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 2nd car..Love it! - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By jeadie - July 27 - 11:56 pm

  I bought my 2002 Pathfinder on a whim 2 years ago when I had my Mercedes in for service. Other than the questionable gas mileage, the car is perfect. Very reliable, comfortable and plenty of power for my needs. I loved the way it looked and the amenities are awesome for car of its age. I only paid $9k for it with 72k miles and it was and is in excellent condition. Although we will keep primary cars which get better mileage, I plan to keep the Pathfinder in my fleet for as long as it will have me. So far, so good.

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  A Great Starter Car - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Jackal225 - July 27 - 6:30 pm

  This car was my first at 17 years old. Its a silver 2008 Nissan Altima coupe 2.5S with 2.5S convenience package. For those, who are looking for a decent car for decent money, buy this car. It looks epic on the outside and spectacular on the inside. I bought it because it comes with some things that the Toyota Solara doesnt. Drives well, very powerful for a 4-banger, 175 horsepower is definitely enough for a starter car. Has 6 standard airbags and great crash test ratings. Intelligent Key is outta this world. Radio puts out a good crisp and clear sound. CVT manual mode is a definitely blast for those looking a little something extra. Gas mileage is okay at 25-28 mpg. Great car!

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  unreliable and annoying - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By abelanger - July 27 - 2:10 am

  First car I ever bought new. Had fun driving for a few years, but had 1 serious engine problem (a screw came loose and fell into the piston chamber, would have destroyed the engine if not caught. Had many many many problems with body interior and exterior. Gas cover bent so badly I couldnt open to fill my tank anymore. Replaced, and a year later it happened again. Gave up replacing and now I just drive without the cover... Looks ridiculous. Inside everything is falling apart: standard shifter cover broke within months, doors and glove comp. Rattle, moldings fall off and break... Body not only looks and feels cheap in/out, it really is cheap. I will never buy Nissan again.

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  Nissan Quest Rocks - 2011 Nissan Quest
  By jimboy435 - July 26 - 11:46 pm

  When we had our 2nd child, I knew we had to get a minivan. I was dreading to buy a minivan but when I saw the Quest, it was match made in heaven. I was confused, does it look like a minivan, a crossover or what? Well folks, do yourself a favor & test drive this minivan before you even try to buy the Odyssey or the Sienna. I have owned Hondas in the past & I did like the Odyssey, however the bland interior & so-so looks made me go towards the Quest. If you want to use your mini-van as a U-hauler, then go for the Odyssey or the Sienna but if you want to easily convert the minivan to a hauler, Quest should be your choice. And to make it more sweeter, I got it $2k under invoice.

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  Im Picky, But My Altima Makes Me Smile - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By Ark Dan - July 26 - 1:13 pm

  I test drove Altima 4 and 6 cyl, Accord V-6, Mazda3 and Mazda6 with the V6. Owned a 2001 Accord V6 and loved it, except transmission issues. Ive owned 1 four cyl and swore I would only drive at least a V6. That was 10 years ago and 6 new cars ago. Why the Altima won? The CVT is amazing. I never feel like it is underpowered because of the CVT. The engine does get a little loud when merging on highways, but is silent at cruise. I can accept the 10 seconds of engine noise for V6-like acceleration. The V6 seemed too jumpy. Handles great and is fun to drive. Very quiet and full of features. If you are a driver who likes a car with lots of features and is fun to drive. Check out Altima.

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  great car great buy - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By bill r nc - July 26 - 2:00 am

  this car to me is the best car for the buck. i do alot of driving and i get good gas mileage and a good ride. i will probably buy another.

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  Nice truck - 2002 Nissan Frontier
  By cowasockee - July 26 - 2:00 am

  I just bought my Frontier used, and so far I have been very happy with it. Only problems have been a few rattles that I believe are fixable, poor gas mileage, and my motorcycle (Ducati Monster) will not fit in the bed with the tail gate closed(misses it by a few inches). The only other problem is my wife steals my truck all the time.

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  my car - 2004 Nissan Altima
  By danielle Petersen - July 26 - 2:00 am

  it is a great car. I love my car so much.

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  Very nice car - 2004 Nissan Altima
  By RJN - July 26 - 2:00 am

  I test drove everything and finally settled on the Altima. Drives wonderfully and gets good gas mileage. Exterior styling is awesome. The 2.5 moves it well...can easily be at 70+ mph. Watch out for smokey!

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  My Nissan Experience - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By Mr. Mones - July 26 - 2:00 am

  This is my first time having a brand new car. I was kind of scared when I choose the car that I bought, but then when i test drive it. I was totally amaze with its performance. Now, I cant wait to upgrade more power and looks on it.