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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  A good car with some kinks - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Glenn J. darro - July 27 - 11:35 am

  I bought my 03, 2.5 Altima with 38,000 miles on it. I now have driven it another 75,000 miles ( odometer reads113,000 miles). In that time my car has never failed. however, there were repairs. following is a list of those repairs: 2 motor mounts at about 60K Coil at about 75K Crankshaft position sensor at about 60K Radiator replacement at about 60K Fuel pump at about 90K Pre-catalytic converter at 110K I love the way this car handles. The engine is peppy for a 4cyl. but sometimes I wish it was faster off the line. It is definitely a drivers car, though. It handles winding roads like a sports car, and the braking is excellent The ride is not cushy, but thats ok. The seating is quite comfortable.

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  this is number 7 nissian - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By bobby - July 27 - 8:36 am

  wow its real fast. i had a 04 and gladly got rid and upgraded to the 05 the smartest thing i have ever done. i am in slc utah and definitley be going to moab this summer. look out jeeps theres another bad boy now

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  I love my new Xterra! - 2007 Nissan Xterra
  By jason - July 27 - 8:06 am

  I really like my Xterra. I test drove just about every SUV on the market before deciding on purchasing the Xterra S. It handles really well, has great acceleration, great braking, and wonderful interior space. The only feature I am not 100% pleased with is the lack of rear seat A/C vents. Thats it. Everything else I have been greatly pleased with.

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  terrible - 2012 Nissan Versa
  By cgklaskin - July 27 - 4:27 am

  If I could give this negative stars, I would. This was the first brand new car that we had ever owned. We took such good care of it, changed the oil religiously, did all maintenance, everything we were supposed to. Two years and 80,000 miles later, the car is toast. The transmission is shot and there are so many other problems, the dealership said it was probably not worth fixing. Nissan refused to even discuss any kind of deal. They refused to give the name of the operations manager who refused help. I will never buy another Nissan and will tell everyone how awful they are. Do not buy Nissan.

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  Glad I bought it - 2009 Nissan Quest
  By Michael - July 27 - 2:03 am

  I was also considering Honda, Toyota, Hyundai and Kia. Hyundai cars are great but vans have all sorts of electrical/mechanical issues; Kia is a Hyundai with stripped down interior so they were out. Honda & Toyota bored me to tears, also much more expensive. I resisted buying a minivan for years but am enjoying the Quest. Looks and feels great. Build quality is even better than I expected. Handling is crisp, steering sharp, powertrain is strong and smooth. I traded from a small car so the mileage is not as good but still around 19 in town (with a light foot) and actually over 24 on the highway! Very pleased.

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  Great Car - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By Tim McAlevey - July 26 - 10:13 pm

  I just recently purchase an Altima 2.5SE (which is the special edition.) I absolutely love the car. Its sporty and fun to drive with excellent interior room and comfortability. Its clean on the inside and sleek on the outside. Its reliability speaks for itself as its a Nissan. Great car to own.

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  Best Crossover for the Money - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By Ratliff - July 26 - 9:20 pm

  I researched a lot of different cars before settling on the 09 Murano LE. The LE came with standard features that many of the other manufacturers only offered as expensive package options. I looked at the VW Tourag, the Lexus RX, the Infiniti FX35, the Audio Q7 and Mercedes MLK but the Murano offered more features for less money. The Murano is simply the best value in its class.

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  Fun and Dependable! - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By Desiree - July 26 - 2:00 pm

  I never owned a vehicle more than 1 yr prior to the x-terra. The X-terra has lasted me more than 5 years & its been a fun ride. I recently got in a car accident and totaled my x-terra. I was barely scratched & it kept me safe during the ordeal. My next car... an 2009 x-terra!

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  nice and fun - 2006 Nissan Armada
  By love it - July 26 - 10:46 am

  I love my truck, i had always wanted a big truck and when i compared it to the yukon xl, i knew this was for me. it is super comforable to drive, plus its fun to drive cuz u can feel the power and its still sporty looking! I think it is a very nice looking truck yet its sporty.

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  Smooth, Muscular, Stylish Power - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By Ross - July 26 - 7:23 am

  This car is an amazing value. Luxury features, powerful 265hp V6, smooth automatic transmission (which you can shift yourself if you like), a unique muscular look, huge 18" performance tires and wheels (I could go on and on about how cool this car is!) Compare it with a Toyota Avalon and see that you get more for a lot less money.