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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  Great SUV - 2006 Nissan Xterra
  By Keith - March 26 - 1:53 am

  Ive had my Xterra for about a month now and I have to say, I am impressed. I take my X to the beach, in the woods and around town. The ride, handling and performance is better than I expected from a nearly 4000 pound truck. The engine is great! This thing gets up and goes when you need it to. The utilitrack in the back is a great feature if you have the cargo organizer. I use the roof rack for my surfboards and Im looking into a clamp- on safari cage for my camping gear. The Fosgate stereo is pretty sweet for a factory system. Gas mileage is the only downfall, but what do you expect from a 4.0-liter engine? Overall a great SUV that is fun to drive! I highly recommend it.

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  Would buy again in a heartbeat - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By Gary - March 26 - 1:30 am

  Own a 2005 Sentra with 57000 miles with no issues. Bought this one to replace a 2001 Maxima. The S or SL trim levels are the way to go. The sunroof and the upgraded stereo are nice touches, also. Been averaging 33 MPG since the second tank fillup, balance of performance and fuel economy has been impressive. Love the keyless entry. Just need to get a Bluetooth phone now to take advantage of that feature.

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  very reliable - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By rm68818 - March 26 - 12:26 am

  this is a great car for the price. i bought mine at 50k and now have over 100k on it and have only had ONE issue the muffler broke at the pipe it would have cost 150 for a new stock muffler or 30 to repair the original but i went to ebay and got an after market crome muffler for 30 deliverd. ive done regular maintenace and ive changed front brakes. i use synthetic oil and only change it every 10-12 thousand miles.the car even has the original battery. one thing i think could be better is gas mileage i only get about 26-27 avg. and for a 1.8L engine it could be better but it runs great and has no problems. doesnt have cruise control which i find very odd for a 2007 but oh well great car

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  Poor seat belt design - 2016 Nissan Murano
  By Chris - March 25 - 11:30 pm

  Ive owned my Murano for 2 months. Ive never owned a Nissan before but I liked the size of the back seat in the Murano since I have 2 very tall teenage boys and I wanted to make sure they fit comfortably. The front seats are also very comfortable and it is a nice ride. But there is one very annoying issue. When my kids sit in the back, they inevitably step on my seat belt thereby tightening it on me while I am driving! The front seat belts come out of the floor and there is no protection around them. At the very least, this is an EXTREMELY poor design and quite possibly a safety issue. Im also disappointed that Ive already gotten recalls on the airbags and brakes. Nissan is not doing a good job building my confidence in them, this may be my first and last Nissan purchase.

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  Comfort, luxury and performance - 2007 Nissan Maxima
  By jim4649 - March 25 - 5:26 pm

  My 4th Nissan and I absolutely love this car. Smooth, comfortable, quiet ride, good acceleration, great transmission, great brakes, adequate handling, lots of luxury features (try the heated leather seats on a cold winter morning), great stereo and stylish looks. This is fast car. Ive owned a V8 Mustang GT (4.6L, 260hp, 301 torque) and a few Honda sportbikes, so I know what fast is. This is not a sports car but its certainly no slouch.

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  Luxurious! - 2003 Nissan Pathfinder
  By A Parker - March 25 - 1:36 pm

  I think it really depends on what you were driving before. If you were driving a cadillac, you might not like it as much. I went from an 88 Honda CRX to this and I LOVE IT!! The ride is smooth, the stereo is great, and it didnt break the bank. Gas mileage in an SUV always isnt going to be the best but Im averaging right about 20/gallon so I cant complain. I love my new car. And theres so much room inside. LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!

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  Just bought - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Lou - March 25 - 7:23 am

  Just bought my S type. Love the ride! Very comfortable suv. More interior room than my old Explorer. Dont know much about economy or reliability yet but expecting the best. Things I wish my S type had - fog lights, automatic headlights, and a 6 disc changer. Couldnt see paying $5,000 more for the other models that include these features.

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  2006 RAV 4 vs 2008 Rogue - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By pitkeys - March 24 - 7:16 pm

  Having had a RAV 4 V/6 Sport and now a Rogue SL AWD (with Premium pkg): 1) Rogue rides much better, not as "busy" as the RAV. Handles tighter. Wind noise seems much less at 65-70 MPH in Rogue. Road noise also. Rogue much better in crosswinds. 2) RAV accelerates faster, both from standing start and highway pass, but Rogue isnt at all lazy. 3) MPG on Rogue is better. 33 avg on first three tanks in Rogue vs 27 in 30k miles in RAV. 4) Rogue seats more comfortable, more supportive on sides and lumbar areas.

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  Roomy, comfortable gas guzzler - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By john caldwell - March 24 - 6:10 pm

  I wish I had road tested first. The turn radius on this car is rough. Parking it between cars is difficult, due to the long rear overhang. It is a real looker. Mileage around town is low, about 22, but on highways its great - goes into the mid-30s mpg. Sorry that i didnt wait to buy, price has come down quite a bit for 2007, assuming equal performance.

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  All around great car - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By cardriver - March 24 - 2:06 pm

  This is a great car all around fun to drive, plus a great motor and really good brakes. I like this car and will keep it for years to come.