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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  Good Truck - 2000 Nissan Frontier
  By Robert - July 11 - 6:26 am

  Bought truck used in 2001 with 27k miles. Now has nearly 102,000 miles. Still going strong. Back seat does not have a lot of leg room, but is great for short adults or kids. I added a roll-n-lock bed cover to use for covering luggage on family trips. Rear cup holders are good with kids in back. My daughter is learning to drive and likes this better than our car.

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  Disappointed Owner of new Versa Note - 2014 Nissan Versa Note
  By zile - July 11 - 2:05 am

  I purchased this car in July 2014. I have spent dozens of hours @ dealerships & talking to Nissan Consumer Affairs. Wasted efforts. Still... I have a navigation system that is defective & has yet to be replaced - seems that since it is such a new car, the parts are hard to come by. The inside ceiling has come out of the rubber tubing that hold it in place - interior cheap & is uncomfortable in long rides. Cupholders to close to dash to use. Car has a difficult time in elevations or hills - I turn off the A/C & sometimes use lower gears to make it. The car is noisy when idling, esp. for such a small engine. Very crowded. Storage usage above rear cargo area, blocks rear view. Dont do it

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  Rumble noise in engine/transmission above 20MPH - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By sadnissanowner - July 11 - 1:25 am

  After my retirement, I drove for a local Nissan dealership, as a dealer trade driver. I was very impressed with the 2012 Altima, so I purchased a new 2013 Altima. This was a big mistake! Mistakely, I assumed that the engine and transmission would perform the same or even better than the 2012. How wrong I was! I love the car and everything it offers, but this rumbling noise from about 20mph onward is driving me nuts. I must trun up the radio to drown out the noise. I drove the 2012 Altimas for thousand of miles while doing my job, with complete satisfaction in the vehicle. Please dont make the mistake as I, and purchase this vehicle. I hope someone comes out with a class action suit

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  XE 4 cylinder Great Choice - 2006 Nissan Frontier
  By Ron - July 11 - 1:23 am

  I really enjoy my XE Frontier. The 4 cylinder engine is quiet and runs smooth. The 5 speed automatic transmission shifts smooth and is great on gas mileage. The seats are very comfortable. The new body style looks great. I am very pleased with my Nissan Frontier.They did a fine job from design to assembly.

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  MY EXPERIENCE - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By ROGER - July 10 - 7:06 pm

  Great engine sound. Very fast. Excellent exterior and exterior design. Lower than expected actual MPG. My only problems are the fact that the truck doesnt handle well on highway at fast speeds of 75-80MPH. I dont feel safe driving that speed in this truck but did so with ease in my previous truck hade by another company. Other complaints are radio controls, no rear defroster and no locking doors when truck is out of park. So far, everything else is GREAT!

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  Love This Car! - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By K Lewis - July 10 - 7:03 pm

  This car is fun to drive. After switching out the Continental tires for Bridgestone tires, it handles better, and the ride is out of this world! Specs are awesome! Suggested for any young professional who has to travel 20+ min to work, great ride.

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  Awesome! - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By Rocket Z - July 10 - 2:23 pm

  I never thought I would say it...AWESOME! I have never had more fun driving a car. I got a great deal (saved $20,000.00) off the price of a new one. Test drove both and could not justify the price difference to buy a new one. This car has it all. Pleased and in my favorite color...RED!

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  Best hauler - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By ray - July 10 - 10:00 am

  I bought my Armada new and have been hauling 3000-8000 pound loads bi-weekly for the first 4.5 years. Only have done scheduled maintenance and replaced the front brake pads at 90,000 miles and have replaced 2 sets of tires. This is the best truck/suv I have ever owned. I live in minnesota and this truck starts in below zero temp every time. I now have a 125,000 miles and it runs like a top. It also looks brand new. In the past I have killed ford f150s and chevy 1/2 and 3/4 tons with all the hauling I do. This truck has out preformed all others I have owned. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a reliable suv. I still have the original back brake pads and will probably get 10- 15k miles

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  Mad as HELL! - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Mr. mom - July 10 - 10:00 am

  We have love our Quest for three years now. We got it used. Im 65", my wife is 511" and our kids are going to be huge we know that already. lol so the room is what we needed we got it. We ALSO got a van that has had and continues to have transmission issues. The trany was replaced two years after we got it and were told that it was never serviced. Nissan says every 30,000 it needs a flush and fill. so the new rebuilt trany is now giving us a fit and Nissan keeps telling us they "cant reproduce the issue" even after the dealer ship having the van for 26 DAYS.The timing chain is making a ticking noise thats not covered by the warranty because it has 45 parts and 10 are covered by them.

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  Dont buy - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By cubs - July 10 - 10:00 am

  I have 82,000 miles on the engine its in the shop for a new engine