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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  Reliable--just keeps on going - 1997 Nissan Altima
  By Patricia - July 17 - 8:03 am

  I have had few problems. The air bag light had to be repaired;luckily, it was still under warranty. Also, there was a gasket something-or-other which was repaired also under warranty. Otherwise, it has been super--extremely reliable. The manual is great, too. The yummy grey velvet upholstery is still in excellent condition as are the dashboard and all the compartments. Still running great at 65,000 miles!

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  Best car ever - 1995 Nissan Maxima
  By GE - July 17 - 6:50 am

  Ill never buy Chevy again. My Nissan is 11 years old and has 200,000 miles and has been the most reliable car Ive ever had!!

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  Great Surprise!!!!!!!!! - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By JM - July 16 - 6:40 pm

  I went in to look at the 350z and drove off with the X. I was so impressed with the horsepower,the interior comfort and the look. I bought the 6 speed which is amazing for gas mileage. Living in Florida I opted not to purchase the Off Road 4x4, instead the Utility Pack which included Stability Control and ABLS. This is my first SUV. I dont think I will ever purchase a car again.

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  2002 Altima - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By Buzz - July 16 - 6:20 pm

  The new Altima has a beautiful new exterior, powerful engine that pulls to the redline.

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  Maximum Driving Fun, Minimum Reliability - 1999 Nissan Maxima
  By davidcohen1969 - July 16 - 1:44 pm

  Bought My Max in 2005 w/118K (now 214K). I have averaged about 1000-1500K a year in repairs. The exceptional VQ V6 and transmission combo in these older model maximas is even better then the 2004 Avalon legendary V6 I recently purchased to replace it. Problem is everything around it is falling apart. Id fix one probem and two more show up. Id fix two problems and four more show up. You get the idea. Whats more, I got tired of having to feed it premium gas-tried regular, but the knocking sounded like someone was trying to break in to my house. Despite my gripes, I still own her. Im hooked on the powertrain. Ill keep it through winter and then its good bye.

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  First Pathfinder - 2006 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Jean - July 16 - 10:26 am

  Love the space of the pathfinder. Third row a plus. I have always owned Chevy SUV, after having this I wont go back. Engine noise a little hard to get used to-reminds me of a 4 cylinder sound. But it is great on the get go, sometimes a little too much! My pathfinder has every option available and the controls are easy to learn. Comfortable seats and lots of head and leg room.

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  Sentra getra - 2010 Nissan Sentra
  By Jay ramsey - July 16 - 6:42 am

  Cheaper than the competition; a good value. 72,000 miles, extended warranty. Problem limited to CV. Solonoids wouldnt activate after being overheated in long turnpike leg. Wouldnt shift back to low upon stopping, necessitating sart up in high. Nissan dragged their feet admitting they had a problem. Otherwise, gearless transmission works great, very smooth.

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  Guess I expected more - 2006 Nissan Murano
  By dopplerdavetn - July 16 - 3:25 am

  Bought this car March 2012 with 83,000 miles. It drives well, the fuel economy is nowhere near the reported numbers. So far, have had a problem with the fuel pump & gas gauge, have had to replace rocker arms on the front twice (extended warranty), replace a front engine mount (warranty) & have had to fix the power steering (dealer said its a common problem in that year Murano models). Also had to have wheel bearings replaced & replace the air blower (no air conditioning/heat at all). Very disappointed considering Id driven Toyotas for over 15 years & had been told many good things about the Murano in this general model year.

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  An awesome little car - 2006 Nissan Sentra
  By hurryup - July 15 - 3:51 pm

  Some of these reviews amaze me. My husband purchased ours new in 06 and it is now 5 years old & has 140,000mi plus on it & runs and drives great. The gas mileage is awesome too. My husband changes our own oil (using synthetic oil & always changes the air filter) The sticker said the car would get 31mpg highway but our average is usually 31.9 and we do tons of driving in town. The last trip we went on I drove 120miles half of it was stop & go the other half was highway and my average for the trip was 38.8mpg (thats fabulous) We could get that kind of gas mileage all the time if we tried (and no we dont shut off the a/c)

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  Not the most powerful but very reliable - 2000 Nissan Frontier
  By Lucky23 - July 15 - 10:00 am

  Positives: pretty good handling for compact truck, intuitive controls, extremely reliable Negatives: Power!!! (however it does have decent low end torque)