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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  Altima 3.5 SE - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By Carr Man - March 15 - 2:00 am

  Great car for the price. Has most of the features found on more expensive cars and they work well. Gas mileage is very good 19/29.

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  2.5SL is a great Maxima Replacement - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By Mike - March 13 - 4:33 pm

  After 9 years in my 97 Maxima GLE, I thought I wanted an Acura TL or TSX, but the premium fuel requirement and stiff ride put me off. My dealer had a 2 yr. old red 2.5SL with blonde interior and I was sold. So far I really like it - lots of nice features - dual climate control, rear A/C vent, compass/autodimming/Homelink rear view mirror, manual shift mode, steering wheel audio controls. The on-center feel/highway tracking doesnt seem to be as good as the Maxima, but it drives very well. I miss the quality of the Bose stereo and the lateral support in the drivers seat during corners. Mileage is quite good so far and it pulls very strongly. Quite a chg from my wifes 2001 Altima GXE!!

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  Very Nice Second Car - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By Edgy - March 13 - 10:16 am

  Had a 1990 Maxima SE for years, finally had to put her to rest. Went looking to replace on a $12-13K budget, didnt find much on dealer lots. Ended up going private party, found a very clean, luxurious 2002, paid a little over $14K. Its my commuter car, but a pretty nice one. Really like the black leather interior with the dark grey color and the fancy touches -- heated steering wheel, seats heated and also memory, Bose, auto-dim mirror. My other car is M3, so I wanted a different driving experience, although Id prefer a little less body roll and bounce. Hopefully will be as reliable as my 1990.

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  Nice, but troublesome - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By Bexley - March 13 - 12:03 am

  Car is very nice, beat out all the others in its class, lots of upscale features, some questionable reliabilty issues. A/C compressor had to be replaced before I even bought the car. Now the passenger seat sounds like a creaky old bed when someone is sitting in it. Not major, but kinda disconcerting. Styling is top rate, car is very comfortable.

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  good but needs improvement - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By john doe - March 11 - 11:50 pm

  Too much tire,road and engine noise and the roof needs more sound insulation normal rain drops sounds like hail.

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  Disappointed - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By ALL - March 11 - 10:33 am

  I had a 2005 Ford Escape that was only getting around 21 mpg, so I decided to trade for a smaller car. I have always heard good reviews about Nissan, so I decided to purchase the Sentra. The sticker stated 29 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. However, I am only getting around 300 miles on a tank. The owners manual states the tank hold 14.3 gallons of fuel which should get by my estimate around 380. I feel very misled by Nissan. Even though I love the style and performance, I feel taken advantage of due to the price of oil. I am a single mother on a budget, and the whole reason for trading my small SUV was to save money. Last time I buy a Nissan.

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  Bang for Buck - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By jreddington - March 10 - 10:00 am

  Hated 04 styling. Picked up used (13K) 03. All options incl. Nav. Potenzas hydroplane. Suspension and low profile tires are great for smooth roads. Potholes knock you silly. Squeaks and rattles down the road? Also disappointed with the BOSE stereo. Cranked up full volume, still not enought when windows and sunroof are open. My 92 SE had a better BOSE system. Im still debating whether the nav system is useful or a toy. It seems shoehorned in and having to do A/C controls on the screen seems an afterthought when they took the dash real estate away from the standard controls. I think the dash looks better without the nav system.

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  Love my crew cab - 2000 Nissan Frontier
  By Parrothead - March 10 - 10:00 am

  A great truck. More hauling room than SUVs and the people hauling room of a sedan. Not overly cumbersome like a full size truck or SUV. You get the same road visibility, but without the bulk and poor handling. Its got good power and great handling. Seeing as how its a Nissan it should prove to be extremely reliable. No major problems so far and things should stay that way.

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  Why do I hate this car? - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By mxh - March 10 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car because I thought (and still think) it is beautiful. There are, however, any number of problems Im having that make it very unpleasant to use. 1)its probably just me but I cant get comfortable in the drivers seat; 2) I ordered and paid for the roof rack in January and it still isnt available; 3) cup holders are very poor; 4) no rear light in the cargo area; 5)rear cup holder is on the floor, perfectly positioned to get kicked open every time someone sits there. Of all these, not being able to get comfortable in the drivers seat is by far the worst.

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  Great SUV for the Price - 2007 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Sinead - March 10 - 4:20 am

  I bought this vehicle used 6 months ago. We traded in a Hemi Magnum because we have a young child and wanted something up higher (easier to get him in and out with the car seat) and wanted rear air vents. It can easily tow a trailer with 2 motorcycles. We seriously considered the Armada, but wanted better gas mileage. Gets 16-18 mpg in town, 20-23 hwy. The Pathfinder is a little bumpy of a ride, esp. compared to my old car. It is also harder to steer, so its not as easy to park, but maybe those are the trade offs of going from a sport car to an SUV. It is noisy as well. Lots more wind noise, etc. Back seats are not roomy-- ok for kids. Third row is ONLY for kids. Lots of cargo room.