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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  oooowha!!! - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By oooowha!!! - January 10 - 10:00 am

  What a car! The performance is awesome with its V6 250 HP engine. It handles very well like a sports car with a sedan size body. If you want a powerful sedan, this is the car you want.

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  What A Truck - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By MrBTJohns - January 10 - 6:56 am

  Im very very happy that I purchased this truck over the F-150... My Titan has exceeded my expectations, Im very happy with this vehicle...

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  Good little Truck! - 2010 Nissan Rogue
  By SwimmerMan - January 9 - 12:03 pm

  Found this truck/crossover by accident when I walked out of a Jeep dealership in disgust (with their salespeople & products). Never even heard of a Rogue before. Drive it and it felt more solid than a CRV & Forester. The engine is refined and Nissan tweaked the trans in case of any issue. no problems with 15,000 miles on it. It is GREAT in the snow and great in bad conditions such as rain. Great gas mileage 30 highway average (on par smaller cars: Suzuki & Toyota Matrix). The small hatch is the sacrifice for the good gas mileage but the seats fold down. The car makes me feel confident on the road. It does not feel light weight and with 5 star crash ratings. The interior is well laid out.

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  Versa 1.8SL CVT - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By Leon - January 8 - 10:50 am

  Vehicle is well designed for a car this size. Drives well and is peppy on a road. Handles turns well. Fuel economy is decent but is not at par with the Nissans estimate of 36 miles/gallon. The best I got so far is 31 mi/g, but the car only has 1500 miles on it so far. Was told it will improve with time. Very comfortable to drive long distance. Sunroom does not make much noise when driving, unlike Murano. Do not waste your money on a Rockford Fosgate upgrade, it has no range on Bass and the sound on a regular stereo is decent. CVT is flawless!

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  love it - 1995 Nissan Maxima
  By fish - January 8 - 10:00 am

  I bought my Maxima at a repo auction for 3k below list. What a deal. The interior was super comfortable. The engine was magnificent. I could easily find myself at 90 mph with out knowing how I got there. The car looks like a classic but blends in nicely. Only problem is the number of stolen vehicles for parts.

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  love it - 1995 Nissan Maxima
  By Fish - January 8 - 10:00 am

  I bought my Maxima at a repo auction for 3k below list. What a deal. The interior was super comfortable. The engine was magnificent. I could easily find myself at 90 mph with out knowing how I got there. The car looks like a classic but blends in nicely. Only problem is the number of stolen vehicles for parts.

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  What an upgrade!! - 2010 Nissan Altima
  By Ric - January 7 - 2:30 pm

  After having my 2008 2d Altima totaled in a collision with a deer, I shopped around looking at the Dodge Charger, Chevy Camero and the Altima. I decided on the Altima cause while I enjoyed my 2d Altima, the 4d is a more solid and secure feeling car. The 4d Altima is enjoyable to drive, both short distance and long distances. I love the dual climate control as well as feel of the cloth seats. I also enjoy the greatly increased trunk space of the 4d.

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  Love the car - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By bevdon - January 7 - 4:53 am

  We looked at all the boxy suvs, the styling of this car is wonderful. There is a lot of room, both for passengers and cargo when you need it. We like the transmission, so quiet. Just drove it from Tucson to Seattle with no problems and appreciate the power. Nissan seems to have asked all the right questions to determine what features potential buyers would like..... and then incorporated them all very nicly in this suv.

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  THE PATH IS BACK! - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By GASTURBO1 - January 7 - 4:10 am

  Simply the most impressive Pathfinder yet. I never caught on to the previous model due to its somewat conservative and station-waggonish looks, (no offense to those who own one) especially when I had the privilege to own a 92 model (remember those?). I dont believe there should be a thin line between cars and SUVs, and the new Pathfinder takes care of that real well. The features I was most impressed with, besides the new design, were the third row of seats and the 4.0 V6 engine. I like most everything about the Pathfinder, although it feels a bit tighter than my Trooper. I guess Nissan sacrifced a few inches of space between the front and the middle row of seats to accommodate a third one

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  ultimate altima - 2014 Nissan Altima
  By Mario - January 6 - 2:23 pm

  dont believe ;consumers reports bad ratings on this car,as they are bias on nissans, ive been driving for 50 years and had over 16 cars and by far this is the best car that ive ever driven..thanks,nissan