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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  AWSOME - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By JONES - July 6 - 2:00 am

  GREAT!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!! !!!!!!! !! !!! !!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ! !!!!!!!!!!!!! !!! !!!!!! !!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!

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  Wow Go Z - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By rfrangie - July 6 - 2:00 am

  I followed this car since it was only a future design I fell in love with it and compared it to the big boys, M-B, BMW, Porsche, and agreed with this website description of the Z car ( al lot of bang for the buck). This thing is fast and impressive in turns.

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  Not perfect but pretty darn good - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By Buzzdsm - July 6 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned my Z for about 9 months now and Ive been pretty happy with it. I would like to see antoher 30-50HP and this car would be a rocket. It does have a lot more torque then most cars in its class. Ive owned many cars (mostly sports) and none of them has drawn as much attention. The interior is nothing exciting but its tight and it does everything I need it to do. Im 62 and I have plenty of room. Another plus is that Im averaging around 24- 26MPG.

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  Impressed - 2001 Nissan Sentra
  By ChasMan - July 5 - 10:00 am

  Keeping in mind that this is not a BMW but an economical compact car, my Sentra has been very impressive for the first year. Good build quality, performance, value, and styling are all pluses. Its head and shoulders above the Corolla in terms of what you get for your money, and the quality is very comparable. This Nissan is underrated, but if your looking for a reliable, well-built compact car, youd better look at this one.

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  Xterra007 - 2002 Nissan Xterra
  By Xterra007 - July 5 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car for my wife. For her this was love at first sight. The SUV really looks good. Problems: Just couple of days after we bought the Xterra, I noticed that transmission wasn’t working right (Engine Lights showed up), SUV had stumbling problem while changing gears. I took it to the dealer, they found out that there is a speed sensor, which was not working. They had to order the part, which took couple of days and finally I got the Xterra back, so far it is working fine. This is bad for Nissan reputation.

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  SWEETNESS!!!! - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By EBE - July 5 - 10:00 am

  After buying my 98 accord ex coupe, I thought I would be lifetime Honda owner. That was until I saw the Altima. For a 4 cyl, it has plenty of power. I love the tail lights, probably the main reason I bought the car. This car is BMW in the front, Passat from the side, and Lexus in the rear.

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  Perfect car! - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By iluvkev - July 5 - 5:10 am

  I just purchased the Rogue on Sept. 3, 2008 and so far its wonderful! It rides so smooth I can barely feel the bumps in the road. It has plenty of room for my family of 5. Its cute, peppy, and a reliable Nissan. Ive had several cars in the past but this one I refer to as my "baby". I have the pretty blue one and I love the color!

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  Very well-built - 2002 Nissan Xterra
  By xterra - July 5 - 4:10 am

  This is a very attractive and well- built SUV. The interior design is also spectacular. The trunk space is also a nice feature to have.

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  1 FUN Z!! - 2006 Nissan 350Z
  By Suechat - July 5 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car just as my son was turning 16; my present to myself after having driven the same car for 10 years that I gave to my son. I never thought that driving a vehicle could be so much fun. I ABSOLUTELY love my car. It has been babied for the 2+ years I have owned it.

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  Best value for your$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By marseilles - July 4 - 8:26 pm

  Our murano with every extra included is the best ride for the buck. Great styling, handling and economical too. This is a long time keeper. My wife likes the adjustable pedals and personalized seat postions. I wish the back hatch was available with power opening. We would buy another.