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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  Still Not Sure... - 2001 Nissan Maxima
  By RB - May 18 - 2:43 pm

  I bought my Maxima SE new back in March 01. I like the car overall, but here is my experience so far: 1)Had to replace the front shocks at 40K 2)The exhaust pipe had to be replaced at 53K 3) Replaced original Potenza tires after 53K 4)New front brakes at 36K 5) New rear brakes at 52K. My experience with the service department at the dealership has been very good, they know what theyre doing. I will go with a Honda or Acura for my next car.

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  Turns Heads - 2007 Nissan 350Z
  By RPM - May 18 - 3:40 am

  I got my 2007 Grand Touring Roadster (convertible) just about 5 months ago, and overall, Im really happy with my purchase. I bought this as a second car (couldnt part with my BMW 325i), and thought Id primarily drive it on weekends and when the weather is nice. Well, I havent driven the Beemer but maybe 5 times since getting my Z. Ill garage the Z when the winter comes, but until then, Im in it with the top down.

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  Martin - 1999 Nissan Maxima
  By Grtplan - May 18 - 2:00 am

  This car is dependable you can get up with confidence that you will get where you are going. The car has exceptional turning ratio for excellent manuvering in tight spots such as parking or making a u turn in a limited area.The interior is durable and with minimal care will maintain a fresh look for years. The only short fall I find with the body is the exterior is of soft metal that is easy to ding if touched by another vehicle door.

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  Not satisfied - 2002 Nissan Frontier
  By murman - May 18 - 2:00 am

  Hard riding truck. Lots of squeaks and rattles that the dealer has been unable to eliminate.Truck is underpowered and yields poor fuel economy.Cheap interior, especially carpeting and upholstery.

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  fun to drive - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By evan hone - May 18 - 2:00 am

  We bought our xterra in june and drove it from Salt Lake City to Anchorage Alaska the very next week and had absolutly no problems. The day I bought it I immediately went to the shop and threw on a Magnaflow catback exhaust because I heard the gas mileage was bad. I also threw on a air intake for it and loaded the thing up for the trip. We averaged over 20 miles to the gallon on the trip and had no complaints. We didnt want the s/c because of the premium fuel. The horse power greatly increases also and it only costs around 300 bucks which was well spent. Overall no complaints here.

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  SE with Wood Dash - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By OCONNOR - May 18 - 2:00 am

  Kids love it, dvd/sound system is tops. Head turner. Skyview roof is fantastic!

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  great van - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By fireman57 - May 18 - 2:00 am

  i just got the van it is great i love it my whife loves it my son loves the dvd package it is fun to drive it has get up and go power it has ample cargo room and passenger room its an all around great fun to drive van

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  Much better than expected - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By Spensemnstr - May 18 - 2:00 am

  I have owned several vehicles and this is the best combination of performance, style and space I have ever experienced. I drove the MDX, the Pilot, the Highlander, the Redezvous and the CRV. The Murano was by far the best and it has done nothing to change my opinion in 7500 miles of usage.

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  High price-Not high quality - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By richards - May 18 - 2:00 am

  This cardoes not stand up to use. The ussual creaks and odd misfits that appear at later mileage have turned up at 25k. I worry about this car longterm. The passenger seat has come loose. The front end suspension system is noisy. The engine doesnt appear to stand up to normal wear; its using oil and the mileage is dropping.

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  Happy Owner - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By leeward - May 18 - 2:00 am

  This truck is what a truck should be, undeniable performance, comfortable ride and a sound system so clear you forget about the outside world. The engine is powerful and the transmission silky smooth. Having all this power and responsiveness in a large truck has turned me into a lead foot. I test drove the 1500 4x4 Quad Cab Dodge Hemi, and the new F-150 SuperCrew 4x4 and in my honest oppinion the Titan the clear winner.