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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  dont believe what you hear.. - 2016 Nissan 370Z
  By mike tucker - November 5 - 10:59 pm

  all I have read in virtually every review from "experts " is that there are better choices available. really? name one!. My 2014 grey 370z roadster is an absolute superstar. It is stunning to look at. I am shocked when i go a single day without compliments or admiring glances. The power is awesome. The engine sound is brutal, in a good way. The handling and braking are true sportscar. It is absolutely reliable and the oil changes are the same price as a sentra. And I paid $38,900 for my base roadster. Now in a two seat sportscar, what car on this planet does what the Z does ??.A corvette roadster for $55,000?. A boxster for $ 60,000?..And dont make me laugh By even mentioning a miata or an FRS. And by the way, a mustang is NOT a Z competitor!, that competes with camaros and challengers, and phony auto journalists should know that. The Z is unique in the price range, and it is an excellent true sportscar!

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  Car wont start - 2012 Nissan Altima
  By solarwinds - November 5 - 10:13 pm

  We leased this vehicle... Got a great deal.. But the car now wont start and has to be towed to dealer hopefully they fix it... The dealer we got the car from is very good and the service guys are very nice and helpful... NPN in nj rt 22. The car at high speed with weight in the back passengers is ver unstable. The car has a nice design and interior but over all its a cheap built... In the snow its undrivable and as good as rear wheel drive. MPG is ok but not great. Seats are very comfortable and the dash is nice. The push button start has recently failed and the car will have to be towed...

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  Love It - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By Me - November 5 - 7:16 pm

  Love this car. Good gas mileage. Nice to drive.

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  More bang for your buck! - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By RS - November 5 - 10:46 am

  I have always liked the look of Nissans. I was interested in the Altima but didnt want to spend that much on a car. Did not want a used car either. I test drove the Sentra and once I found out all of the toys (convenience package) you can get, I was sold. I was also looking at the Mazda 3 but I was sold with the blue tooth phone and keyless ignition (I will never buy a car without that again)! The car is fun to drive and for the few times I carry more than one other passenger with me, it has proven to be a champ with passengers and for transporting stuff in the trunk/backseat area. I definitely made the right decision with this car. I had a great dealer experience as well.

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  Great Car for Money - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By bazence - November 5 - 6:56 am

  The Versa is the first car I have owned and I must say its really good. The car is surprisingly spacious for a small car, and looks like a much bigger car, even from the outside. The trunk space is HUGE. I dont see any problems with handling, as the car is REALLY GOOD at turns and has a very nice turning radius, so its very easy to park as well. The acceleration on it is not amazing, but as soon as you reach speed, the car has no problem. For the money I paid its a great car. Absolutely worth it.

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  Titan Rocks! - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By RandmanPGH - November 5 - 2:00 am

  Previous Tundra owner here and thought about going with the Tundra Double cab. The Tundra DC didnt even come close in performance/room and options or price. I needed a front bench seat which isnt even an option on the Tundra double cab. So pretty much strike 3 right there. Dont get me wrong....I loved the Tundra while I had it, but there is no comparison to the Titan now. Nissan has definitely hit a home run with the Titan!

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  Great Truck - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By ColaSC - November 5 - 2:00 am

  The Titan has been a great truck so far (2 months). Great features and excellent performance. The interier is huge and comfortable. The Titan has superior options for its price (more options than the Tundra and less costly than the F150).

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  BLOWN TRANSMISSION on Test Drive - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By doctorleevil - November 5 - 2:00 am

  Test Drives, what are they for? Seeing what your future puppy can do. I was driving the new Titan as anyone would on a test drive when the rear end chirped and the tranny downshifted extremely roughly. This was followed by a floaty rpm range with no forward movement. After trying to go around the block i realized we were stuck in 3rd (no it wasnt the manual gear lock on the shifter). After a few mintes the check engine light was glowing.

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  best truck - 2008 Nissan Frontier
  By lousfrontier - November 4 - 8:10 pm

  I have over 18,000 miles on my 2008 Frontier. My last frontier was a 2002 SC with over 90,000 miles with no problems. This is by far the best performing. Gas mileage is good, average 19.8 combined driving. Rides great with plenty of power.

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  Comfortable and Elegant... - 2012 Nissan Murano
  By halwg - November 4 - 12:51 pm

  I purchased a 2012 SL AWD in December 2011. I now have a little over 3 months on the vehicle and Im very pleased. The vehicle is comfortable, powerful, and the CVT is extremely smooth. Fit and finish is very good, and the utility of the vehicle is much better than my 2005 Maxima.