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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  Awww!!!! Man!!! Another Mistake - 2005 Nissan Armada
  By BJ - September 30 - 9:33 am

  I cannot stress to you about how much my 05 Armada has been giving me problems. I have to take it to the dealer every couple of weeks to get something fixed. From the A/C to the automatic tailgate. The A/C wouldnt give out cold air. It takes about 15- 20 minutes for it to get going. The steering wheel vibrates when you go 55 mph or more. The DVD system would not play the DVDs. The front headlights got water stuck inside of them because they were not installed correctly. The CD player would not eject my CDs. I went to the grocery store and I had a whole bunch of foods for Thanksgiving and the tailgate would not open. You could not manually open it or even open it with the remote.

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  Just Bought - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By 2003Spec-V - September 30 - 2:00 am

  I have had the car for a day now. The car is real fun to drive. Great pick up even without down shifting. Rides real nice. Turns well. I got it with all the options plus some. SE-R engraved leather seats, SE-R Bra, Wheel Locks,Moonroof visor.Rockford Fosgate sound system. Little bit more than some competiors but alot better of a car in my opinion.

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  Nissan Frontier Great Pick-UP Truck - 2000 Nissan Frontier
  By onezik - September 30 - 2:00 am

  This truck is great in ice or snow if you know how to drive it. Not great on gas but looks great and extremely reliable. It is not a fast truck but will not let you down and looks great. I Love My Frontier

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  powerful and spacious - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By Ronald Desir - September 30 - 2:00 am

  this vehicle is impressily powerful and fun to drive. even without 4wd i was able to drive on the snow easily. thanks to its 18 inch wheels this and its 305 horsepower this full size suv is truly the real deal. and not to great andling.

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  Nissan Armada a refreshing experience - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By Orange Nutcutter - September 30 - 2:00 am

  The Nissan Armada is our second experience into the SUV market. It is fun to drive, handles well and is an eye catcher from other SUV drivers. The Armada does not have the clumsy feel that our last SUV had and corners better than the Yukon and Expedition we test drove. For the money, you get more quality and more room than the Armadas domestic competition.

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  Get This Car. If you like Very fast! - 2004 Nissan Altima
  By tech181 - September 30 - 2:00 am

  I am very impressed with this car as it it very affordable and has a ton of features that actually work like it says in the advertisements. Very Quiet, very powerful engine. Great interior layout. Nice gauges that are easy to read day and night. The car is breath taking fast and stops on a dime if you have to. Great looks and great performance at a great price is basically what this car adds up to. One test drive and you wil be hooked on the 3.5SE V6 model, Guaranteed.

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  Love our Xterra - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By KyNissan - September 30 - 2:00 am

  Fun to drive and plenty off power. Only wish the MPGs were better.

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  1st minivan - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Randy B - September 30 - 2:00 am

  I was set on buying a Honda Oddysey until I saw and drove the Quest. The second day I had it, I drove on a 3000 mile trip all the way to Baja ,Mexico. It was a pleasure on the road. All the features are too much to list. My wife wanted an SUV untill she drove the Quest and now she and the kids love it!

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  What an SUV used to be - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By Puts - September 30 - 2:00 am

  At one time an SUV was an on/off road vehicle. Now they are simply status symbols. If you are in the market for what an SUV was origonally intended for, then this is for you. It rides well on and off road. We added a tow package, Power Package, and a Sport Package all of which are a must. We never got the Electrochromic mirror which was not offered on the model we got. I think it is a must if you want to be off road and in the bush

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  Love My - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By VeryBZ - September 30 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned my "Z" for 3 months and it is the most fun of any car I have owned. The performance is amazing - great handling, superb brakes, incredible power. It is a real head turner. And all of this from the base model.