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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  Not I think it is.... - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By Warrior_pr - May 18 - 10:03 am

  Abruptly automatic transmission shifts, to much road noise on highway travel, decent suspension and motor performance, not controllable power.

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  Soooo Disappointed - 2006 Nissan Maxima
  By jc5053 - May 17 - 9:11 pm

  1st thing first,....I bought this car brand new and had no problems UNTIL my 4th year (2010). The AC unit went out ($897),....HID lights turned pink and went out ($426) and now........(infamous drumroll),..........the transmission is bad, LOL! No, its not funny at all and my head is still spinning to the tune of $2500 repair bill that was freshly printed today. WOW is all I can say. On my way back from the shop,..this guy in traffic asked me if the car was good (as hes picking one up this week), I told him "nah man this car is a piece of junk, DONT DO IT! 111k miles, 13 more payments and transmission problems are all I have to show for this car!

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  18, 20, and 46 year old drivers love it! - 2009 Nissan Cube
  By Tim B - May 17 - 6:26 am

  We purchased our Nissan Cube on July 3rd as a replacement third vehicle for our 18 and 20 year old daughters. We used the CARS program turning over our 1996 Cadillac in the process. However, now I cant get my wife out of it leaving the 08 Caravan for my daughters. This is a fun car to drive and it turns plenty of heads. Theres an amazing amount of room for the driver and passengers, and visibility is fantastic. The pick up is more than adequate and the gas mileage has been better than expected: averaging over 32 mpg combined. Downside: road noise on the highway, but what do you expect for a car in this price range? Std air, power, ABS, and much more makes this easy to recommend.

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  Nissan Altima 2.5 S is worth a look !! - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By AC2273 - May 16 - 2:00 am

  I thought the car drove excellent,,,I thought i would miss the V6 option,,,But it wasnt sluggish at all,,,the 175 HP was plenty for a 4 cyl. When driving it, with windows up you could hardly hear the road noise, let alone the engine whinning up thru the gears....I was trying to buy a new car and to stay around $20,000 or so on a 4dr sedan....Im glad i chose the Altima , over the Sonata, Mazda 6, Camry or Accord,,,All these cars start over 23,000 except for the Sonata and thats standard,,,But the upgraded exterior is for the younger driver in his/her 20s n 30s...I car fit my buget and im very happy with my purchase

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  Fun little utility car with great value - 2012 Nissan Juke
  By ptmch - May 15 - 10:50 am

  Test drive one, and you will fall in love with its driving performance. With SL trim, its a great value. Regarding MPG, with one week of ownership, what I found out is the following. If the car is driven as a small turbo punchy nimble car meant to be driven, my commute (60% HWY, 40% Local) gives about 22~23 MPG. But if I drive like my mother is sitting next to me, I was able to get 33~34 MPG on the same route. Its all up to YOU the driver how you balance MPG and performance; much more so than other cars that I had driven before.

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  Hope the new ones are better - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By Blaine - May 14 - 8:43 pm

  Car looks great & handles well. Right away we had trouble with paint chipping on back door sill, dealer was no help even though other Maximas were better. 20000km chrome (plastic) on grille peeled but dealer replaced. 61000km the battery went, 81000km a rear well sensor went, ABS, slip & VDC not working. Replaced the sensor, 220km those features not working again. No problem getting it looked at, the problem is the bill that ALWAYS comes with it. Slight steering wheel vibration, other reviews scares me to thinking it could be bearings. Would I buy another? Not sure at this time, I like the looks of the 09, but am hesitant.

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  Nissan Pathfinder - 2000 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Reflexologist Mary - May 14 - 10:00 am

  I love my Pathfinder. Its been reliable and comfortable. The ride itself is smooth compared to other SUVs. I feel safe and secure in it (compared to my husbands Explorer). Its been two years and it feels like new.

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  A Sport Truck w/o Compromising Utility - 2007 Nissan Titan
  By JLBAUCOM - May 13 - 5:26 am

  My Titan replaces an 05 F150 w/ 5.4L V8. Compared to the Ford, which was a very good truck, the Nissan has a much stronger performing drivetrain and returns fuel economy slightly better than the Ford 5.4 did. To me, the bucket seats up front are very comfortable, though some may find them too firm. The stereo and HVAC controls are laid out well and are easy to use and look very nice, even with the orange backlighting. In the back seat, I really like the wide opening rear doors when loading people or stuff when parked beside another car. The bag hooks under the back seat are also a nice touch. The stock 33" tires give the truck a very beefy look, unlike the competitions smallish tires.

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  Not half bad - 2009 Nissan Maxima
  By Taylor - May 12 - 3:03 am

  Style is great, creature comforts not bad, premium package OK. Averaging 18.7 city and 30.2 on highway.

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  Great All-Around Car - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Jason - May 11 - 1:40 pm

  This car offers a great driving experience and provides excellent practicality. The brakes hall it down from speed very quickly and have proven to be fade free on multiple trips through mountain roads. Steering is quick and neutral, and the suspension controls body motions without being overly harsh. The engine has a broad powerband, and the automatic transmission almost always shifts at the correct times while holding gears when appropriate. There is a lot of room in the car, even for tall people, and the seating position is very nice. The car has had a bad engine mount, loose rear window, and broken moonroof visor (my fault), all covered under warranty.