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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  Pocket Rocket on Four Wheels - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Red Rider - December 30 - 1:00 am

  I get so many looks when I drive by in this BEAUTIFULLY designed Code Red (with Black interior) Car. This is the car Ive long waited for... Id suggest getting it SIMONIZED at the dealer and keep using their products via touchless washes... It REALLY SHINES !!! Side Note: 18" Chrome/Silver Wheels with Red Accents really set off the colors. Mille Migli..... Ive got the Black/Red Fever Man !!!!

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  172,000 miles and no problems - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By miktyler - December 30 - 12:30 am

  I bought my Altima in 2009 with 40,000 miles on it. Its now at 172,000 miles and still runs perfectly. It has been driven very hard the entire time I have had it. I drive the car 100mph+ on a weekly basis and it has never failed me. All I have done is change the oil every 3000 miles. Ive had to replace the brakes a few times which has more to do with how I drive than anything else. I would highly recommend an Altima to anyone who is looking for a dependable vehicle. Its not the fastest or best handling car on the road but it is more than capable of anything you would need. Only complaint might be that it handled poorly in the snow when I used to live in Michigan.

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  Poor built - 2012 Nissan Rogue
  By veldatt - December 29 - 10:17 pm

  We bought our fully loaded Nissan Rogue, after reading lots of reviews. We drove the car and it seemed nice. We have driven this SUV for 12,000 km now and it seems it is a poorly built SUV. The paint is cheap and the flap cover over the spare wheel in the trunk jumps making lots of annoying noise (as if you are carrying empty utensils). When shown to the dealer, they say this is the way it is built and when it is cold temperature outside, the rubber knobs shrink and there will some noise. The flap cover is actually loose and not tied down by screws. This is a quality issue which Nissan must address. We paid $38k for this SUV, but are repenting. We should have bought VW Tiguan or Rav4.

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  my nissan - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By Ryan Collins - December 29 - 6:43 pm

  great all arround truck, what you would expect on gas and plenty of power to tow large trailers or simply overtake on the road. somewhat stiff ride but again its a truck. the tailgate is heavy is my only complant. the interior feels more spaceious than the dodge ram crewcab that i own.

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  Finally a Truck that I like - 2007 Nissan Frontier
  By strinbender - December 29 - 9:56 am

  After driving,a Ford Ranger for several years and a Chevy Colorado for 1 year, this truck is a dream to drive. Much smoother and quieter than the other small trucks that I have driven in the past.This truck also has more power than I will ever use and at the same time has a good gas mpg rating for a truck. Back seat works great for extra passengers or folds flat for extra interior cargo space. So far it rates a 10.

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  Titan burly exhaust note - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By Bob - December 29 - 2:46 am

  As to the con: burly exhaust note, this is actually one of the best features. The titan sounds awesome. Unfortunately thats the only good I see. Titan has known issues with the brakes. Apparently they chose a rotor that the metal distorts and causes the rotors to warp and the steering wheel shakes really bad. I had them done first at 13k miles and again at 19k miles. The first fix they cut all 4 rotors, and now there is a horrendous noise in the front suspension, second time they replaced the fronts with the same thing that was on there before and again said they cut the rear rotors. The service manager told me to keep bringing it back. I dont want to keep bringing it back.

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  2007 Altima 3.5 SE with Tech Package - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By ssd - December 28 - 6:56 pm

  Love it! I went for the fully loaded SE model with tech package. I was deciding between the Lexus IS, Infiniti G35, Acura TL and the Altima blew them away, and for 10k less! The bluetooth is amazing. Using my cell phone through the car has perfect sound quality. No need to yell. The CVT is also impressive, power will never be a problem. The acceleration is so fast that I havent even come close to flooring the gas pedal. One thing to note is that the CVT does "hold" the car when you let off the gas pedal. Similar feeling to when you have cruise control on and are driving down a hill. Only major gripe are the seats. Very stiff and uncomfortable, even with the lumbar support.

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  Love my Z - 2006 Nissan 350Z
  By ceavila - December 28 - 10:00 am

  I enjoy driving my car everyday through South Florida. Since I got my car I cannot stop thinking where to go next. I recommend this car to anyone who is single since is only a 2 seat car.

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  Great car, some reviews not too fair - 2007 Nissan Maxima
  By mrjosephmama - December 28 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car new in 2006. With more than 75k on the odometer, I have no complaints about the car. I have driven it several times across country in the seat for 16 hours. Driver fatigue was low and comfort was excellent even for that long. Some other reviews I have read complain about gas mileage, premium gas required, gas tank size etc. Not to sure if they did their research but these arent flaws. Its like complaining that a Corvette has too much power. Do you research because this isnt an "economy car" its a sport sedan. 28 MPG on the highway and 21 mixed which aint too bad. If you bought this car used and complain about reliability, it was abused.

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  Great but popping noise! Help - 2008 Nissan Pathfinder
  By vrjack - December 28 - 10:00 am

  I havens had any major problems since purchasing my Pathfinder in 2007, but this clicking noise it getting to me! Has anyone else had this problem? Was it fixed? I took it to the dealership for oil changes and I was sure to mention it every time. Its noticeable when I am coming to a stop or slowly backing up. The best way to describe it...it sounds like the little toy lawnmower with the balls inside that pops up as the child pushes it! Yeah, that popping sound more so than clicking. They said that Nissan hasnt recognized it as a problem at least the las time I asked about a year ago. I havent had any problems driving it or anything.