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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  I have been converted to Nissan - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By markcowboysfan - February 7 - 10:00 am

  My wife wanted one and I wasnt sure about Nissan. At one time not long ago their cars were not very good. However, I gave them a second chance and I am glad I did. I literally love this new Maxima SL.

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  Fun to Drive - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By DANIEL - February 7 - 1:53 am

  Just got back on a trip of 5,150 miles and enjoyed the driving experience in my 2004 Nissan 350Z. I was supprised at the amount of luggage was able to get in the car. I was gone 16 days and had clothes left. Im 61 years old and have driven Cadillacs most of the time, but this one was more fun to drive on the road on long trips. I have heard that a there have been complaints about the visibility in the mirrors, but I didnt have a problem with them.

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  great car for the price - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By amelia arbona - February 6 - 1:06 am

  just bought it! great car for the money. thousands less than accord or camry here in puerto rico. the new interior looks and feels great. much better than domestic interiors and on par with cloth interior accords or camrys. acceleration is great. just wish i could use regular gas instead of premium. and last but not less, the looks!!! it looks more expensive than it is, better than acuras tsx, vw jettas, even better looking than lexus es 330.

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  Great Truck - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By Todd - February 6 - 12:20 am

  At first we were looking at the Jeep Liberty, but decided to compare it with the Xterra because it was priced about the same. I have to say that we are very happy with our decision. This is one of the better truck-like SUVs you can get for the money. I say truck-like, because its not fair to compare it to those car-based SUVs. It rides like a truck, sounds like a truck, uses fuel like a truck...just like a sport UTILITY vehicle should. If youre looking for a car-like grocery-getter, look elsewhere. It has been driven in 18" of snow on unplowed dirt roads in Pennsylvania and on snow-covered roads across West Virginia to Snowshoe Mtn. ski resort, and it performed beautifully.

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  One Sweet Truck - 2010 Nissan Frontier
  By David Lee - February 5 - 10:13 am

  Bought this truck just before Christmas 2009. I tell you what a fun truck to drive , a very very peppy 4cyl with a smooth shifting Auto Trans. This truck really moves, handles well, and is very very quiet! Had a 2000 Frontier but this one is a far cry better !!! I would recommend the 4cyl Auto to anyone if you just need a truck to drive and not pulling anything. Plenty of ZIP getting on the Highway. Love the ride also the 16" tires and wheels are a nice addition. Overall as you can tell i am very impressed with this truck, the more i drive it the more i like it !!! And it is a very nice looking truck at that ! Traded a Honda CRV for this and have not looked back since !!! Way to go NISSAN

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  Great car!! - 2014 Nissan Altima
  By Ernest Neeley - February 4 - 3:13 pm

  I love this car; this is my second Altima and it is way better than the first, which I drove for 210K miles before giving it to my nephew as his first car. I have owned two Accords before these two Altimas, and they were so overrated and the Altima is way better with reliability. No issues at all!

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  2005 Xterra- Great drive - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By Mike DeLorey - February 4 - 9:23 am

  We recently purchased an 05 Xterra to replace the wifes Subaru Outback. The Xterra has a solid feel to it. The engine delivers excellent low end power & the acceleration is great even adhering to the 4K rpm break-in limit. The ride is firm without being harsh. The steering is a bit vague on center but the overall feel is good. The brake pedal feels a bit soft but the stopping action is very good. The seats are firm but could use more side support. Overall the Xterra is an excellent choice.

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  This is a great car - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By Gus DeMarco - February 3 - 3:23 pm

  There are so many things I love about this car. It is very comfortable. The tilt wheel is an american style, not the usual japanese column up and down. The Telescoping steering column is great. The brakes are the best ever. The headlights really light up the road for a great distance. Very fash and responsive , one could never tell this is a four cylander car. It is faster and than my last car the had a v 6 engine. The redone interior is beautiful and I loved the exterior design, thats what cought my eye in the first place. Far more attractive that the Camry or the Honda. The size of the car is Perfect. All the room you could ever want, yet it is still a rather compact car.

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  UNRELIABLE AT 48,100 MILES - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By amrp - February 3 - 2:45 pm

  I got my 2011 Juke last February 2011 and I was so proud of it until July 11, 2013 at 48,100 miles, it just broke down. I had it towed to a Nissan Service Center and they changed the "TUBE - ASMY INLET" plus a gasket valve in and a seal-o ring. I am not a mechanic so I dont know how this all work. Anyway, if you are a potential buyer, just be ready to start paying for maintenance at 48,100 miles. I am not sure what and when the next problem will come up now.

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  Not quite, but almost a lemon - 2001 Nissan Quest
  By Southern CA - February 3 - 2:00 am

  During the first 8000 miles, Ive been back for warranty repair 5 times. All were a/c problems, the last 3 were for gas leaks, and if it required a 4th visit, then the CA lemon law would have applied. I needed to seat 7 and I thought it was a good value. I would not buy it again because of the poor quality. With 14000 miles on it, windows rattle, tail gate sags, tires loose 5lbs of air every 2 weeks, strange metallic sounds when the engine starts, and a musky odor from the air vents. Im just hoping it last until I can afford to trade it in.