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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  R1 - 2017 Nissan Rogue
  By Janasnake77 - June 25 - 10:25 am

  I love my Rogue! True that blind spot is a hazard, but other than that, I am very satisfied​. Great family vehicle. Fun to drive!

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  BOUGHT A LEMON - 2002 Nissan Frontier
  By JILL - June 25 - 10:00 am

  I BOUGHT MY TRUCK IN APRIL 2002. HAD IT ONLY 6MTHS. WITH 14,000 MILES ON IT . MY HUSBAND WAS CHANGING MY OIL & FOUND IT HAD 2 LEAKS THE POWER STEERING WAS LEAKING & THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING TOOK IT TOO THE DEALERSHIP. NISSAN WOULDNT PUT A NEW TRANSMISSION IN IT . THEY HAD IT FOR 40 DAYS REPLACING THE SEALS & THEY COULD OF JUST PUT A NEW ONE IN , I DID THE LEMON LAW ON THEM. I LOVED THE TRUCK OTHERWISE & ALWAYS GOT COMPLIMENTS ON IT . TOWING CAPACITY GOOD & GREAT IN THE SNOW. POOR GAS MILEAGE THOUGH. IVE ALWAYS HEARD GOOD ABOUT NISSAN THATS WHY I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK BUT THIS EXPERIENCE HAS MADE ME THINK DIFFERENT OF NISSAN

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  Keep Out The Noise - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Tour1 - June 25 - 10:00 am

  I have a 2003 Altima. I like it except for 1 thing...Cabin Noise. If you are not playing the radio, you can hear everything...The street you are riding on, when you stop you can actually hear engine noise. Spend a little money and insulate the noise from the engine compartment and the rest of the car so you cant hear the road noise....Or turn up the radio

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  Best Deal for $$$ - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By STEELDOG - June 25 - 10:00 am

  Traded in 95 VW Passat. Bought SE model with cloth seats used with 7600 miles. Dealers wouldnt budge much on sticker price on new. Love the care. But needs minor improvements. Test drove SAAB 9-3, Honda Accord, Acura TSX, Mazda6, Volvo S60. Best deal for money.

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  Overall a great car! - 2011 Nissan Maxima
  By juskishi - June 25 - 8:33 am

  I have a 2011 Maxima with premium package and overall I absolutely love this car. I moved up from my 2009 Altima SL and couldnt be much happier. The only problems are interior noises from the radio/climate console (which i think could use a redesign), what sounds like the rear window, and vibration and noise from the front passenger seat when unoccupied. The noises seem to be worse when its colder out and I havent owned it during the summer yet so Im hoping to see a reduction of the noise soon. Other than that, I feel the nav and voice recognition system do not work very well. Otherwise, the look and feel of the rest of the car is great and think its a great car for the price.

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  shouldve bought one sooner - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By RandyE - June 25 - 4:23 am

  i waited for the 2nd year model to come out, so any "bugs" could be found. the mileage is great, for such a large and heavy truck. im getting 18.5 on trips away, but around 13 in town. it doesnt even feel the boat and trailer. the interior has everything youd want. im 66", and with the front seat in a position where im comfortable, i can also get in the back seat, and have a couple inches of room between my knees and the front seat. headroom is great both front and rear. the engine is extremely powerful, and ive had to learn to forget about "jack rabbit" starts. the price was good, and ive found nothing i dont like about this truck.

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  Love It - 2010 Nissan Murano
  By Romelia - June 24 - 11:43 pm

  This is my first SUV and I am really impressed with the Vehicle. It has all the bells and whistle I could ever dream of in a car. I love the heated seats, the smooth ride and most of all the SAT radio with those awesome Bose speakers. I dont have anything to complain about, but everything to be thankful for. Glad I made this as my first choice for an SUV.

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  Great value for the money - 2009 Nissan Sentra
  By Steven McMacken - June 24 - 10:25 pm

  I have been very happy with the performance of my Nissan Sentra. There have been no major repair issues, other than replacing the battery and the condition of the car is excellent with only some minor cosmetic nicks.

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  So far so good - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By redelmo - June 24 - 8:46 pm

  Purchased 3 wks ago. No problems at all. None of the transmission or vibration issues others have complained about. Very smooth acceleration. Excellent fit and finish. Had leather installed, due to excessive price for useless featurs. Visibility not the best. Wish it had bluetooth with basic model. Hope to have this vehicle for a long time.

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  Great Little Truck - 2001 Nissan Frontier
  By volfan32 - June 24 - 3:50 pm

  Ive had a Ranger, Dakota, and an S10, and this truck has been better than them all. A little underpowered and a gas hog, but the front is comfortable and the four doors are great. Bed extender for the short bed is a must. Great looks, well built, engine has plenty of aftermarket parts available. I will own another Frontier after my experience with this one.