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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  Nissan Murano - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By lcolpus - March 26 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle really lives up to the advertising...great fun to drive, works in different modes to suit our changing daily needs. We have taken a couple of long road trips and have been delighted with the ease of handling and "usability" of the Murano. The exterior design is eyecatching and cool. We love it!

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  Empty nest - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By Z-lover - March 26 - 2:00 am

  This is my second Z. This car gets stares every where we go. It is a blast to drive. Very fast! Shifts to second a little rough, and the seats are not comfy for a big guy. All and all, a great car.

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  Syle isnt Everything - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Altima6252 - March 26 - 2:00 am

  Car looks great and is fairly comfortable, BUT is equiped with cheap tires (I replaced them with better grade tires). Interior plastics are cheap and flimsy looking- but you get what you pay for. Handles poorly at highways speeds- sways as its buffeted as the car has no weight where it counts. Difficult to keep it tracking straight.Becoming disapointing to drive.

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  45,000 miles a year later - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By Golf26guy - March 25 - 10:06 pm

  Great vehicle. Very comfortable as I drive about 1000 miles a week. Better value than other major competitors. Hung with Porsche Cayenne (base model) running 115 mph in mountains of North Carolina, with ease. After 45,000 miles not the first problem with it.

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  A Great Car - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By ted - March 25 - 8:43 pm

  Had my 03 Altima 2.5SL for three years. Excellent mechanical engineering, no fit or engine problems. Comfort for driver and passengers. Instrument panel could have better materials. Poor placing of heated seat buttons and hazard button. Radio with six-CD changer is fabulous

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  Nissans go..go...go and go............. - 2002 Nissan Frontier
  By odachimaster - March 25 - 6:16 am

  I have owned Nissan mini-trucks since 1984 purely by accident Toyota at the time were to stuck-up so I compared the 2 trucks and Nissan had the better truck on paper and since they were willing to deal I had that truck 12 years 188k and never changed a clutch this is my third one I have 51k on this one and I put new tires on it not to long ago.(I got 88k on 1st set of truck tires) I have had nothing wrong with this truck other then what I or my son have done to it.(Bent back bumper, My sons Battle Bot hurled a 10lb. Alum. box 100 into my truck blowing out my window and leaving a nasty gash all fixed) So, I say if you want something dependable you cannot go wrong with Nissan.

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  Over Rated Murano - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By mikesmurano - March 25 - 4:00 am

  This will we the last Nissan product I ever buy. The Murano is the most over rated car I have ever owned. For the price I payed, I am disgusted with the quality of the car. I care for it well and its still falling apart! I should have bought a Chevy Tahoe! 1. Failed CVT $6200. 2. Failed door solenoids $450. 3. Leakey sunroof. 4. Bose CD player failed. 5. Power seats have back lash in gear drive. 6. Cup holder arms broke with little pressure. 7. Failed CATYLITIC converter & O2 sensors $1050. 8. Valve cover PCV system clogged $450. 9. Oil leaks & coolant leaks. All of this and I change the oil every 3000 miles. I am a mechanical engineer and check every thing weekly.

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  Amazed - 2008 Nissan Maxima
  By Pags98 - March 25 - 3:26 am

  I must say that I wasnt looking to purchase a Maxima but when I found I could get a similarly equipped Maxima for almost the same price as an Altima I was intrigued. Ive loved every minute that I drive in this vehicle (and I drive a ton). Ive had it for 2.5 weeks now and have driven 1800 miles. I constantly compare it to other cars I see and my friends, many of whom have high end Mercedes, BMWs and Infinitis, cannot believe the features/capabilities of a car that costs a fraction of what theirs cost. The seats are great, the interior controls are easily accessible and the keyless entry/start is fantastic. Im averaging about 23.8 MPG so far.

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  The best - 2008 Nissan Pathfinder
  By cone747 - March 25 - 2:03 am

  Build quality of a tank! The power and "tightness" makes it feel like your driving an unstoppable machine. This is the best vehicle Ive owned. The luxury interior is awesome and has every thing you can want on a car (le version). Gas mileage isnt good (12.9), but if a cared I would have gotten a hybrid. Electic 4x4 is great never misses a beat locking in or catching it in auto. Suspension is great and the breaks are ultra smooth. Dont compare the v6 to the v8. Though they look alike there completely different I have driving both. The v6 is a wanna be, the v8 is the real deal.

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  Reliable, Fuel Efficient Car - 2009 Nissan Versa
  By Yumi - March 25 - 12:04 am

  Got the hatchback S model used. Doesnt have the most premium features (the SL model is more high end) which kept the original MSRP as the lowest out of any vehicle in the United States. My Versa came with hubcaps, power windows (some dont come with this standard), automatic transmission, no aux, no fog lamps, and a glitch in the TPMS sensor. Looking forward to getting different rims, stereo, and buying aftermarket fog lamps. It may be a boring car for some, if you dont upgrade the features, but it is great for hauling (fit a dresser with 6 drawers once, 90% of my home goods and clothing for moving out of the city, a mini fridge without folding the seats down) and is quite fuel efficient. It also comfortably fits passengers of most sizes. Also drove a Versa sedan while on my learning permit and was fun to drive, comfortable, and easy. It is a great budget vehicle for beginners and/or college students! Handling wise, it accelerates well like a jackrabbit, but steering and braking is a bit stiff and jolty compared to a Civic, although I have experienced this kind of steering in a Sentra of the same era as well. It takes a bit getting used to. As typical for most compact cars, it bounces around a bit over cracked and rough roads, which makes it a bit uncomfortable for me since I drive frequently through old and rural roads. Havent had any major problems so far, except the oil pan gasket is leaking, which is typical for a car of that age.