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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  14500 lbs pulled like a champ - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By brad - February 10 - 10:33 pm

  i got my nismo in 8/05 i have not been easy with it i work on a tobbaco farm and i use it every day driving through the fields at high speed that i would not dare to take a ford or dodge because you would tear the hell out of it. now power all i have to say i weighed in at the scalls at 14,500 lbs and pulled it better than any half ton truck. it is a awsome 4 welling machine i have only got stuck twice and that was becouse i sunk stright down to the chasy u could only see about 3 inches of the tires. it i s a great truck and well worth the money.

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  Still loved my 2008 with 61k miles - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By quezon118 - February 10 - 7:43 pm

  Bought this car brand new in 2008, S model. Loved the CVT engine, got used to it after 3 days of driving. Comfortable drive, car turns like a dime. Did not have any major issues except 2013 when the dealer have to replaced the brake cylinder for leakage (under warranty.) Still driving with original tires and break pads which I need to replace soon otherwise, it runs and drives beautifully! This is my 2nd Altima, my first one was a 1994, drove it for 15 yrs. with 170k miles on it.

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  Pathfinder to Pathfinder - 2006 Nissan Pathfinder
  By TonyD - February 10 - 7:50 am

  Have had no major problems in the first 3yrs of ownership. Just recently, the SES alert came on. Diagnostics indicated fuel system issue. Online research has shown this is a known issue, but no help from Nissan, so Im somewhat concerned about that. Mileage is average; decreases exponentially with aggressiveness of driving; haha. Overall, the feel of the ride was a HUGE improvement from earlier model. Cargo bay is very useful and seat conversion is very easy. Its not a roomy vehicle, but anyone who tries before buys should know that and not complain if they take it. Overall, Im very satisfied

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  Another nice car by Nissan - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Rob Binetti - February 10 - 6:10 am

  This is my 4th Nissan I have owned. And it is another great car from Nissan. I love the exterior body style. The fuel economy is exceptional for a mid-size sedan. The 4 cyl behaves like a 6 cyl. I do wish we had the option of getting leather seats without the need to buy the SL package, but Ill just bring the car to a good interior shop to change the seats to a custom leather interior. This vehicle should be on anyones list for a mid-sized sedans.

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  LOVE this truck! - 2008 Nissan Frontier
  By toelint - February 9 - 11:08 pm

  I ABSOLUTELY love this truck! I have the 08 4.0L V6 4x4 Frontier and think its a great truck for its size. I bought it "new" (it had 1 owner before me who bought it from the dealership new, didnt make a payment on it, and had it repossessed 6months after buying it...the truck hit 2k miles on my test drive), and have put 28k miles on it in just the last year and a half. It drives like a car, but can act like a truck. I use it off roads and its reliable, handles well, and climbs obstacles. On the road, its quiet, acceleration picks up really quickly, and steering is perfect. Not super tight, but definitely not loose. Turn radius is great and 4WD doesnt compromise it at all.

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  Nice Versa - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By Nice Versa - February 9 - 10:20 pm

  Considering 2008 versa 1.8S and 2008 Hyundai elantra SE, purchased 1.8SL from very nice private party for a good deal, however it came with new car smell. It had just front ABS, however brake was good. Roomy back seat. A bit noisy on windy day. The noise also has to do with the type of hard tire for better MPG. Soft tire would reduce tire noise for less MPG. I need to adjust my driving habit to handle small engine for better mileage and durability. Good handling and adequate power (not ample power) on highway for 70-80 mph cruise w/3 adults. Passing trucks on highway was ok. Did not feel dangerous. Not tested for any rain or snow condition yet. Better than Honda Fit.

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  Beware something is up with the Nissan Altima - 2016 Nissan Altima
  By mccd04 - February 9 - 2:37 am

  I parked my new Nissan in my daughters driveway and took a couple of items into her house, I cam back out to get the rest and my car was gone. I look around and see it sitting in the neighbors yard across the street in their bushes. I walk across the street open the car and push the button to start it and move it back in the driveway and this time I set the parking brake. I immediately call the dealership and get told to bring it in for them to look at. After the dealership having my car for a month which is longer than I had it before this happening they tell me they cant find anything wrong and for me just to always set my parking brake but when it happens again to not move the vehicle just call them immediately and they will come get the car. They also told me that most likely the car wasnt all the way in PARK thus it rolled across the street and hit the neighbors bushes and because when a Nissan Altima hits something the transmission automatically puts the car in Neutral that is why I was able to start it without it being in PARK. Initial questions from the dealership were 1. When I got back in the car did I have to shift gears before starting it. NO 2 Did I recall hearing anything when I opened the car door. NO . Problem I have with this logic after getting my car back I ran a series of tests. 1. No matter what gear I have the car in other than park it keeps beeping and flashes a message to put car in park. 2. I have reached out to several friends who are mechanics to find out if its the truth that when in a collision that in the Nissan Altima the transmission really gets put into Neutral(of course I dont want to intentionally hit something to see if it is true or not). To be noted also I have numerous friends and family and this is my third Nissan Altima and this is the first safety issue I have had but to me it is a big one. I will say one of my 2014 Nissan Altimas did have an issue with the entire console constantly going out sometimes for a few minutes sometimes for a day after 18 months and over 12 visits at the shop they replaced it but after a little bit it started doing it all over again which is why I traded it in June for the 2016 because I was tired of constantly having to spend half a day at the car dealership why they tried to repair my car.

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  They could have done a better job - 2007 Nissan Maxima
  By ATC - February 8 - 6:26 pm

  I rent one for a weekend trip of 1200 miles. It is mostly a good car, but lacks characteristics. It is big, but smaller than a Buick Lucerne. It is quiet, more noisy than a Toyota Avalon. Set between mid-size and full-size sedans, it feels awkward in dimensions: bigger can get more comfort; smaller can bring more fun; but now we kind of get lost. The drivers seat is supportive, but painful when driving more than 4 hours. The steering is too flexible at higher speed, although it does a good job at local. It gets 24 mpg, which is at the bottom of Japanese cars. CVT is smooth when set to auto, but the manual mode needs serious improvements. With such a price, Nissan could have done better.

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  RR - 1999 Nissan Pathfinder
  By KR - February 7 - 11:56 pm

  I purchased the care new in 1999. Have 180,000+ miles on it and its still going strong. Had to replace struts, ignition and blower motor ... not bad for 10+ years of ownership. Still getting 20+ mpg too! Only down fall is it doesnt have the 3rd row seat ... guess that gives me an excuse to get a new one!

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  Its been a great car - 1997 Nissan Altima
  By GB - February 7 - 5:53 am

  I just handed my 1997.5 Altima down to the kids with 158000 miles on it and expect many more good miles from it. The car has been very comfortable and reliable over the years. I did all the scheduled maintenance and the car has been great. I upgraded to the 2007 Altima and the kids are happy to have my old faithful. It should get another 100k miles easy.