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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  Awesome Car! - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By Steve J - December 15 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I bought this vehicle about 4 months ago and have been extremely satisfied with it thus far. The look is incredible! Everyone asks about it, it is a real head turner. Excellent power from a roll, but a little sluggish from the start. Overall a fantastic car....I cant believe it is not getting higher ratings!

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  I love my Murano! - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By PanamaPeter - December 15 - 10:00 am

  I traded in a leased Lexus GS 400 and purchased a Murano...and have not regretted the decision.

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  Nissan Altima 2.5SL - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By mrt - December 15 - 10:00 am

  Great car overall. Great value. One warranty repair 1st year.

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  INCREDIBLE - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By qudam - December 15 - 10:00 am

  I TEST DROVE MOST OF THE AVAILABLE MINIVANS IN THE MARKET AND CONCLUDED THAT THE NEW QUEST IS HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE THE REST. ITS FUN TO DRIVE AND WITH SO MANY CAREFULLY THOUGHT UTILITY FEATURES, MY LITTLE DAUGHTER CALLS IT HER SECOND HOME. THANKS GOD THAT I DIDNT COMMIT THE BLUNDER OF GETTING AN ODESSEY AND TOOK TIME TO TEST DRIVE MY QUEST.

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  MY NISSAN 350Z - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By TALIP - December 15 - 10:00 am

  THE BEST CAR U CAN EVER DRIVE

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  Omigod, this thing is great - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By E.F. @ VaBeach - December 15 - 10:00 am

  Touring Roadster, automatic, leather - sets a new standard. Great comfort, feel&control. Instantaneous throttle response, awesome brakes & steering response. 18" wheels make the ride harsh, but instantaneous maneuverability. Impressive Japanese electronics, interior & ergonomics continues to impress.

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  Best mid-size for 2004 Nissan Maxima - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By marachi - December 15 - 10:00 am

  The Maxima handles so nicely for its size. The SE gives you the sporty look but a luxurious ride. It does have great pick up and I recommend it to all people who are looking for a mid-size car. It gets great gas mileage and you have plenty of room seating wise for you the pilot and your passengers.

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  Superb truck +1 - 2006 Nissan Frontier
  By Thomas Lawson - December 15 - 2:33 am

  This truck has been wonderful. There is plenty of room for our sons in the back seat even on 200+ mile trips to see family. The is superb power and even pulls the 6500 lb towing without a problem but make sure you have trailer brakes if going very far. This is by no means a "compact" truck with the ample room over the previous Frontiers. I am running Mobil 1 synthetic and Nissan says,even though they recommend standard crude in the owners manual, that this is okay for warranty. I work at Nissan with guys that oversee engine testing they say these 4.0 are just about bullet proof.

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  Drive it!! - 2006 Nissan 350Z
  By Marcos Escobar - December 14 - 6:56 pm

  If you looking for a fun car with the handling and performance, with out the spending money on making your car faster. You would Love you LadyZ!!

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  Love My Maxima - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By Pam - December 14 - 4:43 am

  This is my fourth Maxima. I love this car. It drives wonderfully. At first I didnt know whether or not I would like it as much as I liked my 2000, but it has proved to be an outstanding car. The ride is so smooth. I love the interior. It feels like you are in the cockpit of a plane. I would recommend this car to everyone!