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 BEST Full Size SUV - 2008 Nissan Armada
  By SacMada - September 27 - 1:06 pm

  Researched full size SUVs for 2 yrs and the hands down winner is the Armada. Great engine power & drivetrain that is silky smooth. Plenty of towing power with 317hp & AWD function. Very nice cabin touches with up to date technology & styling. The ride is stable and feels safe to haul family & friends. This SUV just looks so right coming down the road. Armada - Just what a full size SUV should be!

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  Gas Mileage - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By NissanDriver - September 27 - 6:53 am

  This is a great SUV. Unlike some of its counterparts, you can this truck loaded out, i.e. heated front seats and mirrors, memory seats, in-dash 6 disc changer, etc. The only problem I have with it so far is the gas mileage..it does not get 15/18. Its more like an average of 10 to 12 miles per gallon!

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  The Winner - 2008 Nissan Titan
  By W. Smith - September 26 - 5:26 pm

  I have driven my 08 Titan 2500 miles so far and this is a great truck. I test drove the chev, ford, and toyota and the Titan won by a landslide. Better comfort and interior than the new Tundra, better performance, comfort and fit and finish than the F-150 and the Chevy. I am getting 15.9 MPG city driving, 17.1 hwy. In addition it has a smaller exterior and a roomier interior than all the competition, very well thought through.

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  A Rolling Money Pit - 2006 Nissan Xterra
  By jskirwin - September 26 - 9:15 am

  Theres a very good reason why this truck has been rated as one of the worst used cars to buy. We bought our 2006 new. Mechanically things were fine for about 40k miles, and after that the truck simply fell apart even with constant maintenance. After warranty expired I replaced: Windshield. Both window lift assemblies and controls. The bearings and control arms on all 4 wheels. The rear differential. Rear lift arms. Alternator. Spark plugs and wires. Catalytic converters. But worst of all was the radiator/transmission cooler failure. That allowed the coolant to mix with the tranny fluid killing the transmission. It is a known problem - so avoid this truck and the heartache it brings.

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  Love My Altima - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By riptor - September 26 - 8:54 am

  I have owned 3 Altima, my latest is a 2013 SL trim. Great gas mileage....970kms on the highway, 670km/city. Sounds system awesome and the car is comfortable and peppy to drive. The only things I have found wrong is the remote start does not start from more then about 100 feet away and the bluetooth recognition doesnt always pick up the proper names. I feel this car should be rated higher then then the Honda Accord for appearance and reliability. The interior space e is quite roomy and all other features are great. I will be buying another Nissan product when the time comes.

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  Nice ride. - 2011 Nissan Frontier
  By Moe - September 26 - 7:19 am

  Turning radius is horrible. Fuel mileage leaves much to be desired. Could have more ground clearance but a 3" lift is very cheap allowing for 32" tires. That being said those are my only three gripes. Has lots of power for a V6. Warms up fast on cold days. Lots of handy storage compartments. Superior lighting was a must for me since I work at night hence I do a lot of night driving. The headlights are very bright without using high beams. The interior lights are also bright and encompass the entire cab. The rear seats fold down or up allowing for storage space for large objects you dont want in the bed of the truck.

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  Love my 2015 Rogue - 2015 Nissan Rogue
  By inowner - September 26 - 6:36 am

  I have owned the 2015 Rogue SV AWD for 4 mo. I had a remote start installed through the dealership. Also had the dealership install a hitch for my bike rack. I love the features, navi, lane assist, blind spot warning, surround camera. power lift gate. My car has not disappointed! I plan to drive this car for a long time. Love the cargo area and that I can divide to help carry more cargo. Great for separating groceries.

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  Happy but some issues - 2005 Nissan Armada
  By HappyG - September 25 - 9:56 pm

  Had some problems with the brakes, had to take it for service 2 times. Fuel economy could be much much better but for a big V8 should be expected. Some noise in the back but once again SUV, should be expected. Overall I would say a good solid SUV. Ton of room for a large family. Navigation is great. Cargo room is very convinient. Power liftgate helps. SVT is a great feature to have, keeps the truck on the ground. Had the truck since February, goes through snow like knife through butter.

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  Maybe should have stuck with 4runner - 2008 Nissan Pathfinder
  By 4runner? - September 25 - 2:43 am

  I read lots of reviews and felt comfortable with this truck, but my transmission does the same thing as some of the others here. I wish I would have dug further. The left passenger door handle is broken (Ive had the truck less than two weeks) and there are several interior squeaks and rattles. I was spoiled with a 97 4runner that was bulletproof (not a squeak), but the current generation is late in its design cycle, so I steered away. I also had a great experience with my 01 Maxima, which led me to stay with Nissan. I have my doubts about the longevity of this Pathfinder, and I hope theres a recall soon for the transmission. Time will only tell if I made a mistake straying from the 4runner.

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  A Wise Consumer Choice For Me - 2007 Nissan Murano
  By Michael Kimber - September 24 - 11:53 pm

  The Murano wasnt on my radar screen for a new SUV. I had planned on buying a Honda CR-V. But my wife test drove one and I loved. At her request, I also drove it and loved. It was in my driveway within 24 hours.