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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  Rear ABS problems - 2001 Nissan Frontier
  By MeHere - March 3 - 10:00 am

  Nice truck, but had rear ABS problems from the beginning. Dealer no help, told me ABS was fine. It did work in the beginning but after 3 or 4 K miles it did not work, snow or rain and the rear brakes did not work. It even failed the two year inspection and the dealer charged 50 bucks to adjust the rear brakes !

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  Better than expected - 2012 Nissan Sentra
  By bugmanpat - March 1 - 11:11 pm

  The little Sentra is probably overlooked by most people interested in a small car, and that is too bad. It has more interior room than most of its competitors, you sit a little higher off the pavement, and the driving dynamics are good. Add to that some outstanding gas mileage when driven gently - way better than the EPA estimates so far for me. And all of that for a price that is easily as good or better than its competitors. And due to good resale values, you can get really great lease payments - much smarter than buying a 1 or 2 year old used car.

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  Numerous Problems - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By PghNissan - March 1 - 11:56 am

  I love the car and driving experience, however, It has been in the shop 3 times now for ticking in the steering wheel and will be going back later this week. Its also had to have the rotors turned. Beware!

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  Best overall sports car value - 2010 Nissan 370Z
  By zedhead - March 1 - 10:00 am

  With the sports package you get great acceleration, great brakes, great handling, way above average reliability and a reasonably comfortable ride, especially for a sports car. Rev matching not a problem if you opt for the sports package which adds the (way) upgraded brakes, 19 inch forged Rays wheels, tasteful rear spoiler and the rev matching feature, which is a great feature.

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  Nice Small Car Overall - 2017 Nissan Sentra
  By Jane - February 25 - 4:23 pm

  I went from a 3.5 engine to a 1.8 so Im still trying to get used to it. I wish it had more power when I try to accelerate on the highway. Can be dangerous when your are entering freeway!!! Becareful! After all it is a small car. It gets you from point A to point B. Good for driving locally. Has an OK interior and really spacious for its size. I dislike the suspension!! U feel every bump really hard and loud! If you are driving in a smooth road you will enjoy it! About 34mpg...I will get LED lights on my SV. Sound system sucks. I hope I can get to upgrade that soon somehow. I hate the wheel covers something I didn really pay attention to until after should have gotten the rim wheels... Overall, I would recommend unless you have a heavy foot!

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  Good little car - worth a look - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By SentraOwner - February 25 - 1:00 pm

  I bought the 2.0 SL version. The CVT is silky smooth. The ride quality is on the soft side, and comfortable on all but the most pot-holed and patched roads. The car is also very quiet. You hear the engine during acceleration when its cold or when you need instant power, but wont hear it during general driving. Build quality is good - there were no obvious mistakes on my car, and the fit and finish of the materials is excellent. Steering is a little over-boosted, but responsive. The glove box is HUGE along with the trunk. The Sentra is worth considering if youre in the market for a small car, especially if youre looking for an up-market version with special features.

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  1996 Nissan Maxima - 1996 Nissan Maxima
  By J. Myers - February 25 - 2:00 am

  The car is a great value for the money. It has been extremely problem free.

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  OKay so far. - 2001 Nissan Altima
  By OKay Owner - February 25 - 2:00 am

  I purchased the Limite Edition New in 2001. I have not had anyproblems except for the rear drivers window would not go up, and a short time later, the drivers window did the same. Other than that, no problem gets good gas mileage. Have 4cyl, would like more pick up if i needed it, but good with what I have. Not sure I would get this car again, but I am still planning to keep it awhile.

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  Smooth Ride - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By Cntrn9 - February 25 - 2:00 am

  The Sentra drives very smooth. The front seats are comfortable. It has a great stereo system. There are great colors to choose from. The exterior design is up-to-date and unique.

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  Disappointed in CO -GeG - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Glenn Garner - February 25 - 2:00 am

  Lots of road noise in cabin. Engine is very noisey during excelaration, but quiet at crusing speed. Too much power assited steering at highway speeds. Interior is low budget; lots of hard, bare plastic with cheap looking material on seats. Overall quality not up to Honda or Toyota.