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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  oh what a feeling...MURANO - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By big buckeye nut - May 8 - 6:30 pm

  One awesome crossover SUV...wanted a reliable crossover or SUV that is comfortable for a big person to drive...not only is it comfortable inside, but height lets you literally slide in and out of vehicle. Ride is very smooth, peppy engine...almost got a ticket the first day! Exterior design is very unique and attention grabbing...not like every other car in the parking lot! AWD SL w/ Touring pkg gives you everything you would want. Controls are easy to use and in good reach and location. Seats are very comfortable in front...ok in back. BOSE system is absolutely fantastic. Had it 10 days and just cant find anything not to like! Nissan quality!

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  The Max - 1995 Nissan Maxima
  By R Keister - May 8 - 6:10 pm

  At 150,000 miles, and practically NO mechanical problems, this car is AMAZING! The engine runs like its new. Of course, my penchant for religious maintenance might have something to do with that. Its comfortable, quiet, powerful and all-in-all pleasant to drive. Fuel economy is really good considering the vintage and engine size (3.0L V6) - 21 in town and as high as 28 on trips.

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  Squeaky Brakes - 2010 Nissan Versa
  By sjtdkt - May 8 - 4:16 pm

  We purchased our 2010 Versa. In April 2010. Over all it is a great car. Great gas mileage. But the only problem we are having with ours is it doesnt even have 10,000 mile on it but the brakes squeak. We took it in to the dealers several times. For repair but they still squeak.

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  Great Road Car - 2006 Nissan Sentra
  By Chester Morrison - May 8 - 7:30 am

  I bought the 2006 Nissan Sentra five speed manual after the great experience with my wifes 2002 Pathfinder. I having been driving the car 280 miles a day since October in a new job. I average about 31 miles to the gallon. The car is fun to drive: very responsive and handles great in traffic. The interior is not luxurious but ample enough for my needs. The CD player came standard and the speaker system is great. Its the cheapest car I have ever purchased and I am quite pleased.

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  A Great SUV - 2016 Nissan Rogue
  By T O - May 8 - 4:30 am

  I love it. There are 2 things it need: an extra USB port & auto start. I loooove my Rogue!

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  This Dog Can Hunt! - 2011 Nissan Cube
  By allan27 - May 7 - 7:45 pm

  I purchased my 2011 Nissan Cube a year ago and put over 60000 kilometers in that time. I have performed meticulous preventative maintenance and use symthetic oil. The car has been extremely reliable thus far and gets excellent fuel mileage! The Cube is very comfortable with thick padded seats and has plenty of headroom for tall people. My SL model is fully loaded with the likes of heated front seats, Navigation, Back-up camera, climate control and a Rockford Fosgate sound system mounted on the rear door. My only complaint is that the interior plastic paneling scratches very easily :(

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  Great All Around Vehicle - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By Roy Guy - May 7 - 7:13 pm

  We purchased the Nissan Murano after reading the overall great reviews from people that had purchased a 2009 Murano. The 3.5 V6 engine is great and I am sold on the CVT, you cant feel it shifting.

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  Excellent Purchase - 2006 Nissan Murano
  By Joel Smith - May 7 - 3:53 pm

  Probably the best car weve purchased. Great handling in mountain roads and plenty of power to pass on a grade. Love the changes in the interior over the 2005. Quiet ride. This is a must drive for someone who wants the height of a SUV but not the bulk of the large SUV

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  Excellent Purchase - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By kcee2 - May 7 - 11:47 am

  Love my purchase! Aesthetically pleasing interior for the price, exceeding expectations. The instrument panel is easy to read and the layout is relaxed and comfortable. Because of the remote starter, Im okay without heated/cooled seats. The 7 in monitor/navigation screen is pretty awesome and so is the zero-gravity seating. Its all really cool, including the performance. In fact, my sedan actially drives better (to me) than the 2012 and 2013 coupe version, which I drove exclusively the last two years.

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  Awesome Machine... - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By Pranav - May 7 - 8:43 am

  This car is amazing. I had to go with a family sedan, but did not want to sacrfice on the fun factor.... this car fits the bill. I would highly recomend taking a look at this car if you need a 4 door sedan but still like to have some good "drives"