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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  All-around best SUV I have driven - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Thalodian - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Before purchasing my Pathfinder, I drove several of the top brands and found them all lacking in one way or another. The Pathfinder combines car-like ride and handling with class-leading power in a luxurious package. The only down-side is the fuel economy, which is a trade-off for having 250 HP under the hood.

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  best in class - 2000 Nissan Xterra
  By TD - May 22 - 2:00 am

  This car is not a sports car or fun around town grocery getter. This car is tough and "all business". Ive yet to get it stuck and believe me Ive tried. Acceleration on the road from a dead stop is my only complaint. Its perfect for the outdoor adventure guy and light work around the house. Ive halled all material to build my fence in the back, all my bikes for triathlon and mountain biking, and it carries all the camping gear you need for a month! Go for it.

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  The most awesome car - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By Spec-V lover - May 22 - 2:00 am

  This is a spectacular car. The exterior and interior are great and with so much power you can race and blow away hondas and many other cars!!!!1

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  good car for your buck - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By landon1219 - May 22 - 2:00 am

  I am an old SER fan! I bought an SER in 94 and then again in 2002! This time I went with the Spev V, cause the 6 speed and the wheels! I think that it is a good car for the buck! I can only hope that this is as good a car as the SER that I bought in 94! Which I still have and drive everyday, almost!

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  Bargain - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By Fazal - May 22 - 2:00 am

  This car is the most amazing thing in its price range. The performance more than makes up for the few small problems with the rear end.

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  2000 SE - 2002 Nissan Xterra
  By socalkid - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Bought this truck in April 2000. Now have 40,000 miles on it. Very reliable and have never had a problem. Sure, it rides a little rough, but look what youre getting for $23,700...loaded, including 6 disk changer, except for 4 wheel drive. Have been very happy with it the last 2 yrs

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  Big, comfortable truck - 2010 Nissan Titan
  By Billy - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Took on a 500 mile trip right after we bought it. Love the room, even with kids car seat in the back. Excellent ride, excellent power. Bought the truck instead of a larger car - no regrets. Got a great deal with the rebate. Made the truck cheaper than a king cab Tundra. Also made here in Tennessee which is a plus although did not look at any American trucks. No down side up to now. Have taken three grandkids in car seats on two trips - plenty of room.

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  Maxed Out ! - 2007 Nissan Maxima
  By Disappointed - May 22 - 2:00 am

  I bought this Maxima brand new. It was my 4th maxima and because I was so impressed with previous models I didnt hesitate to upgrade. Big Mistake ! My 2003 model gave me no problems at all. I should have kept it instead of trading it in. Since my purchase in 2007 i have replaced the battery, the CVT, and wheel bearings. It surprises me to see how many other people were experiencing the same issues I am. My struts are making noise but Nissan wont replace them until they get worse. I hear some rattling in the engine that the technician says he cant hear. I thought it was the mechanics but maybe it is just the car falling apart and they are used to it. The car shakes at high speeds also.

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  Great Overall Car! - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By ienjoywaffles - May 22 - 2:00 am

  I was first attracted to this car when I found out it was 4 cylinder awd turbo, because me being a 24 year old thats what I was looking for in a new car. I decided to test drive one and It was love at first drive. The car drives smooth and you can completely change the settings of how you want to drive. ie, different modes that change the power of the car. Also the fact that you can change from fwd to awd. The sound system is great and the push-start engine just adds on to all of the other features that I love about it.

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  Noises - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By Jeff Todd - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Car has poor acceleration but after take off has plenty of power and fun to drive. Front brakes make metal sound sometimes when turning sharp. Have had multiple noise problems with the interior. Sounds like a constant vibrating noise even when on smooth road and different speeds. Took three times to dealership to fix noise in back because did not make it all the time. Now is making same noise in front upper passenger side. Did not make noise with tech. Will have to try again next time in Tyler. Pretty embarrassing when someone rides with us. Listened to it all the way to Austin the other day. Sunroof hangs up sometimes and has been worked on once. Very frustrating to listen to these noises.