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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  Drive me Im fun. - 2016 Nissan Altima
  By Louis Schrammel - May 26 - 11:59 pm

  Drive more than one make of car and you will see that the Altima is worth buying.I drove four other brands and chose the Altima for ride comfort,performance and looks.

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  Major Rogue Transmission problem - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By DJ - May 26 - 9:26 pm

  I want to get the message out to all those considering buying a Rogue..DONT DO IT!! There are countless people out there myself included who after 3000 miles are having major transmission problems. Nissan is aware of the issue but cannot fix it. They know its in the transmission but they dont know what it is. Theyve replaced transmissions just to have the car come back. If you have one, what you will hear is a rattling noise when slowing down < 10 MPH. After a while it will start doing it at all speeds as mine is.

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  Good Purchase - 2010 Nissan Maxima
  By aaron - May 26 - 11:56 am

  I love driving this car. It has everything a hard working middle aged man needs (aside from a corvette). I honestly dont see this car as a family sedan my wife thinks it is too fast and she drives a BMW 528I. So this being said I prefer the Nissan over my BMW much faster and more fun to drive,

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  Nissan Murano FWD SE - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Doug - May 26 - 5:56 am

  Ive always liked the exterior styling of the Murano, with the two chromed tailpipes protruding from under the swept-up rear cabin area.(Impractical) black paint color makes it look even more "Darth Vader"-ish. Being a knowledgeable car nut, I was pleasantly surprised by the quick acceleration(0-6 in 8.0 sec) of the V6, given the 2-ton weight, but I think this is due to the ingenious CVT transmission(a modern version of the old Buick DynaFlow) which also helps maximize fuel economy(25mpg on the highway). The SEs suspension is a bit harsh, and there is some noticeable road noise intrusion into the cabin. Controls are well positioned and easily learned, and FINALLY---the perfect sunvisor.

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  ...and my 76" surfboard fits inside! - 2006 Nissan 350Z
  By Mike - May 25 - 10:06 pm

  Starting with the Silverstone exterior paint and the burnt orange leather seats, this car is gorgeous! The feeling of power not only comes from all those horses under the hood, but the weight and driving feel of the car- its quite a secure feeling! I just got back from the beach, and the drive to, was just as much fun as the waveriding.

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  Powerful road warrior - 2005 Nissan Armada
  By porschekid74 - May 25 - 4:16 pm

  Overall my 2005 Nissan Armada has been a great vehicle so far. It has plenty of power, room, nice features, etc. This SE offroad is surprisingly quiet on the highway for its size. The only downfall is its gas mileage. After six months of ownership I have never gotten better than 15 mpg, but then again step on the gas pedal once and youll see why.

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  05 Armada - 2005 Nissan Armada
  By Mike - May 25 - 3:06 pm

  Terrible build quality. Plastic pieces falling off under the dash, paper thin sheet metal body, underpowered A/C, and poorly fitting interior panels. Hard to reach and difficult to control seat/mirror memory.

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  2007 Nissan Murano - 2007 Nissan Murano
  By Stephanie - May 25 - 2:36 pm

  I purchased the 07 Murano in May. I find the vehicle comfortable and easy to handle, however, the gas mileage is not so great. Also, the vehicle has been in for service three times in the last two months for squealing brakes in reverse only. So far there has been no resolution to the problem. The service department said that there is nothing more they can do and to contact Nissan directly. I did, and was told Nissan is trying to find a way to fix the problem with the brake noise in reverse. Still waiting to hear what will be done with mine.

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  Great truck if you dont need a warranty - 2007 Nissan Frontier
  By 142Nism07 - May 25 - 6:26 am

  Very fun truck to drive. Practicle, especially since it has bigger capabilities than its size. One downfall is the service provided by Nissan. Every problem that has occured with this truck, was turned into a big headache for myself. Currently my dealer refuses to acknowledge that my 6spd clutch has a defect and wants to charge me over $1200 for a new one. I officially documented the complaint at 15k miles though I had the issue from new. There are several cases of this specific defect, which should be warrantied. My dealer refuses. Love the truck, hate the service, and I reccomend buying an automatic, due to relaiability. This is not the only problem with the truck, just the most prevelant

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  Love this car - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By Girl with a Z - May 25 - 2:00 am

  I love this car!!!! I have a black extirior and balack interior. It is a head turner where ever I go....Some poor guy jogging tripped over his own feet looking at the car. I feel a lot of speeding tickets coming along with this car. Wheres is the radar detector they should make that a standard feature. Love it, love it love it