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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  nice suv - 2001 Nissan Xterra
  By gunn - August 10 - 10:00 am

  the truck has been great, except for the horrible gas mileage. the engine is nice and quite and the truck handles nice in the city and on the highway.

• 

  Great Truck with a few problems - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By fisheye - August 10 - 10:00 am

  This a very roomy truck. Great for hauling the kids around. I have not towed with it yet. Fuel mileage is very bad though. As you can see below the A/C is under powered for this truck. The ride is stiff but that is why I chose this truck over the Toyota Sequoia. I have about 5500 miles now and have discovered a few issues. Read on..

• 

  good suv - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By 04silver - August 10 - 10:00 am

  this suv is good for offroading..gots good ground clearance. but has a few minor problems that the engineers has to work out..I only got less than 500mi on my X and my check light is already on..and its not the gas cap..ill have to take it back to the dealership to get checked out

• 

  Extremely Disappointed - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By Leroy Knepper - August 9 - 11:33 pm

  Most comfortable truck Ive ever owned but the problems are something I never expected from a Nissan..Four wheel drive snapped at 64,000 miles ( just out of warranty) brakes are terrible..truck shimmies...tailpipe & hitch rusted...unbelievable for all the more miles on this vehicle.Paint chips easily..I am going to be purchasing another truck and it most definitely will not be a Nissan..Very disappointed..I was under the impression that a Nissan would last for a long time..The only good points are the interior comfort and the style...Very unreliable truck..Didnt even make it to 70,000 miles..

• 

  Loving my Pathfinder!!! - 2006 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Sonia99 - August 9 - 12:40 am

  I bought my 2006 Pathfinder back in Sep 09 with 34k on it and so far I love this vehicle. It has proven so far to be pretty reliable. When we had the big snow storm in DC I had 2 feet of snow in front of my truck and I didnt even shovel in front of the truck because just wanted to see how strong my truck was and proved to be a monster and just drove right over it in 4WD low. It has good pickup and takeoff power as well. The truck tire pressure light came on and I was worried because didnt see no problem but sure enough 2 weeks later I had a flat tire from a nail so the sensor was right to come on. The only drawback is that I only can put 16 gallons of gas in it and the 3rd row is small.

• 

  Great Car if you are under 6 tall - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By sharkie - August 8 - 10:00 am

  We havent quite had it a month yet, but we love it. One thing, well maybe two. I am 63" tall and weigh over 250 (Relatively muscular 250) and it is a snug fit. My legs are pretty cramped and there is not a lot of room on the sides. I know it is one of the stronger V6 motors for this size vehicle, but the mileage is pretty week. I have a big V8 Chevy truck and it gets just a few miles less per gallon.

• 

  11 Years old and Still Squeek Free - 2002 Nissan Xterra
  By cgrueber - August 8 - 6:03 am

  Just bought this car Feb. with 105K miles on it. Had to change the timming belt and water pump as the previous owner had not changed these items. I could not ask for a better small SUV. It is a live axle 2wd truck, so the ride is rough but not a single piece of plastic in the vehicle makes noise. The cost to purchase these is fairly low due to most people not wanting to change the timming belt. Dont be affraid if you can do minor car repairs, this one is a breeze. Great car i would buy another in a heart beat. Uses a little more gas then expected for a V6 but it is still not bad

• 

  Economical Car - 1998 Nissan Sentra
  By Sandie Wagner - August 4 - 10:00 am

  I needed a new car for every day use. Fuel economy was important. My first choice was a Corolla, but decided to try the Sentra. Manual said you could lock all doors with key, but that was not true. Dealership played dumb. Battery had to be replaced after 3.5 years. Radio backlight started flickering, then went out a few years ago. Rust from beneath paint a year ago. A/C drains power for acceleration or going up hill. Dashboard cup holders useless. Obstructs use of radio and climate controls. Great gas mileage, low motor noise, starts every time.

• 

  wish it worked as good as it looks - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Kristi Gavagan - August 4 - 10:00 am

  I have had fun driving it and I said I would NEVER own one. People come up to me in parking lots and ask about it all the time. I do have a prob with having to take a brand new vehicle in for repairs. Like someone prev wrote, I had trouble starting it and one day it just wouldnt start with two unhappy kids. I have it in the shop now because it got stuck in third gear over the 4th of July and I have to take it back next week for a bunch of parts that are being recalled. They arent making my life any easier by offering loaner cars and they dont even vaccuum your vehicle for you after you have it serviced. Even Ford does better.

• 

  A HIT BUT NOT A HOMER - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By dON rEED - August 4 - 10:00 am

  Interior disappointing insofar as storage and materials. Exterior still turns heads. Tire feathering problem is worrysome, dealer says the alignment is in spec but I have the problem. Does that mean there is no fix??