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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  Enjoy The Ride. - 1999 Nissan Maxima
  By Erik - March 30 - 9:26 pm

  I bought my 99 Maxima SE Limited to replace my first car that I used through high school and one year of college (a 96 Saturn SL2 Premium). The Maxima was the short list. I purchased mine with 59,858 miles on it in July of 2006 and now currently have 72,562 miles. Ive had no unscheduled maintenance and have only had one major replacement, the exhaust system. My Nissan dealership has serviced the vehicle with great care at each scheduled maintenance. The performance, styling, and build quality is impeccable. Nissan engineers have executed every detail perfectly on this vehicle. The engine is smooth, refined, and aggressive. The Maxima is Nissans flagship for a reason.

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  2006 Nissan Maxima Tranny Problem -- NOT TRANSMISSION - 2006 Nissan Maxima
  By jjmarie97 - March 30 - 2:03 pm

  I bought my 2006 Maxima with 58K miles on it. Like many others, I started noticing gear shifting (auto trans) at about 98K miles, so I took it to the dealership that honored the warranty before it expired. They recommended I try a transmission flush, before the warranty company comes back and says I neglected to service my vehicle and refuses to pay for the transmission replacement. Which I did and it DID NOT fix the issues I was having (high RPM rev at random speeds, car slamming into gear, jarring forward out of 1st & reverse). Months passed and my car was in and out of the dealership shop trying one thing or another to resolve the problem. Eventually my warranty expired and surpriseÂ….I was on my own with repair cost! After several near death experiences due to the jarring and loss of acceleration at high rates of speedÂ….I called a transmission shop that was recommended to me. Within 2 minutes of explaining the issues, he said “itÂ’s not your transmissionÂ….itÂ’s the Valve Body”. He explained to me that the transmissions are pretty solid (used in several models) and that the valve body is the “electronic brain” of the transmission. Even if you replace the transmission (not rebuild it), it will mostly continue to do the same things, since you never fixed the “electronic brain”. So speaking from experience in dealing with the same problems with my 2006 Maxima that many, many others have and are dealing withÂ…DO NOT replace or rebuild your transmission and waste $5000 before you try the least expensive and most likely the cause of the issues (VALVE BODY), for $1500.00!! 

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  Great four years, then problems. - 2006 Nissan Quest
  By Jim-Chandler, AZ - March 29 - 11:33 pm

  Van fine until 2009. Brakes went out completely. Cost of new ones $650. April 2010, new belts, catalytic converter and motor mount replaced. Repair cost $600. Plus. Convertor covered under warranty. July, 2010, timing chain replaced and one belt which was replaced in April. Repairs $2,400. Current mileage 82,000. Disappointed in repairs needed over a one year period approx. $4,500. Unsure about purchasing a foreign car again. Had a Ford van previously, because of front end problem and possible transmission, traded at approx. 80,000. Miles. Also, 2 or 3 cross country trips, one pulling a small trailer. Wish we had repaired the Ford.

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  Nissan Quest hands down best van - 2005 Nissan Quest
  By Rusty - March 29 - 11:03 am

  This was my second Quest, previous was 04, which indeed was a great van, put tons of miles and zero problems. Love the engine, no complaints, perfect for family!

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  Simply the Best - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By mississippi - March 29 - 11:00 am

  THE PATHFINDER IS ONE SMOOTH RIDING SUV THAT IS FUN TO DRIVE IN ALL WEATHER RAIN SLEET SNOW OR SHINE !!

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  Sunny and dry roads only! - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Mccleard - March 29 - 3:36 am

  Worst car Ive ever owned. If it is not bone dry on the roads with not an ounce of wind, I am all over the road. I got rid of my 1995 Dodge Stealth for this thing and have regretted it ever since. New tires did nothing to help. I hydroplane on the slightest hint of water. It is not my driving habits, this I can assure you. Anyone wanna buy it?!

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  2001 Maxima SE - 2001 Nissan Maxima
  By Jim - March 29 - 1:46 am

  SE model has rather sporty ride but at a significant loss of comfort and refinement. Turning radius is horrible which may be partially attributable to 17" wheels. Maxima reliability has been as advertised.

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  I LOVE MY NISSAN - 2005 Nissan Sentra
  By christina - March 28 - 5:40 pm

  I love the way my sentra handles. I drive 45 miles to get to work and I LOVE driving it. I am a college student, and I work part-time, and this car is perfect for me. I get great gas mileage. I think it is quite roomy for a compact, and it is comfortable for me to drive. I think for someone whom is 6 feet tall, it may not work as well as it does for me, but regardless I love my sentra!!!!

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  Mixed Review - 2009 Nissan Xterra
  By TruckLuver - March 28 - 1:30 pm

  Purchased new 2009. Rockford Fosgate sound system above average, nice technology package. Combined gas mileage (20% city, 80% hwy) is 21-22 mpg. Looks nice, rides comfortably, but Im having hard time adjusting from previous full-size pickup truck. I am 6 tall, and I feel a little closed-in. Short arm rest is more like an elbow rest... it sucks. Test drive was good, but after a month Im not so happy. 6 cylinder engine seems to have sufficient if not awesome power. Back seats are nice to have, but not much room for rear passengers unless you scoot front seats up. Plastic console dents easily (dont drop anything on it). Vehicle is shorter than some cars. Mixed feelings, but quality vehicle

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  No comparison to other minivans - 2012 Nissan Quest
  By greywulfe - March 28 - 4:58 am

  When shopping for a minivan, I wanted something that had less than bland styling. The quest by far is the most impressive looking minivan out there IMO - it has a very distinctive shape that no other comparable van has. Styling aside, the biggest advantage is the interior. I own an LE model -The Honda and Toyota both have very cheap interiors. Try knocking on the dash on the Toyota. With leather seats, this truly is a luxury vehicle. The cargo capacity is massive. Do you really plan to take out the car seats? These fold flat...anything big - rent a truck.