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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  My 2007 Nissan Sentra - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By gggage - June 18 - 3:13 pm

  I have had this car for over a month and I am very disappointed with it. The car does not come near the estimated gas mileage. I am getting 27 mpg in the city as an average and only 26 to 27 mpg on the highway. I would have expected closer to 32 on the highway. The car does not take bumpy roads very well. The suspension seems to be stiff.When the temperature outside is below freezing and the car is cold the transmission will not shift down until it warms up.

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  Nissan Sentra S shines as a daily driver - 2017 Nissan Sentra
  By Rich Rausser - June 16 - 9:51 pm

  I’ve been driving a brand new 2017 Nissan Sentra S for the past two months and 2,000 miles while my DD is in the shop for some work. I must say that I am impressed with this car as a daily driver. The car is comfortable and quiet. The seats are amazingly comfortable and they provide good lateral support for those of us who like to corner a bit harder than most. One really outstanding attribute is the fuel mileage. I can’t seem to get less than 38 MPG in my daily driving. When I really flog the car hard, my mileage drops to 34 MPG which is still very good. Oh, and on highway trips to Jersey, I’ve been able to get 49 MPG if I use a light foot on the gas. And one more thing, while the car is not super quick, it is more than adequate in normal day-to-day driving and the CVT transmission also works well with the power output of this engine. All-in-all, this is a very good car, and this comes from a guy who drives a BMW M2 on a regular basis.

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  No Mechanical Problems - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By 08LasVenturas - June 16 - 7:06 am

  Weve owned our Altima since March of 2008 and havent had one mechanical problem. It rides smoothly and quietly, especially with the CVT transmission. The exterior is sporty looking but the paint chips easily. The Key has been nothing but problems. One of the buttons is already missing while the paint chipped on another one. Not to mention it always sets off the car alarm unintentionally. The interior is nice looking and the dash is well laid-out. It also looks nice lit up at night. There are plenty of cup holders, but the plastics are cheap especially on the doors, where they are all scratched and damaged after only a year.

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  Huge Bang for the Buck - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By Redline_Red_N_TN - June 15 - 11:40 am

  Bought this car brand new and have loved every mile. Do not buy this car if you have a lead foot or if you dont like attention. Its FAST and only made for two people. Long trips get a little tiring but the mileage is great for a sports coupe with this much power. Easy to make this car really custom with bigger rims and tires and small style touches. Dont buy this car if you dont know how to drive, its 100% a drivers car.

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  Mouse in the house - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By Canadian Rogue Owner - June 15 - 6:30 am

  We love this car. The clearance and fuel economy were the deciding factors for buying it. We live on a farm and have experienced in the seven months that weve owned it: two separate mouse nests in the heater fan, dirt and ice build up in the wheels and grinding noise from the front end (which is now on going). We didnt have problems like this with the Oldsmobile we used as a trade in. We also added a spoiler to reduce the dust and snow build- up on the back window, but it didnt do that. The spoiler did help the fuel economy somewhat though. We are getting the stated fuel economy and it is fun to drive.

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  Happy at first, but only at first. - 2001 Nissan Maxima
  By Bob - June 13 - 7:50 am

  I was happy about a year ago when I bought the car with 22,000 miles on it. I thought the car was very comfortable , powerful, and looked great. After a while I noticed the suspension was very noisy and the brakes were grinding and squealing. Well, after 4 different shops and finally going to Nissan I finally had quiet brakes and rotors $750 later. A Week later a wheel bearing went (also costly). Then the windshield starting leaking, which has now discolored the headliner and now sometimes the car acts as if it doesnt want to crank like the starter is going to die. Now the check engine light is on. The leather seats are also cracking after taking excellent care of them!

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  Great Car - 1998 Nissan Maxima
  By John_Denver - June 12 - 7:40 am

  Ive only owned mine for a year and put around 19k on it but its been a free ride so far. I have the 5 spd. Agree with someone else who complained its not the easiest to drive smoothly but no complaints otherwise. I love the reliability (nothing has failed) and quality of materials/workmanship. It gets around 28 mpg and has plenty of power. Third gear is my favorite - it just keeps pulling. Suspension is a little soft - it doesnt track like my old 318i or GTI but sure is nice on the highway. I plan to drive it a long time.

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  Awesome Car!!! - 2001 Nissan Xterra
  By John F. - June 11 - 1:56 pm

  This is the perfect first car for anyone. The interior is not the nicest, but with a teen, thats usually not a problem. The engine could be improved but its enough for most people. You cant go wrong with a Nissan.

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  Wise First Car Investment - 2006 Nissan Sentra
  By Very Satisfied - June 10 - 12:26 pm

  The 2006 Honda Sentra 1.8S is my very first car purchase and I have found that is was a great investment for a recent graduate just embarking on my careers course. For the money spent it is a wonderful combination of standard features and dependability. I love the keyless entry because many times after leaving work or leaving the grocery store, I do not have a hand free to unlock the door so being able to do so at the touch of a button is wonderful! The gas mileage is incredible and the handling is more sturdy than I anticipated. My friends, family, and co-workers all agree that I made a wise investment.

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  Never Again - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By Never buy a Nissan - June 9 - 4:30 am

  I am having the same difficulties starting my 2002 Nissan Altimas engine this winter as last which was supposedly fixed by two recalls and numerous trips to the dealership. My dealer blames this problem on too much fuel in the cylinder if the car is not fully warmed up in cold weather before turning off engine. I have never experienced this problem with the American made, Honda, or Toyota vehicles that I have owned. I had to take my car in for five recalls, everything from the headlight assembly to the tail pipe hanger. This car is terrible in the snow or on wet roads. It pulls to the right when accelerating on a wet surface. Its power window regulator malfunctioned. The quality of workmanship in this vehicle and dealer worst I have ever experienced. I am unloading this dog before the warranty runs out.