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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  Red Rocket - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Buck - February 25 - 10:26 am

  Im a long time BMW owner and this is the 1st front drive Ive had in 10 years, and Im not disapointed in the least. Reminds me of the fun I used to have with my 71 240Z but now I can carry 4 people. In my estimation Nissan is back. My in town mileage is as good as my 97 BMW 328IS but the highway is not as good. It does 0 to 60 a second quicker so I guess I shouldnt complain.

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  Love My Sentra SE - 2001 Nissan Sentra
  By Bryan - February 24 - 12:56 am

  Bought my 01 Sentra with 53815 miles on it and I have had no problems whatsoever to date. The motor pulls strong and the acceleration is great from a 4 cylinder. The SR20DE motor has tons of available aftermarket performance products and the body is beautiful in black.

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  2003/1 - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By flyer1 - February 23 - 10:56 pm

  This car has very very serious control problems on icy roads. Dealer no help. Changed tires, etc. but to no avail. This is our last Altima because it borders on dangerous to drive in icy conditions.

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  fun with $$ - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By scotto - February 23 - 7:43 pm

  had the maxima 2 weeks and its performed beyond my expectations. opted for the cloth interior SE and my only problem is with the velcro like seats that really hold you in place even at really slow speeds. seats are comfortable though and the engine is so sweet.

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  Really happy with my pre-owned Pathfinde - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By CW004 - February 23 - 12:26 pm

  Bought our 05 Pathfinder used in July 08 with about 40,000 miles on it. We are really liking it. PROs: Great performance with so-so gas mileage. I did get just over 20 miles/gal once on a 400 mile road trip though. Around town its getting between 15 and 16. I have also towed a heavy load (around 5000 lbs) a couple of times for a couple hundred miles and it still performed well. CONS: -At about 50,000 miles, our gas gauge is working only intermittently. Sometimes it reads fine, other times it sits on "E" after a fill up. -Only other con is a heat shield or 2 on the underbody has started rattling. Over all this is a great rig with great performance and lots of room.

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  BAD BAD BAD - 1998 Nissan Frontier
  By me_shell - February 23 - 2:00 am

  I bought my frontier used in 1999. I am currently at 104000 miles. It has been one problem after the next with this truck. From all the wires behind the radio "mysteriously" melting, to the brakes, to replacing the clutch twice, to tail gate latch breaking, to the muffler, to the radiator, and the list goes on and on and on. Im finally trading it in tommorrow. YIPPIE! I should have done it earlier, but I just kept thinking that this problem will be the last, until all of a sudden more money than Id like to mention has been poured into it. However, it should be noted that I likely got a lemon.

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  Great car!!!!!!!!!!! - 1997 Nissan Maxima
  By Swifty1 - February 23 - 2:00 am

  reliable, responsive, powerful, and still good looking after 7 years, Much better than the 2004 which I just test drove. I am looking for an SUV now, and I will miss many things about this car!

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  Best car Ive ever owned - 1997 Nissan Maxima
  By Maximalover - February 23 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned American, German, Japanese and Swedish cars, and without question my 1997 Maxima SE is the most reliable of all. In 45,000 miles we literally had one part that malfunctioned under warranty, and other than standard service it has never been in the shop. Its a great car that family and friends have asked to buy, but were not letting go.

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  Pathfinder: A Great Find - 2003 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Mitchell Collins - February 23 - 2:00 am

  The best car we have owned (and the most expensive) very comfortable, and fun to drive. Really love it but wish we had 4wd (just in case. Also the engine is awesome, great acceleration.

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  Two weeks old and I love it! - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By kimmer - February 23 - 2:00 am

  I went from a Durango to the Armada with a little hesitation because of the Armadas size, but it was a very easy transition. The amount of storage the Armada has and the overall ability to see out of the mirrors, etc., is amazing. The stereo is fabulous and the ease of use of all the controls is great. The fold down seats (including the passengers) is also a big bonus. The Armadas ride is smooth and it is fun to drive. I would highly recommend the Armada.