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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  A huge step up from 2014 - 2016 Nissan Maxima
  By Dennis - July 4 - 12:20 am

  I checked out the 2016 Maxima Platinum almost as an afterthought. I was looking at several cars including the Audi A4 & A6, the Acura TLX Advance, Lexus GS350 and IS350, and the Infiniti Q50. I was really surprised at how well the Maxima stacked up. You will love or hate the new bold in-your-face exterior (I love it) but the interior is a huge leap forward from the older Max. Lighting options provide a very classy curb appearance along with the standard signature boomerand LED running lights. The high console and large screen (tilted slightly toward the driver) seem inspired by fighter jet design. The seats are large and supportive and the driving position very comfortable. The Max is very close in size to the Acura TLX but looks much bigger because of the lines and high hood design. The infotainment systems are colorful and intuitive and the Bose audio is crisp and realistic. Heated and ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel and exterior mirrors (auto-dimming on the driver side) and the safety features in the Platinum edition are very impressive for a non-luxury brand - I would love to know how they make that 360 degree camera view work - it looks like the view from a drone flying above the car. Great for positioning in a parking space! Sonar systems on the corners and collision avoidance warnings also very helpful. Ride is a little stiffer than the average family car, but not at all harsh. Low end torque is very satisfying when trying to get up to speed quickly. On the down side, the Max is a little short on 12v outlets compared to its competitors and the front passenger is limited to four-way seat adjustment rather than eight-way that some of the Maxs competitors offer - not a lot of fun for a short passenger. Trunk size seems limited by the wheel wells. Acura offers a two full screen infotainment system that some critics have called "confusing" but I found it more flexible than the Maxs - the Acura Advance also has a hard drive you can store music on which is a nice feature. The Nissan warranty also comes up a little short when compared with some of the competitors. Overall, the Max Platinum impressed me enough to forego the luxury brands. Pleased with that decision so far.

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  Nissan hits the nail on the head - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By dennis - July 4 - 12:00 am

  My Murano rides like a sports car and gets 19-20 mpg. Besides gawking drivers when I first bought it, now fellow Murano drivers give a heads up signal. Former Infinity and future Infinity owner-but love this car!

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  I like it! - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By Tennz - July 3 - 3:36 am

  Love the Z. It load, firm, fast, and fun. I commute in mine every day 60 mile each way. I get an average of 28 mpg, I have seen 31 mpg on the freeway and 19 around town. I have owned Mazda and Mercedes roadsters and this is by far the best. Others have complained of blind spots. I have none, you just have to set the mirrors correctly. I will buy again.

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  MPG is so far off - 2014 Nissan Rogue
  By cs4420 - July 2 - 8:56 pm

  I leased a Rogue when a lease on an Altima was expiring. The car is bad. The sticker MPG says 31 highway, 25 city. I have never gotten over 24 MPG since I got the car, and I drive mostly highway. Also, the battery in the car was defective and had to be replaced 10 days after I got the car. Fit of the drivers side door is poor. It makes a grinding sound every time I open the door. Lastly, the windshield wipers are brand new and whenever they return to the down position, there is a place on the windshield that is not cleared of water. Terrible vehicle.

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  Most Happy Camper! - 2008 Nissan Xterra
  By Priscilla Pike - July 2 - 7:53 pm

  This is my 4th Nissan, from a BT-10 Datsun, Pathfinders, 280-Z, to my new Xterra, and I am most pleased. I feel so very safe with its remarkable handling and ease in driving.

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  The beast of 2009 - 2009 Nissan Maxima
  By GQ - July 2 - 11:53 am

  I must say, my 2009 Maxima is the best vehicle I have ever bought. I bought sept of 2008 with 10 miles. It is almost Mar 2009. I have 17800 miles due to trips from Jacksonville, FL to Delaware and Louisiana. I have made numerous trips to Orlando and Miami as well. Great car, fun to drives and it never gets old. With regular maintenance every 3750 miles, it stills drives new with no problems. It is a huge improvement over the previous Maxima. Yes, I had a 2006 Maxima. It was nice, but too soft and didnt handle nearly as nice. The new Maxima is stiffer, shorter and wider making it the best handling FWD vehicle I have ever driven. Ive driven 99.9% of FWD vehicles in North America.

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  Jekyl and Hyde Handling - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By Bronnie - July 2 - 10:26 am

  When my wife and I looked at the 07 Sentra we thought that we had found the perfect car for her 92 mile round trip commute and occasional long trip. The car has mid-size room and comfort, a great powertrain with the cvt and looks good. I also have had very good experiences with Nissans in the past. We liked the cars handling when we test drove it in good weather so we bought the car. However, we soon discovered that this is the absolute worst handling car I have ever driven in snow, ice and even rain. Very unstable. After several attempts to find a solution at two dealers and a few panicked phone calls from my wife on snowy days we traded the Sentra in on an 09 Camry with stability control.

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  Aggressive Styling, Tons of Torque - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By Get a real truck - July 2 - 5:36 am

  This truck gets a lot of comments and looks when on the road. Really enjoy driving and hearing the exhaust note. Yes the ride is a little choppy but it is a 1/2 ton TRUCK, get over it. Go buy a sissy SUV if you want a quiet smooth drive. Only disappointments are the gas mileage and brakes which I have observed this stated in other reviews. I am on my third set of rotors and do not pull anything over 3500lbs. Of course GAS MIlEAGE is a major concern, only recourse is to keep the accelerator pedal off the floor! Recommend this truck against all others due to price and option packages. Just make sure to light up the tires once, way to much fun!

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  gle review - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By gleowner - July 1 - 10:00 am

  Flawless in interior design, engine performance and braking. Very comfortable on long trips. Ergonomics are well thought out. Pleasure to drive on those looong highway stretches. Adaquate stereo, storage space. Xenon bulbs are a dream. Incredible value for money. Selected this product after testing Acura CL, Toyota Avalon, Lexus ES 300, BMW 3 Series, and Volvo S60.

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  Great SUV!! - 2003 Nissan Pathfinder
  By hooch - July 1 - 10:00 am

  Had this SUV almost a year now and I love it. The engine is very powerful and smooth as silk...great pick-up. This comes at the expense of gas mileage but I expected this. I go to the beach a lot and it has no problems traversing heavy, loose sand. Interior build quality is excellant....no "cheapo" feel here. Folding the rear seats is simple...who said it was difficult???