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:

• 

  So Far, So Good - 2007 Nissan Frontier
  By BB Shotz - October 26 - 3:50 am

  3000 miles and running great. I have added Nissan splashguards, an aftermarket sunroof and will replace the stock stereo in due course. Only disappointment is mileage. I drive mostly city and get 22 MPG, which is better than sticker.

• 

  The Perfect Car - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By Dave M - October 25 - 11:23 pm

  I have had this car for 5 years. It has 15k miles on it. I have been through 2 sets of tires, Set of 02 sensors at the regularly scheduled 80kmiles, 1 set of spark plugs and one bad Ignition coil. Minus the tires that is about $1,000 in repairs over 5 years. Id say that I am well ahead of the game with this car. The engine is strong and it is very comfortable. It delivers between 26 and 27 MPH in spirited driving at about 100miles a day. I cannot find any good reason to get rid of this car. This is a great winter alternative to my restored 81 280ZX turbo!!!

• 

  A Great Choice - 2002 Nissan Xterra
  By stroblight63 - October 25 - 2:00 am

  This is a fun, large car to drive, in a good price range

• 

  Good Choice - 2011 Nissan Pathfinder
  By missmelo - October 25 - 2:00 am

  This is a great suv. I have had it for less than a week and I am in love. The Edmunds review does not mention that the SV has a 6 disc cd changer as well. The 7 inch screen in the car is phenomenal. I love the fact that it has a rear view camera so that you can watch behind the vehicle on the screen as soon as you shift the gear into reverse. I bought a slate gray color. It has the metallic look and looks really good at night. You can also adjust the brake pads to go higher or lower so that is great for comfort. Especially if you are a short person like me you don;t have to worry about being right over the steering wheel to drive.

• 

  The best MAX ever - 2009 Nissan Maxima
  By dk1navy - October 25 - 2:00 am

  I have to tell everyone Im totally enjoying the ride of the Maxima. When i drive it i feel like Im in the Bat mobile. the car has great pickup and shift smoothly from one gear to the next. I just traded in my 2001 MAX for this 2009 and I feel like I jump into a time warp the features and style of driving is light years difference.

• 

  Awesome Car - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By Ram - October 25 - 2:00 am

  Saw it for the first time and fell in love with this sporty looking cross mini SUV

• 

  Hands down best bang for dollar in class - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Kathrine - October 25 - 2:00 am

  My Altima came home with 65k (highway) miles, Although it was one year old. I must attribute the condition of the car to Nissans absolute dedication to build quality. We just turned 87k on the odometer today. It still feels like a New car (mostly). Bottom line-Take care of this car and It Will take care of you. Punch the Audio power button and your paying for a new stereo. I truly love my Altima. hated the song. Absolutely Impressed with it. yeah the battery had a dead cell. $80 later I have 600CCR :) Forget the Sedan stigma. My 2006 Accord coupe V-6 was less of a car all around. I prefer it over our 2006 Toyota Avalon. I sit in the garage for hours just to be in my car!

• 

  One year later....still love it - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Paul O. - October 24 - 2:33 pm

  I leased my 05 3.5 SE w/ auto trans back in May 04. At 20K and over a year later I must say this is a great car. The engine is awesome (especially with the auto stick mode) and it makes merging on the highway a joy. I get about 24 mpg in mixed driving conditions. The freshened interior is attractive, seats are comfortable and the Bose stereo is great. The Xenon lights are bright and clear at night and they look great w/ the smoked out lense covers. All in all, Nissan has done a great job with this car and I highly recommend it to anyone. Good job!

• 

  A manly truck indeed - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By cbrown - October 24 - 3:30 am

  I have beaten the heck out of this truck on many rough and desolate west Texas roads. The truck performs flawlessly. Its locking rear differential gets me in and out of situations normally reserved for 4WD vehicles. Whether cruising 85+ mph on the interstate or slowly clawing through a dry wash, this truck is amazing. It is absolutely the finest truck I have ever owned. You can spend a heck of a lot more for other makes without coming close to the value this truck offers. It is exceptional in appearance, features and performance. Do yourself a favor if you are in the market for a truck. Test drive a Nissan NISMO. You will be amazed by Nissan engineering. I am. Thanks...

• 

  Great all around affordable car!!!! - 1998 Nissan Altima
  By John F. - October 23 - 2:56 pm

  Weve owned this car since 2000 and the one thing we can say about it is "Reliability". This car has never left us stranded. We have done nothing to this car except the regular scheduled maintenance. We live in NH and for the last 5 winters its never started hard and it actually goes well in the snow too (FWD) Keep in mind this car is not a BMW nor a caddy. Its not sexy or even necessarily cool but its been a great, reliable daily driver. It has plenty of Pep and easlily maintains 70 - 80 mph on the highway. For a mid-sized car the legroom, interior compartment space and the trunk size is surprisingly large. Seats are very comfortable, even for long road trips. Top recommendations!