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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  great car - 2000 Nissan Sentra
  By the technician - December 19 - 10:00 am

  A very good car.50,000 miles and no problems.A little slow off the line with automatic trans but over 60mph it flies.36 mpg highway,no complaints there.cant think of another car in this class I would rather have.I am a mechanic and have seen a lot more problems with Honda and Toyota.I am pleased.

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  Almost a good truck - 2001 Nissan Frontier
  By Watercolors - December 19 - 10:00 am

  ItÂ’s been reliable & very utilitarian. The bed extender works well. Front seat comfort is good,back seat is OK. The handling is numb and the fuel economy is poor but itÂ’s a four wheel drive truck. What is a problem is the paint and the carpets. The Aluminum colored bumper paint is falling off on the edges and on the roof rack. These are areas where its had little contact with anything. Also the carpet is discoloring. The trucks not been abused. Im going to take it to Nissan and see what they say but I dont have high hopes. On my previous Nissan truck there were similar problems and they walked away from them. I swore I wouldnt buy another but I did.

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  Great car for the price - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By ChaosKid420 - December 19 - 10:00 am

  Ive wanted this car since it first came out in 2002. Personally, I like the older body style a little better but the interior on the 2004+ is a lot nicer and is just more pleasing to the eye. Premium stereo isnt very premium. VERY quick car. LSD keeps it in line. 6- spd is quite fun. Stock tires lack grip in snow. Handles corners like a dream, minus the slight stiffness over some bumps. Beats most cars in its class.

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  Best SUV - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By Reese74 - December 19 - 10:00 am

  I wasnt thinking about getting a Murano at first. Then I started looking at it and liking it, so I decided to test drive it. After that moment I feel in love, and went to two other dealerships just to drive it again. The day after my birthday I got one. I still find myself just looking at it sometimes, I love everytime I get in it to go somewhere. Everything is great, the Murano may not be classified as a luxary SUV but it should be. I was about to get the Lexus 330.....The Murano was waaay better.

• 

  Rust Bucket - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By Sonja Richardson - December 19 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my Xterra 4 months ago. 1st time I washed it I noticed rust all over. I took it to 2 Nissan Dealers. 1 would not do anything, the other is willing to give it a acid bath. What a joke. It will be a complete rust bucket with in a year.

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  THE MAX!! - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By bobt - December 19 - 10:00 am

  This is the greatest car Ive ever owned. I also have a Chrysler 300 ,which I thought was great until I got the Max. It turns heads going down the road. It is just fun to drive. I recommend it.

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  The wait was worth it - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By astraumins - December 19 - 10:00 am

  I ordered my Altima specifically to get the 3.5SE in black with the 5spd manual. It is probably the most fun car I have ever driven. Every time I get in I just smile. The imprvmnts over the 04 model is worth forgoing the 04 finance option and getting the 05. If you are thinking of getting a Maxima, definitely look at an Altima too. I have driven both the 04 Maxima, 04 and 05 Altima and can tell you a fully loaded Altima beats a basic Maxima any day, especially since it is 27K for a loaded Altima w/out Nav and 28K for a basic Maxima. Plus the Alti beats the Max in the 0-60. OR just wait till the 05 Altima SE-R comes out in September. nissanclub.com

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  Excellent Choice for X-over SUV - 2006 Nissan Murano
  By Hawg2k - December 19 - 5:20 am

  As a long time Toyota and Honda owner - 8 Toyotas and 3 Hondas, it was a monumental decision to try Nissan. The Murano has quelled any concerns I had about Nissan products! This machine is incredible; the "shiftless" CVT is flawless and provides constant and even power throughout normal driving ranges. The ride is firm but refined, especially for SUVs. Although we have only driven the Murano in summer conditions, it has done extremely well in the rain and mud. Im sure it will be a very adequate vehicle for the winter season. Lastly, but far from the least, the overall buying experience at the dealership where I purchased this vehicle was by far the best I have ever had.

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  its got what i need - 2001 Nissan Frontier
  By amlikethewind - December 19 - 2:00 am

  paid 7900 - 43k miles, great condition. its our third vehicle behind a passat (speed) and explorer (road trips. drives great for a truck - i can take turns hard and its got enough acceleration to pass the idiots yapping on their cell phones. this is a strong 4 cyl engine, and i got 26 mpg on the first tank. im the meanest person i know - kicked a lot of tires and yelled at a lot of sales people. this truck had the best combo of comfort, price, and reliability i could find. also, the dealer was quite reasonable to deal with - i would recommend them (http://www.jaymitsubishi.com/en_US/)

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  Not the Best Family Vehicle - 2003 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Wetfly - December 19 - 2:00 am

  Shoulda done more homework: We were taken by the performance, responsiveness, and sporty look of the Pathfinder, but quickly came to realize that the back seat and cargo areas are skimpy, and the ride is...well...jumpy? The V6 is fun, but combine that with some mediocre rubber and no Traction Control, and pulling out into a wet intersection during heavy traffic can get dicey...