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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  I love my Altima! - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By TN Driver - November 26 - 10:00 am

  I bought my Altima used with 17k miles on it to replace a smaller car that had been wrecked. I wasnt sure about a 4 door family sedan (always had been a "coupe" lady), but I needed something I could haul grandchildren in. It is fun to drive and I love the slightly aggressive lines. My teenage son said "Mom, this is the coolest car!" It has the 2.5l 4-cyl engine, & while the pep from the 6-cyl would be cool at times, I dont want to give up the fuel economy the 4-cyl has.

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  Great value and a lot of fun - 2010 Nissan Altima
  By Tony - November 26 - 10:00 am

  Wanted V6, Leather, Bluetooth in a mid sized or slighty larger sedan. Did not include luxury sedans (Audi A4/BMW 3 series/Lexus ES/Infiniti G37/Acura). Test drove all the usual suspects (Camry, Avalon, Accord, Focus, Taurus, Mazda 6, passat, Milan, Malibu, Impala, lacrosse, and maxima). Chose the altima 3.5sr. Handles great, powerful engine, smooth transmission, loaded with options for the money. I got the premium and sport package option. Msrp was 30,195 and got it for 26,200 before ttl at end of year close out on 2010 models. I should note I have been driving Toyota Camry xle v6s for 17 years. To be honest the altima build quality is better than Toyota Camry right now in my opinion.

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  Great Vehicle - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By First Timer - November 26 - 4:30 am

  This is my first Nissan and I am very impressed. Very nice features and the build quality appears to be outstanding. The ride is very comfortable. The interior has a nice fit and finish. I traded in a BMW for this vehicle and I found that the Nissan has more features and comfort. It is a very attractive vehicle inside and out. I would recommend this vehicle for those looking for a sport crossover. I could not find anything that could beat this, let alone at the price.

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  Loving the Versa - 2012 Nissan Versa
  By mredct - November 25 - 10:17 pm

  I have owned my Versa for about a month so far. My mileage has been about 39 mpg, so this car has been quite economical to own. My previous car, a Subaru Outback, got about 22 mpg so I am saving some dough! I took a long distance trip - driving from CT to FL in the Versa and it was so comfortable. In the past Ive had to pad seats with a pillow to make the trip tolerable, but the seats on the Versa were just right for me. The cruise control made driving so easy - all I had to do was point the car! When I ran the A/C the car still got good mileage. My average for the trip was 40 mpg. We had our first snow storm yesterday in CT and the traction control handled it like a champ.

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  Great SUV - 2007 Nissan Pathfinder
  By TIPSTERHARLEY - November 25 - 5:33 pm

  I love this vehicle, has everything I wanted including factory navigation. Fun to drive. Bose system sound great. Navigation system is easy to use. I live where there is a lot of snow in the winter and this SUV goes through it like I am driving a tank, never got stuck once. It has lots of power. The gas mileage could be better.

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  Works 4 Me - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By Osiris - November 25 - 2:50 pm

  I really like this truck. It has all of the utility of an SUV and just enough accessories to be an effective work truck, plus its a NISSAN. This thing will run forever. Lets put it this way, I traded a 2001 Trans Am for a Frontier and I loved that Trans Am. Only detractor is the interior color. Its a light tan and all of the dirt show up. My two year old has made sure of that.

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  awesome!!! - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By Sammy - November 25 - 9:36 am

  The 2005 Nissan 350Z is a very comfortable and reliable car. It is built tough, but is made for the average consumer! My next car will probably be a Nissan!

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  2004 Maxima - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By John Pearce - November 24 - 5:33 pm

  I have owned 3 Maximas in my life. I have always been elated with my purchases, and I expect to get reliable performance from my 2004.

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  Seems great - 2006 Nissan Pathfinder
  By catcher10 - November 24 - 3:16 pm

  Just took delivery of an 06 pathfinder LE with everything but leather. Comfortable, great stereo. Absolutely flies on the highway. Lots of room with the third row of seats down. Got an excellent deal on a lease and this vehicle beats anything I looked at before deciding on it.

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  Great Car! I Love It! - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By RDG - November 23 - 5:50 pm

  This interior of this car has lots of room. This car is fast. Dependable. Exterior design is great. Factory system is great.