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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  Its not your soccer moms SUV. - 2011 Nissan Xterra
  By Samantha Edwards - October 18 - 8:52 pm

  Got the Pro-4X with leather package. Has Sirius/XM, Fosgate stereo with iPod and AUX and the Utilitrack in the cargo area for tying stuff down to keep it from sliding. I didnt want a SUV look-alike that seemed tough on pavement but caved under the pressure of an off-road situation. The first weekend I had my X, we took it off-roading in Big South Fork and at one point got it almost completely on its side.. but after flipping a few switches, she pulled out like a champ and was none the worse for wear. Not sure why people are knocking the tires. The BFG Rugged Trails have worked fine for me. Just put on my second set at 53k miles. Add a Weathertech cargo mat and its great for dogs!

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  Fours fine - 2007 Nissan Frontier
  By Grailfan - October 17 - 10:20 am

  Was set on a Tacoma. Looked at the Frontier in the 11th hour. The stock and option values were better. The 6 is a great value for lots of extra power, but I wont be doing any heavy hauling. Also nice to have that extra power on tap but as the price of gas goes up-my need for speed goes down. The 2.5 isnt exactly a small 4 anyway. I took mine through the gears @3000 rpm and found the power more than adequate. Its too new to check the gas mileage but Im sure it will be decent after switching to full synthetic Mobil 1. There are some minor negatives, but overall this is a great truck. Perfect size. Nicest looking.

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  Flawless - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By jaycue - October 17 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car new and have had virtually nothing go wrong. Under warranty, they replaced the front rotors and solved a rattling window problem; big deal. I have been astounded nothing else has gone wrong (knock on wood.Great ride in the city with the Bose cranked up; outstanding highway performance, including mountain driving.A lot of zip when passing (I do that a lot); grips the road and owns it. Heated seats and heater work well in Colorado weather.

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  What an awesome car!! - 1999 Nissan Sentra
  By Jeremy27 - October 17 - 10:00 am

  I dont think its possible for a car to be any more reliable. I bought it in 2000 with 34k on it. 4 years, 76,000 miles later, and not a single problem. Not one! Oil changes, and new tires are all that has been required. This little car has gone from Wisconsin to Montana and back, Wisconsin to New Mexico and back, and numerous trips to and from Colorado, once pulling a U-Haul trailer! I have been more than happy with my Nifty the Nissan. Does lack power, but with manual transmission, you can just shift er down for that extra get up... unless the A/C is on.... then power is simply not an option.

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  Great car - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By liozzi - October 17 - 10:00 am

  No problems. Gas milage seems to improve with age. That is probably an anomaly.

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  Style For The Sexy Moms Of The Century - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Hott Mama - October 17 - 10:00 am

  Ive really enjoy driving a mini van thats designed very much like a car,i have the fully loaded model that came with the sun roof and the sky views.This particular one also came standard with a 6 disc cd changer and DVD for the children to be able to enjoy long rides.Finally Nissan is in the game!

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  Superb Car! - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By klarence - October 17 - 10:00 am

  First time trying Nissan and I couldnt even be happier with a Murano. Great SUV!!!!

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  The Z is 4 Me! - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By NoMoreHollywood - October 17 - 10:00 am

  If you like people looking your way, owning a Z is the car today! It is cool and it is fast, driving it is such a blast! Play your tunes nice and loud, The Z is loved by the crowd! As you can see, The Z is for me!

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  great car for money saved life - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By altima guy03 - October 17 - 10:00 am

  i bouth the car almost a year ago and was involved in an accident where no one can beleve that im alive and was able to walk away from it. i am definately going to buy another nissan and now two more family members are buying one

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  Clunkers dream car - 2009 Nissan Versa
  By ktong - October 15 - 4:33 pm

  Bought this yesterday with my Clunkers trade-in incentive of $4500. It also carries a manufacturer rebate of $1750 for SL, totaling a saving of $6250! Its hard to beat that. In order to maximize my Clunkers incentive, I needed a car that has 28 mpg or better. Its hard to find one without going hybrids which can easily cost over 20K. This one fits my bill perfectly. Actually not all Versa have 28 mpg or better, just the 1.6 engine or the 1.8 engine with CVT. Unfortunately, with such saving programs in place, the whole dealership was jammed with customers. I had to buy the car in pretty much MSRP price and with extras loaded. So far, the car is fun to drive and handles well.