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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  Xterra to the max! - 2006 Nissan Xterra
  By Nestle - July 24 - 12:06 pm

  i have had the xterra for almost a week, this friday, and i have had no problems at all! the xterra is a solid suv. there is a substancial feeling to the controls, layout, quality and safety and standard features that the 4runner (2 seater sr-5) envies about. the engine is responsive and its 4.0L V6 power throughout the powerband and it has a nice exhaust note that you think it was a minature V8. it is comfortable and easy to manuever around town and it gets decent gas mileage for its size (filled it up only $31.00 that is amazing!). and the X rides well for its size, not bouncy or jarring, like the 2wd sr-5 4runner 2 seater, and it is a sporty and fun suv to drive. great job nissan!

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  Pathfinders great except for fuel cost - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Paige Young - July 24 - 11:26 am

  The Pathfinder is sporty yet classy. It has quick acceleration, is easy to manuever, has great visability, comfort, style, reliability, is not too big, yet can carry a lot of cargo, and is fun to drive. Two cons only: I only get 17 miles per gallon in the city, and the CD player, which has been replaced once by Nissan, is very finicky. Other than that....it is an AWESOME vehicle.

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  My ratings - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By goo - July 24 - 10:00 am

  fun car to drive i love it

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  steering failure - 2006 Nissan Quest
  By eileen toscano - July 24 - 9:00 am

  Lovely looking, but at 30,ooo miles steering column failed.Is this a lemon/ Beware.

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  Smooth, quiet ride - 2011 Nissan Altima
  By reedy06 - July 24 - 4:24 am

  Searched for a roomy family sedan with power, good fuel economy, comfort, latest technology all while having a smooth and quiet ride. After online research, we test drove the Volvo S60 T5, Hyundai Sonata LTD, Buick Regal CXL, Acura TSX w/NAV, and the Toyota Camry XLE. Given our strict criteria, the Altima SR V6 beat the competition. The CVT engine is something that you need to drive to experience. This car is by far the quietest ride in the backseat than any of the others we drove. After 1,000 miles, we are getting 25 mpg in combined highway and local driving. The bluetooth handsfree system and iPod connectivity was the best we found amongst the cars we tested.

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  2010 first impressions - 2010 Nissan Sentra
  By new buyer - July 23 - 10:20 pm

  I really like the ride and handling of the Sentra S. I test drove several others and preferred the Sentra as it had a smooth ride and plenty of power. The Convenience Package is great, especially the keyless system. The VDC Package is also excellent . These 2 options on the 2.0 S make it great to drive and easy to use. It just felt more of a solid ride to me than the others. Excellent runabout or road ride with safety ratings.

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  Maxima 95 - 1995 Nissan Maxima
  By ev15 - July 23 - 8:51 pm

  I just recently bought a Nissan Maxima SE, Its got a 187,000 kms on it and it looks brand new. its only had one owner before me, who purchased it brand new in 1995. I still cant understand how someone could keep a car for 18 years, drive it everyday and still have it in impeccable condition. it literally doesnt have a scratch on the paint. I dont think anybody ever sat in the back or in the front passenger seat, even the driver side is 90% of its original brand new condition. I dont think anything was ever placed in the trunk and the 18 year old alloy wheels look brand new. I have truly scored a Gem and I hope to keep it till it dies. Hats off to Nissan, they made a great car

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  Excellent value + safety - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By mr*show - July 23 - 7:53 pm

  There were zero manufacturing defects, and we had no problems in nearly two years. 27 mpg around town. The car is gone now the result of a major collision but no injuries - I cant believe how safe it was. If you need a car for a teenager to drive and for them to be safe --- this is it!

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  excellent - 2006 Nissan 350Z
  By cso123c - July 23 - 6:00 am

  its wild to drive. the car is fast and fun to drive. it also is wonderful to get away from problem drivers. all you do is gas and your gone

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  The great Nissan - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By Russ - July 23 - 2:50 am

  Well, this is my first new car, and I chose this one. I love it. It drives great, looks sexy and it is so safe. I think that Ill be very happy in this car for a long, long time!