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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  Two years and running strong - 2007 Nissan Xterra
  By Robert - October 7 - 11:43 pm

  I wrote a note a while ago about my Xterra. We moved to Germany and the X has performed perfectly. The only issue I have with it is the trans. It is very difficult to shift into second gear. It sometimes makes a grinding noise as well. But it is not that serious of a problem yet. Over all a great vehicle and the size is perfect!

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  Great Vehicle - 2000 Nissan Frontier
  By Jim Taylor - October 7 - 10:26 pm

  My 2000 Nissan Frontier has been a very reliable vehicle. I have 103,500 miles on it, and it shows no sign off ailing. I honestly feel the vehicle will go another 80,000 to 100,000 miles easily. So if youre looking for a reliable vehicle, you shouldnt go wrong with this one.

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  what the... - 2008 Nissan Frontier
  By truck&cat - October 6 - 10:43 pm

  After 11 months and 32K replaced transmission. (bad synchronizers. Other than that plastic is tacky, A/C fan is getting louder and louder, windows rattle. Plenty of room for a field serviceman for tools and whatever you need for 4-5 day trips. Gas mileage is reasonable, 23mpg on hwy if you dont go over 70mph. Tried all grades, the best results with 89 octanes. Turning radius could be better.

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  Ride On - 2017 Nissan Armada
  By Javier Solis - October 6 - 7:16 pm

  Spacious and great technology package.

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  Travelin Man - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By Tim - October 6 - 11:16 am

  Overall, pretty happy with the car. Bought it in 4-04 with 42,000 miles. Doubled the mileage in one year. Mileage is pretty good, although the car "feels" like its getting old. I have never owned a Nissan before, bought this one on reputation alone. Would POSSIBLY buy another one in the future when I learned how to drive slower. At 35, I got my first two speeding tickets driving this car. LOL!

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  Great first car - 2014 Nissan Versa Note
  By mattywiggles - October 5 - 11:37 pm

  The Note is pretty good considering it is one of the cheapest cars you can buy new at the moment. Manual windows, locks, pretty much everything besides the side mirrors is manual. The interior is very cheap and plastic feeling. At the same time however, the interior is simple and easy to navigate. The back seats have some of the best space for any small car on the market. You can easily fit two 300+lbs 6 foot high people in the back with no problem. The 1.8L motor does the job just fine producing 109HP. It isnt very quick, but I have yet to have any problems merging onto the highway or driving on any road. Im happy with this purchase.

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  Ok until around 90k miles - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By maximus02 - October 5 - 12:16 pm

  Great vehicle for the last few years. However, around 90k miles the transmission broke. Replacement rebuilt transmission $4200, beware of higher mileage vehicles.

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  Fun, cheap pocket rocket - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By brettbest - October 4 - 2:00 am

  This car compares favorably with every car Ive owned. Toyota MR2, Nissan 300zx, Volksawgen GTI, etc. none of them compare with the z. Straight line speed, cornering and manacing good looks all combine in a package under 30k. WOW!

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  Car #58! - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By ronco - October 4 - 2:00 am

  This is the 58th car Ive owned and one of the best! While this dippy website dings me for the "seafoam green" color, I still get compliments nearly 2 years after purchase. In fact, I have people tell me theyd buy the same car color as mine but then there would be two in the neighborhood. I test the V6 and said, "what for?" The powerful 175 HP 4 cyl out performs the boring Honda and Camry by far! I added aftermarket wheels and it looks like a much more expensive car.

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  Good car for price/features - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By kvm08091 - October 4 - 2:00 am

  A good car for price to features. Replaced 1994.4 Limited edition 5spd with this one. Looks like old car has better fuel economy and back seat legroom! Recommend to anyone looking for a a good commute car OR First time buyer.