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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  Great Bang for the Buck - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By hobybm - September 11 - 10:00 am

  I have not had this vehicle long, but I already love it. I know I will love it for years to come. I will post again in a year or so, to show that I still love this car. I cannot find any problems with it. Some say the interior is cheap, but for the amount I paid, its exactly what I expected.

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  Interior cloth seating - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By ronnola - September 11 - 10:00 am

  I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MARCH 2002 AND I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCE ANY PROBLEMS. MY ONLY COMPLAINT WITH THIS CAR TO DATE IS THE MATERIAL OF THE UPHOLSTERY (SEATS). IT ATTRACTS AND HOLDS LINT AND CANNOT BE CLEANED BY MERELY VACUUMING. I HAVE TO USE A LINT BRUSH.

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  2016 Altima - good experience - 2015 Nissan Altima
  By GB - September 10 - 9:53 pm

  I was interested in good gas mileage. the posted 39 on the window seems to be too high, but i am getting a combined 31 or so, which is also posted. I am very happy with that. The interior is roomy and comfortable. I would encourage leather seats. I did not get that option - it was not really offered, but I have been in one since and it seemed to be more comfortable. I am not overly excited about the bluetooth-technology package. I drove a Kia Optima before and I much prefer the Bluetooth there. The Altima drives very well. The steering is tight and reminds me of a german car. The AC is very nice for a Texas driver. The blind-spot indicator works very well. The standard warranty is undervalued. It seems like most manufacturers are getting away from extended warranties. I wanted the Altima because I have owned Nissan in the past and know it is a quality vehicle and not usually a maintenance concern, but the 5/10 warranty offered by Hyundai / Kia is a nice thing. Overall I would say this is a very good buy. I would recommend it if a friend was asking me.

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  Wifes new rogue - 2016 Nissan Rogue
  By jack B. - September 10 - 8:06 pm

  We purchased the SL model with leather interior. Overall pretty happy, coming from owning 5 Lexus, it was a bit of a new experience not to have all the features of a Lexus. But we will adjust. The disappointing thing is the blind side warning. It only starts once you reach 20 miles and hour. Not good if you are pulling out of a parking spot or driveway.

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  Mediocre Maxima - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By mastj - September 10 - 7:40 pm

  Very disappointed with my first Maxima, expected much more. Quality is lacking. Overall, nice looks, but mediocre performance and rough drivetrain.

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  Reliable, Comfortable, Fun - 1997 Nissan Maxima
  By Fandango - September 10 - 7:03 pm

  This is my fourth Maxima SE 5-speed. All were bought used and ran for many miles without significant mechanical problems. All this one required besides the usual wear items was an alternator. The car now has 201,000 miles on it and is still going strong. With reasonable care, the power train on these will go practically forever, and the horsepower and fuel economy are great. The handling in corners is good enough to be fun, but as a sport sedan it should be somewhat better. Still, the car is comfortable, reliable and fun and a great value, especially when bought used. Its sort of a poor mans beamer.

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  A mixed review - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By Mary Ann - September 10 - 5:30 pm

  Generally speaking I like this vehicle. PROS: good looking, deceivingly spacious, I like the interior placement of the controls; seating is quite comfortable; fairly quiet in smooth driving situations. My kids love it. Its really rather adorable. CONS: The shape of the side mirrors cause problems with the blind spot; I dont feel it "grips" the road as well as Id like it to- suspension feels a bit mushy; I dont like how wide the material is leading from the top of the window into the end of the windshield again causes trouble with visibility. I dont understand why the door controls dont light up? Lastly, the rear headrests obscure visibility.Overall cuter than the rest in its class.

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  Like the frog - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By roesch - September 10 - 6:37 am

  Although we wanted a SV model,we found none available without many add ons so we ended up with a Juke S FWD with a spoiler, which I think adds to the over-all look. We traded my wifes car, a Vibe, because she finds the frog look attractive. As most of our driving is in the city, we both like the quick ease this car offers as it zips into small parking spaces. The construction is solid, as is the ride, and we find the quiet interior enhances the sound system. The FWD gives us some extra space in the back, and while not a large as the Vibe, most of the time we do not need a larger storage space for our gym gear and groceries.

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  Great Truck! - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By doczachary - September 9 - 10:52 pm

  I puchased my 2004 Nissan Titan with less than 50 miles on it and I currenly have over 120K. There has been 2 recalls (brake shudder and wiring harness) and both were done quickly and efficiently. I have read where people wanted better gas mileage but you dont buy a heavy truck with a powerful 5.6L V8 engine and then complain about the mileage. I have towed 10K, loaded the bed to the point where it couldnt take anymore and everything worked as expected. I have replaced the rear axle seals and bearing with better than factory. Used only synthetic oils since 2nd change. It just keeps running. Never a hiccup or an issue. Been a great truck and I plan to keep it until it dies!

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  Still better than most minivans - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Just Jay - September 9 - 3:40 pm

  The wife loves the van. I think if it were totaled, she would still try to have it rebuilt! This from a family that said we would "NEVER own a minivan." Then 8 months of pregnancy happened. It has been a very good van overall. She is more impressed than I, but I dont mind driving it. I always tell the other guys who tease that it has the Maxima V6 and that seems to smooth a few over. We had problems right out of the gate with a new model in its first year, but Nissan backed us up 100% and even extended our factory warranty until 5 years or 60,000 miles without us asking! The wife loves the gauges over the A/C and radio with the storage over the wheel.