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:

• 

  7 years & still going - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By derosa - July 12 - 11:10 pm

  I purchased my Maxima new in January of 2003. Its the best car Ive ever owned. I now have 168,000 miles on it. Its never been in the shop for any repairs except 2 small items that Nissan contacted me about that they did for free. I change the oil regularly with Mobil 1 synthetic 5W-30 & replace the oil filter & I have no oil leaks. I also change the coolant and transmission fluid every 50K miles. And I replace the air filter every 15K - 20K miles. Replace tires & brakes as needed. It has more than enough power. Great brakes and fantastic balanced ride. Plenty of room for 2 car seats in the back. My wife drives it mostly now & she loves it also. I will update when we reach 200K.

• 

  Beware! - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Nathan - July 12 - 9:03 am

  When test driving this car I thought it was peppy and cornered very well. After having it for 3 months I had to replace the camshaft sensors, ignition coil, and spark plugs. A month later I was told my catalytic converter was shot. Now that Ive owned it for ten months i need to have the tie rods and power steering pump fixed. DO NOT BUY THIS P.O.S.!

• 

  Fun to drive! - 2007 Nissan Maxima
  By Teresa - July 12 - 7:36 am

  I drove SUVs for 12 years and decided to go to a car to ease the gas budget. After test driving many vehicles I chose the 07 Max. Driving a car took some getting used to, but Im having fun driving the Max. The CVT is quick and smooth. I love how it looks inside and out! I am pleased with the amount of interior room and trunk space.

• 

  Very pleased - 2011 Nissan Sentra
  By sgilbert - July 12 - 5:17 am

  Have about 2200 miles on it. Have been very impressed with thoughtful design (large trunk, ample rear seat room, large glove box). Seats are comfortable. I really like the tight, solid body, with no squeaks or rattles. Excellent gas mileage (38-39 mpg on highway at 65-70 mph). No wind noise, and quiet on the highway. Excellent build quality - doors have a quality "thunk" on closing. Nice dash lighting. I enjoy the trip computer, but wish it had a compass. The CVT transmission takes some getting used to, but its OK. Ride is firm (reviewers say "harsh" over bumps, but I dont find it objectionable. All in all, a quality product Id recommend.

• 

  Its good but....it could be better - 2001 Nissan Frontier
  By ROLLER - July 12 - 2:00 am

  Ive had no problems thus far with this vehicle. My only problem and maybe Im being picky is the gas mileage and the speed limiter. The truck shuts down when you hit about 100mph. And yes I do have a heavy foot.

• 

  Fun and Functional - 2000 Nissan Altima
  By JPS49 - July 12 - 2:00 am

  I have driven the 2000 Altima SE for 34000 miles in the three years I have leased it. It has been fun to drive every day. The five speed, excellent cornering and very responsive engine make it a great car to lease/own. I have changed the oil and put two brake pads on in that time. Im sorry that my lease is up. If Nissan would sell it back to me for a decent price, I would buy it.

• 

  Decent outside, poor inside, high price - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By David Kaiser - July 12 - 2:00 am

  In person the Murano is a beauty. Inside is a different story. The seats are good but not great. The instrument thing on top of the steering wheel looks cheap and feels cheaper. The center dash looks like a glued on after thought. The plastics are OK but dull. There is huge "ledge" under the windshield. Think minivan inside. The V6 is powerful, the CVT strange but it really works. Power is very good from a stop or when passing. The suspension is decent, a little stiffer over bumps, but better than most SUVs. Steering is somewhat tight, but still feels strange. Brakes are good.

• 

  2nd Xterra - 2008 Nissan Xterra
  By Xterra#2 4me - July 11 - 9:20 pm

  This is my second Xterra purchase. I bought a 2000 when they first came out. The changes and improvements are generous. The horse power increase is terrific. The A/C is improved and cargo area is easier to work with. I have had my new one since Feb 2008 and love it. The only change I did was buy an automatic, I have to deal with stop and go traffic in my commute.

• 

  Economy Vehicle - 2015 Nissan Versa
  By mysteryvan92 - July 11 - 6:09 pm

  I have driven other cars on a daily basis, but this is the first car I have ever personally owned. The Versa is not for people who are heavy on the gas, trying to be king of the road. It is a simple, economical, moderately stylish sedan for people that need reliable transportation. It is ideal for low budgets, daily commuting, college students, etc. Ive put about 1,300 miles on it so far and I havent noticed any problems. The brakes were tighter than Im typically used to, but thats about it. Overall, im pretty satisfied with the buy and would recommend as an economical transportation solution.

• 

  Best Hatch for My Cash - 2008 Nissan Versa
  By jasonnwin - July 11 - 3:16 pm

  So far, I love the car. Its onyx blue with beige interior. It had about 16 miles on the odometer. Ive put about 300 miles on it driving to and back from work on the freeway. Feels very upscale for an "econo-class" car. I chose the Versa after test driving three different versions (Manual, Auto, and Sports Auto with paddle shifter) of the Honda Fit. I found the Fit nimble but has too much of an "econo-car" feel to it. Plus the CVT and the Inteligent Key on the Versa are a couple of the many awesome "upscale" things that I appreciate every time I drive my Versa. I couldnt ask for more for the price that Nissan is selling it for.