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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  SE-R - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By btreamer - March 3 - 1:06 pm

  Its alot of fun to drive. If my commute wasnt so far Id have got the Spec-V.

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  It Rocks - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By Charlotte - March 3 - 10:06 am

  I love my XTerra. When it is time for a new vehicle, it will most likely be an XTerra. It has been so very reliable, and has saved me from being injured in a very serious accident. I highly recommend the XTerra.

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  Wouldnt drive if it was free - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By crynuno - March 3 - 5:32 am

  This is by far the worst vehicle I have ever owned. Think twice before ever buying one! My tranny recently went out for no apparent reason. The dealer said it had nothing to do with the radiator coolant because they are not connected. I ask then why would the tranny fail at only 83,000 miles?? Since I could not get an answer, I assume it is because it is a piece of garbage. I am trading in asap. Willing to take the hit on it just to get rid of it! I dont care to put up with the headache anymore.

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  The Little Engine That Barely Could - 2010 Nissan Frontier
  By First Frontier - March 3 - 1:13 am

  Recently bought truck. Has value package & bed liner with bed extender. Considered Tacoma, Dakota, Ranger & Colorado. 1st truck since 89 Toyo 4x4 with 4 cyl manual. Main reason for buying Frontier over Tacoma (1st choice) - $. Nissan gave $2K rebate, plus another $1K since I own Toyota + dealer sold well below invoice. Great value for $. Was torn between the 4 cyl and 6. Got the 4 because its mostly a commuter truck with weekend warrior activity. After 1,700 miles happy with truck, but 4 cyl lacks power with auto trans. Highway driving is fine when up to speed. But lack of power is apparent when getting on highway, stoplight to stoplight, hills or with load in bed.

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  Better than expected - 2011 Nissan Altima
  By Jim Drummond - March 2 - 5:02 pm

  I have the V-6 and it is a rocket ship. I cannot see why anyone would want more power. The CVT, so far, has been smooth and trouble free. (I can only hope it stays that way.) I have driven friends BMWs, Mercedes and Volvos and swear this Altima handles better than any of them. Getting 23-24 in town and 28-29 on the highway which I find remarkable for a powerful V-6. I bought it used with 9,000 miles and just turned 30,000 with no issues so far. Only have replaced the air filter, cabin filter and regular oil changes. As a "Certified Used Nissan" I have the 100,000 mile powertrain warranty and hope never to use it.

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  Rogue after 8 months- honeymoon over! - 2011 Nissan Rogue
  By swimcoach78 - March 2 - 1:55 pm

  I enjoy the rogue as a basic 4 door mini-suv. It rides well and handles well on highways and streets. If I could do it all over again I would have bought a different vehicle. The fit and finish are sot up to par. The car rattles when its cold outside. The engine is loud. I am still not used to blindly backing up nor am I used to the large turning circle. Both car keys are dead and I can only open the car from the drivers door. Not fun when I have my kids with me or if I need to put a bag in my trunk from a store. I got stuck in my driveway in 6 inches of snow. If I could do it all again Id get a VW Jetta wagon or the Suzuki Kizashi. I dont need to sit higher. I need something to last

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  Could be perfect, but needs some tweaks - 2008 Nissan Xterra
  By Vincent Johnson - March 2 - 10:26 am

  The 08 Xterra Off Road is almost the perfect SUV for those of us who use it like a sport utility vehicle. It will go almost anywhere you want it to. It does ride more like a truck than other SUVs, but it also looks less like a minivan than other SUVs. You also feel like youre in a truck. The ground clearance is nice (no sharp corners anymore) and the seats make you feel like you need to duck when going into the garage. The horse power is more than you ever need on a daily basis. This is truly a rough and rugged truck. My biggest disappointment with the Xterra has been the estimated gas mileage. Sticker says 16/20, but its more like 12/16. I get 15-16 at best on the highway.

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  Altima05 - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By dennisp - March 2 - 5:56 am

  Excellent looking, fun to drive, the power of the 3.5 L engine is exhilarating to experience, as it blows by most over hyped performance 4 door sedans.

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  2 yrs and still running great - 2008 Nissan Xterra
  By nick_ole - March 2 - 4:48 am

  Fun SUV to drive... hugs the road like a champ with smooth acceleration and strong brakes. Mine is a 4x4... havent taken it off road yet but looking forward to it. Got mine a yr old at a steal and even if I didnt, its still worth the money. Its expensive to maintain though...tires cost 200+ a piece and maintenance at the Nissan dealership which I recommend, is still expensive. But all in all, havent had mechanical issues yet @ 66000 miles. This is my second Nissan after my 2004 Maxima SL and Nissan hasnt failed me yet.

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  GREAT TRUCK - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By jeff - March 2 - 2:46 am

  It is a great truck with alot of power and very roomy. This truck turns alot of heads.