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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  Not a cold weather car!! - 2013 Nissan Leaf
  By budreaux1 - June 4 - 4:29 am

  If you live where it rains or snows dont buy this car. The car body designers never drove this car in rain or snow. The spray from the tires creates a truly ugly car within miles. The snow build-up in wheel wells and the 6-12 inches of crud on the running boards is beyond annoying. Try to buy a splash guard post-factory? Not available without a special order and a 4 to 5 week wait. The actual driving range in winter is lowered by several factors: 1. less charge in cold temps (10-12 miles less) 2. if you use the climate control 15 to 20 miles are subtracted from your range estimate. So if you want a car that can go 50 to 60 miles and turn your garage into an ice rink...this is the one.

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  when you cant get a g... - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By trig - June 4 - 2:10 am

  i have the 2.5 S with sl, tech, and abs pack. wanted an 07 g, but pmt made the budget too tight. this is a very solid compromise. interior materials are better than in past versions. though they kept the body style similar, there are a lot of little changes that make this a great looking vehicle. all my ratings were based on the features of the car...ie its a 4 cylinder, but as far as four bangers go, excellent performance...and so on. i havent broke it in yet, so gas mileage should improve. reliability has been constantly improved every year on this line, and based on the materials used inside, i think it will improve again this year. if not, im only in a 2-year lease, so no harm no foul.

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  Great Car - 1998 Nissan Sentra
  By macali - June 3 - 5:50 pm

  I bought my Sentra GXE brand new. This car has taken a lot of beating, lots of harsh/snowy winters. Drove in the mountains OH-MD 8 times/year in its early years for 4 years. No major maintenance issues, brakes 1x, oil changes, the oil seal replaced at 60k miles, 2 sets of tires replaced. It still runs great, very good mileage, highway, city. They dont make cars like this anymore, extremely RELIABLE! If I had the opportunity I will buy it again. My car has low miles and all the mechanics tell me is in mint condition especially since it has low miles. They tell me they have seen them in the 120K miles and still running great. I hope to keep mind till it dies.

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  In Front of the Class... - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By Consult410 - June 3 - 4:13 pm

  My last Nissan, was a 1994 Pathfinder, which is still running like new, so when it came time to purchase a new model, the New Pathfinder didnt fit what I was exactly looking for, so I decided to test drive the 2005 Xterra. It was love all over again... The Xterra is an incredible off road SUV, and drives pretty comfortably in the city too. I am so pleased with my final decision to purchase the new Xterra... If you want a true SUV, Xterra is the model you should check out, because it is an incredible SUV.

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  Dont believe the hype... - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By 0_tolerance - June 3 - 3:50 pm

  Overall, the Murano has its good qualities, but has MORE bad qualities. The CVT transmission, is a plus. I have the SL model so I have a few bells and whistles which work. The AC knobs are kind of funky for the SL line. Nissan should do something with that, if they are competing with the Lexus RX models (I get a lot of looks, because they think it is a lex). Had a few recalls AND a few problems with warranty items (engine/sensor light went off 5 five times AND a faulty fuel part inside tank). Service department finally diagnosed and fixed the problem. Called NMAC, to complain. Gas, Gas, Gas... Maybe 13 or 14 in the city...suppose to be 20. Highway, rode to vegas. Average 22.

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  2000 Maxima SE - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By Jay - June 3 - 3:46 pm

  Im at 151k miles on this 2000 SE model and still love this car. Great speed, comfort, and looks. I just recently encountered the coils issue that will need repair but otherwise its been a GREAT car. At 64" tall, Ive had plenty of leg room and good back support on long rides. I dont recommend Z-rating tires on the car though as you can wear them out quickly and at $250 a tire to replace, regular tires will do the trick for this speed and handling.

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  Love This Car - 1998 Nissan Sentra
  By i2ancid - June 3 - 12:10 pm

  I bought this car when i was 16 for $600 at 223k miles i drove it pretty hard as it is my first car (floor it from stand still, top it out at 100mph on high way, take turns hard.) 4 years later, iv added 50k miles to it and it still runs great regular tune ups, tires, oil changes, and the only thing iv replaced is the starter, wrong with the car is the CV boot rips easily but i think thats cosmetic. i recommend this car to anyone that needs a cheap RELIABLE car.

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  real one (review) - 2009 Nissan Rogue
  By imsh - June 3 - 10:16 am

  With every day 8 miles run to work and back home it gives me only 20MPG. Blind spots are awful, rear window is way too small, backing up is a pain... (I understand now why my insurance went up after I gave up Jeep Liberty for Rogue). That small orange, round shaped computer screen is annoying after a week of looking at it, its so cheap and like an alien to the rest of dashboard. Suspension is weak to my taste. Lots of road noise when on poor pavement. With high speed and gusty winds vehicle behaves strange least. When you close your door it sounds like something loose inside. Ignition/access key is huge and ugly. Steering wheel, cruise.ctrl buttons, speakers/sound are poor quality. Etc.

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  A real SUV - 2001 Nissan Xterra
  By Jimmy Neutron - June 3 - 7:16 am

  I love our Xterra. It really is a 4wd. The sunroof is useless and the front seats could use a bit more leg room. Plenty of room in the back seat and lots of cargo space including the top.

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  The best!!!!! - 1996 Nissan Maxima
  By Snowymaxima - June 3 - 5:40 am

  This is the best car I ever owned. I purchased my 1996 Nissan Maxima GLE from a private party in 2003 when the car had 55,000 miles. I am now at 140k miles, and the original engine, transmission, exhaust system etc. What a car it has been!!!!This 14 year old car is more reliable than the new cars. Why cant Nissan replicate this car, with all of the high ratings it has gotten over the years. The Maxima after 2003 was never the same, and the Altima is a cheap joke. I was recently starting to look to purchase a newer auto, however with what I know about the car, and after reading the reviews I may hold on to this car a lot longer than I thought. What a car Nissan!!!!