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:

• 

  Nissan Murano - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Faye - July 16 - 8:30 pm

  The seats are very comfortable, We have the SL with key less entry which is great. Back Seats recline and there is a lot of leg room in the back. We have had several mechanical issues which never seem to be under warrenty. Really good pickup when starting

• 

  Good car and excellent gas mileage! - 2012 Nissan Versa
  By hightechjunkie - July 16 - 6:36 pm

  I recently bought the 2012 Nissan Versa SV with the CVT transmission and let me tell you the CVT takes a while to get used to. There are NO actual gears in a CVT transmission only pulleys and a belt. It seems to hesiate when you step on the gas from a dead stop and thats because its looking for the right belt/pulley ratio. Its only momentary but you will notice the difference between the CVT trans and a regular 4 or 5 speed trans. Not a bad thing, just something to get used to. it also seems to "downshift" a tad when you let of the gas...again the CVT trying to optimize engine transmission synchronization. Overall I am very happy with the Versa but would like to see minor improvements.

• 

  This vehicle is awesome...... - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By alankc1 - July 16 - 1:23 pm

  I dont think Ive ever owned a vehicle that I love more than this one. It has all the options, other than leather, (but who needs leather, hah) and Ive installed a satellite radio system.....For the money, you cant go wrong.

• 

  Traded 05 Pathfinder for 08 Armada - 2008 Nissan Armada
  By brandon - July 16 - 11:20 am

  Loved our Pathfinder and love our Armada. The ride is fantastic and fit and finish is far above all American competitors. Turning radius is great too. 7 inch LCD in dashboard is very functional and nice looking. 2nd row leg room and comfort is superb in Armada. Drove 200 miles all freeway and got just over 16 mpg so not bad. Lots of power to spare with the v-8. Got a nissan extended warranty when purchased. Will help ensure investment is protected (should not need to use it though).

• 

  Nismo V6 King Cab - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By duker51 - July 16 - 3:40 am

  Very nice truck. Roomy, seats are comfy, handles very well, and looks rad. This truck is very solid. Good room and visability from all angles. The engine and trans work well together, smooth and powerful. Off roading is awesome. The Nismo was built for this and it work very well. Locking Rear, VDC, 4-Wheel Limited slip, all perform admirable!

• 

  good car but nothing special - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By pv - July 15 - 11:50 pm

  I bought this car used from a family friend 2 years ago. It is at 76k miles and has not had any major problems. I feel like the car is mid-range in every aspect. For instance, the V6 engine is responsive but nothing like a sports coupe. It gets decent gas mileage but nothing spectacular. I like the look and design of the interior, but the materials used makes it feel a little cheap. Overall I think this car is good at a lot of things but great at nothing. It looks and feels more sporty than my Moms Camery, but has all the same practical uses. It is a rational choice for someone looking for a functioning car with a little more flare than your average sedan.

• 

  Hit or Miss - 2010 Nissan Versa
  By baire92 - July 15 - 7:53 pm

  All I can go by is the three weeks I had my car but I had a bad experience. Acceleration in a word SUCKS! Its not as bad on the freeway but when you press on the petal it feels like your going no where. Its the worst on complete stops when your trying to pick up speed in traffic. More than once people honked and gave me dirty looks. If the gas mileage was good I would overlook this but thats not even the case, and I use midgrade. Interior rattles all the time and reeks of cheapness. The overall design is nice and the headroom is amazing, however he leg room could be a bit better. Had to take it back to the dealer four times due to a defect in the suspesion before they upgraded me to a sentra

• 

  Best car I ever owned - 2001 Nissan Sentra
  By nogyoff - July 15 - 7:08 pm

  I finally traded this one in after 13 years, 135K, and minimal maintenance. The only non wear-and-tear type of repair I had to do was a replacement catalytic converter, which was about $500. It was a decent, ridiculously cheap, comfortable, extremely reliable car to drive and Ill miss her.

• 

  Great everyday car - 1996 Nissan Maxima
  By Scott - July 15 - 1:26 pm

  Great car to drive for everyday use. More than enough power and handles well at high speeds. Never had a problem after a year. Only had to change brakes and tires. Car handles great in the snow up in Buffalo, NY. All around awsome car I would highly recomend the purchase of a maxima I do not think itll disappoint you at all.

• 

  Utility and off road - 2006 Nissan Xterra
  By mkrash84 - July 15 - 1:20 pm

  On road: avg 20.5 city/up to 24 hwy mpg. Great utility vehicle, have carried large fridge, washer/dryer, many other home remodeling items. Long road trips are nice with wife and 2 large dogs. Great engine performance, able to sleep in back diagonally (Im 62"). 4x4: have done gnarly 4x4: ground clearance decent, articulation decent, tracks well, departure angle fair, in 4 Low, throttle not sensitive enough, 2Low should be geared lower, shocks OK, rear bottoms out easily (suspension design issue), stock tires fair. Not on par with Jeep off road, but a very good starting point, will have to modify for serious 4x4. Had to replace clutch at 17k, but under warranty. No other problems.