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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  lacking quality that it should not be - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By amcunn - May 31 - 3:16 am

  I bought this car brand new in 2002. I have had issues with the quality of exterior since day one. I had excessive wind noise on the dirver side come to find window stripping done incorrectly and now the door creaks when opening & closing. Door to gas tank, the hinge bent and the door has never worked properly and the dealer could have cared less. Brakes began squealing around 20,000 and have not stopped despite changing brake pads. Very disappointed with the quality of my first Nissan and I will go back to Honda for my next car.

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  Quality issues - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By Driver - May 30 - 10:20 pm

  Bought this car and it did fine for a while. Then problems started occurring. Read online about symptoms and found TSBs about all of the problems. Transmission had to be replaced and coils went out, thankfully during the warranty. Does fine today, except for a few things. The SES light is always lit for evap problems. It rattles so bad, that you cant even attempt to fix it. The Bose system is terrible.

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  Terrible Vehicle - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By mkamalesh - May 28 - 9:10 pm

  This car has given me nothing but problems. I have had the rotors re-surfaced twice under warranty, the brake master cylinder replaced, front brakes replaced at 12k miles, the tire pressure light refuses to go off. The engine is noisy, the MPG average has gone from 29 to 23.9. Significant loss of torque, it can barely handle a steep graded hill. Its an overpriced garbage car. Go spend your money on something with better quality. I have driven Hondas all my life and took a chance on a Nissan. Big Mistake.

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  Not What I expected - 2017 Nissan Rogue
  By G. B. - May 28 - 7:11 pm

  I was actually looking at purchasing one of these prior to renting on. I am in a new dealer supplied rental. Interior lacks shoulder and seat space. Cup Holders are in an awkward spot as you have to bend your arm funny to reach your drink. Needs more USB ports . Very loud drive train. Sounds like it should be racing around, but actually barely moving. Extremely underpowered. Wind bounces you around more that you would expect in a vehicle like this. And the car feels like it would go out of control very quickly. Steering wheel is great if you have long fingers. I struggle to grasp the size and slickness of the wheel.

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  Hope you dont mind replacing rims - 2006 Nissan Sentra
  By lecount630 - May 27 - 8:26 am

  In the last two years I have spent $1100 to replace tires and rims. I bought two of these vehicles to save on fuel. The alloy rims and Firehawk tires are unfit for the road. I have replaced three rims and tires due to damage from normal driving, and recently found out a fourth needs to be replaced. I have owned 5 Sentras. These will be my last.

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  Nice Alternative for Small Business - 2015 Nissan NV200
  By George Milev - May 23 - 6:39 pm

  I bought the NV200 SV with the navigation and appearance package. The NV200 is based on a car platform and feels more like a car than a truck. it has good fuel economy. Makes easily tight turns and has a lot of holes pre-drilled in the interior so you can install racks and stuff without the need to drill. Its probably the only light commercial truck with a 5 years, 60 thousand miles bumper to bumper warranty. Now, what can be better: the engine is under powered. It needs at least 20-30 more horse power. The voice command system is useless as it mis-interprets command all the time, the audio system is archaic, the tires feel flimsy and the back up camera doesnt have a sonar.

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  Vibration and Rattling Noise when Driving - 2012 - 2012 Nissan Rogue
  By J Weimar - May 23 - 11:54 am

  Car vibrates due to engine movement. When the AC kicks in, it gets worse. See Youtube videos on vibration. Ive never owned a car designed to vibrate. Its a reason only by itself no to purchase a Rouge. Its a design issue in which Nissan says its working as design.

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  Never again - 2001 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Steve - May 23 - 3:56 am

  This was my second Pathfinder after having a 1992. Not the same company anymore. Corporate does not stand by their product. Exhaust broke at the flange which is common Im told after just 4 years! Corporate would not pick up any of the cost and Im stuck with a $850 service bill. O2 sensors and check end light is a nightmare. Rims do not make a good seal on the tires. Faulty struts on this year model. Bose cd changer broke twice.

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  Im not a happy camper! - 2007 Nissan Maxima
  By GBINFL - May 22 - 10:40 am

  Took 3 tries to get SES (check engine light) to stay off (bad evaporative purge solenoid?). The drivers seat pops/clicks when turning left, the drivers door has an intermittent rattle, the steering wheel shimmys when stopping hard and fast (front rotors?), a fastener is missing from the plastic motor undertray, and the rear engine mount creaks when starting out (had it up on a lift when trailer hitch was installed - found the creak location with a stethoscope). Mileage markedly worse than 03 I traded in. CVT has not won me over yet. Back to the dealer again today. Lastly, incredibly cheesy and cheap feeling door handles. Yikes!

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  best 6 cylinder engine-- Ha Ha! - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By D. Griffin - May 20 - 3:46 pm

  Regular check engine light 1 "we had the gas cap on wrong". 2 "we overfilled the gas tank. 3 A bad ignition coil $115 4 fuel injection harness was routed wrong $0 5 "other 5 coils are bad" $358 3, 4, & 5 were a 3 week span. (42k on the car). I understand that the maxima has an ignition coil at each cylinder (in lieu of spark plugs), but shouldnt it be better? No one at the Nissan dealership even seemed Apologetic.