2009 Nissan Maxima
  By harry_0724 - September 28 - 1:56 pm

  Traded in a 2007 Altima 3.5SE. Maxima is great...aggressive styling, good power, lots of great features with the Navigation/Music Box. Plus, I have the Sport Package and it handles nicely.

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  love my new car - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By pamandralphbartow - September 28 - 10:33 am

  We just bought this use car and I have fallen in love with it! It has so much get up and go. It is sharp looking. I drive a lot for work and am so glad I bought this car!

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  Be careful - 2007 Nissan Quest
  By Anil Tumbapura - September 28 - 10:26 am

  Very nice outlook. Looks classy, drives good but not at all reliable. Electronics inside the car trouble you frequently. We have been to dealership once every three months with problems. They cant call it a lemon but cant figure out the problems either. Nissan extended our warranty which did not help. High end vehicle such as Quest should be more reliable. If you are planning to get 100K out of this, be prepared to have 2nd or 3rd car handy. Tires wear out quickly (unusual category of Goodyear tire). Gearshaft gets locked (I could not move it from Park to Drive. It got stuck at passenger pick up area in the airport, fun!). None of my impressions are exaggerated.

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  Perfection in a car! - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Perfection - September 28 - 9:20 am

  This car is so perfect. Its beautiful, fast and not everyone drives one! The only thing I was unhappy about is no spoiler and no vent visors. The coupe is amazing and everything I could ask for in a car. The system is great too!

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  go ahead pay twice as much for a label - 2014 Nissan Rogue
  By jaceak - September 27 - 8:27 pm

  this vehicle has a luxury vibe, even without leather seats. great interior, with pano roof. very smooth operator overall. gas mileage is never what they advertise, except on my altima, which is at least 32 overall. bottom line, technology and manufacturing methods have trickled down to the point where lower priced cars are just as good. had 11 lexus cars and this rogue rides as good as any of them...enjoy!

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  Love My Murano. - 2010 Nissan Murano
  By John Parker - September 27 - 2:56 pm

  Love my Murano so far. Only bought it 2 weeks ago. Love the smooth acceleration. I live in Texas hill country and the Murano glides over the hills. Love the quiet & smooth ride and the comfortable leather seats. First tank of fuel was 20.5, which is not the greatest, but I didnt expect much more. So far am using mid-grade gas, although premium is recommended. I had a 2003 Infiniti G-35 a few years ago and regular fuel worked in it OK, & basically its the same engine. I traded in two Hondas (CR-V & Civic Hybrid) for the 1 Murano. This of course, head & shoulders above either of those vehicles.

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  A few Improvements I would make - 2007 Nissan Murano
  By heidismom - September 27 - 1:16 pm

  I have had my Murano almost 3 years now. I have loved this car. CVT I love, I drive my car in town for a living and I average almost 21 mpg. Seats are comfortable. I find the maintenance display troubling regarding the low tire pressure. I am suddenly having drivetrain issues that the dealer cant seem to fix, and the brakes are the most squeaky brakes I have ever had. The paint seems to chip and scratch very easily.