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:

• 

  Z-YA Later - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By Mike - March 14 - 10:33 pm

  The best sports car if you cant afford a Porsche 911. Boxsters dont count, there not a real Porsches!

• 

  Awesome - 2016 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Carol Lopez - March 14 - 10:12 pm

  What you would want in it. I have heated cloth seats heated mirrors and steering wheel. I also have tow hitch.

• 

  DONT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT! - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By WOULD RATHER GET A HONDA - March 14 - 3:43 pm

  When we purchased my Altima, it was a cheap 3500. Except, it wasnt. My parents ended up dishing out another 1k to fix some of the issues it had in the first week. The O2 sensors had to be replaced, it burned oil, there was a coolant leak and blockage. The heat also didnt work properly as you had to drive 40mph for it to kick in. Plus some other issues such as misfiring and me being stranded on a busy backroad. The mpg also went down when we tried to slow the burning with stop smoke. All of this and more happened before I sold it for a measly 1k, which is more than I thought we would receive. Granted, my parents never told me or they didnt know that this particular vehicle had been in two accidents and had flood damage. Of course, the other 05 Altima they got for my sister also burns oil and other issues have come up in the period she has had it. I wouldnt recommend buying a Nissan.

• 

  None better - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Vik - March 14 - 1:33 pm

  Best SUV value on the planet. Safe, fun to drive, looks cool, totally reliable and sturdy.

• 

  Great truck!!!!! - 2006 Nissan Frontier
  By ALLMAN - March 13 - 2:36 am

  Best deal bar none!!!!.....I researched, tested, drove, talked and argued for one month before finally landing the deal. Great power, handling, comfort and overall great truck.

• 

  Its worth every penny - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By Justin Elixson - March 13 - 1:30 am

  My wife and I just had our first baby and need a bigger vehicle. I had to have a truck with my business. We got the Titan and was and still are very impressed with all the back seat room.

• 

  fun to drive - 2005 Nissan Sentra
  By fun to drive - March 13 - 12:23 am

  The car is amazing. The 6-speed manual transmission has a very short throw and the hp kicks in when you need it. Even though the insurance is pretty expensive when youre under 25, its well worth it.

• 

  Still happy after 3.5 years/80K!! - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By Tommyguy - March 13 - 12:20 am

  This is absolutely the best car I have ever owned. Even after 3.5 years and 80,000 miles, I would buy this car again! Love the transmission and POWER! Way roomier than people think and drives like a dream. Had only one problem (alternator) but it was 100% covered by recall. I bought this car for the styling and the drive. The only bad thing is that you cannot replace the factory radio with a custom stereo. However, I worked around this by loosing the tray beneath the middle of the console and adding a custom stereo with subwoofer and top of the line speakers. It can be done!

• 

  Use This Car For What Its Intended - 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By Michael Tonelli - March 12 - 11:03 pm

  I bought this car because the $4.50/gal gas prices were worrying me. I assumed they would only go higher. The tax credit was a huge incentive. I chose this car because it was the "sportiest" choice of the hybrid vehicles on the market. While it can set you back in the seat, it has some quirks too. The mpg are disappointing, but not terrible. The best I can do is low 30s. The regenerative braking system feels "grabby" when rolling to a slow stop. There is something wrong with the drivers seat. It pops when your weight shifts in turns. Dealership worked on it and its better, but not completely gone. But mostly, use it for long distance commuting. I dont drive far enough to justify the price

• 

  GREAT AUTO - 2007 Nissan Maxima
  By narf - March 12 - 7:16 pm

  Have owned this auto for almost two years - no problems, oil changes only. I will buy a new one when the 2010 models come out. You cant buy a better made auto for the price. (a friend bought an Accord, paid more and got less - no comparison on handling)