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 Car - 2003 Nissan Pathfinder
  By BobBobBob - February 3 - 2:00 am

  I just recently purchased a 2003 Nissan Pathfinder. Its a great car, very lush and luxurious interior. The only problem is its a little light on headroom. Even me at 60 just barely fits in the drivers seat. But other than that great car and it looks awesome!

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  Numero Uno mid size SUV - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By bigdon1 - February 3 - 2:00 am

  I have been looking into mid sized SUV for about 3 years now and I am very glad I waited to 2003 to make it my buying year and bought the Murano. After dreaming about and test driving the RX 300, I am happy to say that the Murano puts it to shame. The drive quality is undescribable and one that needs to be experienced to really believe. The transmission is very smmoth and you can feel the power of the engine from the moment you step on the gas pedal. 245 hp and torque is availble quite readily and the ease of control over so much power is impeccable. This will definitely be a top ten SUV in a very short space of time.

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  Fell in love after the test drive... - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By Mr. Murano - February 3 - 2:00 am

  Shopped Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander before purchasing Murano. The test drive won me over. If your looking for the same old, same old then stick with Honda and Toyota. If your looking for a new stylish design with all the right eronomics, this is the vehicle. Built on the Altima platform, plenty of safety features.

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  I LOVE MY MURANO - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By Priscilla - February 3 - 2:00 am

  I DOWN-SIZED FROM A YUKON XL, AND MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE. I REALLY ENJOY DRIVING MY NEW SL MURANO. IT IS FUN, PRACTICAL AND BOY DOES IT EVER GET THE LOOKS! GAS IS CHEAP TOO! :)

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  2006 Murano S FWD @9 Years old and 150,000 + miles - 2006 Nissan Murano
  By Alan - February 2 - 1:35 pm

  Overall, this is an absolutely great car with very few drawbacks. Upgrades I have added: - Full entertainment system with Bluetooth, USB port, CD, DVD, radio double DIN system with new aftermarket faceplate to replace the air conditioning controls. Kenwood Audio & Metra 99-7612A models - Tow hitch package from Curt - Tinted Rear passenger and trunk doors (purely aesthetic) - 2-way remote starter and full alarm system from Prestige Negatives of the car: - Headlight restoration products from 3M used due to constant foggy appearance (considering full replacement to HID or similar) - Had to replace bracket in drivers side seat (About 3 hour install but part was free due to recall) - Many issues with the gas tank at the beginning of its life which have now subsided after 2 full replacements at the dealership under warranty - Expensive CVT transmission fluid flushes (about $300 every 50k miles) - Fuel pump sensor is faulty in winter weather -- havent run out of gas yet since I keep track of my miles, lived with it for 2 years The car is very smooth riding, and quiet as can be. This thing eats up road on long trips with the CVT transmission and good cruise controls. That being said, the CVT is a power sucker and the acceleration does suffer -- but mid range power is solid with the Overdrive Mode. The back row has the most leg room of ANY car that I have ever sat in! It is almost the size of a 3 row car, but with only 2 rows, there is massive room in the trunk and 2nd row. The roof height is great for tall guys (I am 63") I am right around 152,500 miles right now and these issues that have happened are very minor in my opinion. Besides having the AWD version, there is absolutely nothing else that I would want on this car. I plan on keeping it for as long as humanly possible. Might I mention that the new Tesla Model X looks very similar to this here car.. coincidence? I think not! Great looking car all around, mine is the Metallic Silver btw.

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  Good entry level sedan - 2006 Nissan Sentra
  By Ryan E. - February 2 - 10:46 am

  I purchased the 18.S Special Edition about two months ago and have been impressed. The seats are quite comfortable and I like the interior design. The ride is smooth compared to my previous 1996 Sentra, although its a bit loud when accelerating. Gas mileage is great; Ive been getting 32.6 mpg (advertisements say 35), doing highway driving as well as rural driving. Sound system was a major plus for me, 6 disc Rockford Fosgate in dash cd changer is awesome, and the speaker system sounds great. 8-inch woofer in the trunk slightly limits storage space, but sounds great. Auxiliary input lets me plug my ipod in a simple cable, and without any expensive accessories.

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  great car - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By mike - February 2 - 7:50 am

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  600 miles so far, no complaints. - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By arthurcc - February 2 - 12:12 am

  I recently purchased this vehicle and I have had no problems with it thus far. I bought it new with only the initial 16 miles on it. So far, I have put 600+ miles since getting it and have no complaints so far with it. I was surprised by how well the vehicle accelerated considering it is a v4. The only thing I dont like about the car is that it will sometimes not display the song playing on the information display; I cannot figure out how to program the caller ID for when someone is calling me while I am driving. Other than those two quibbles there isnt else that would tell me to deter you from purchasing this vehicle.

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  Will NOT let this one go!! - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By teague250 - February 1 - 5:47 pm

  Ive owned my 2003 Xterra since new in 2003 and I cant say enough good things about this vehicle. Eight years of ownership, driven every day, long trips, short trips, on light trails and pavement. Knock sensor went bad at 92,000 miles. Thats it...........my only repair. Of course there is the standard replacements, like air filter, oil changes and brakes, but the knock sensor has been the only mechanical failure. Oh yeah, I got 74,000 out of the front pads and the rear pads still look great at 105,000 miles. My daughter is turning 16 in a few months and this will be her vehicle. I feel very confident that this vehicle will provide her with safe, reliable transportation for years to come.

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  Three is a Charm! - 2010 Nissan Maxima
  By Third Timer - February 1 - 11:26 am

  I just picked up my new 2010 Maxima (Blue w/Tan) last night and cant say enough good things about it. This is my third since 2003. The VQ series engine is simply a work of art and mechanical design genius! I traded in a 2005 Acura TL which was an excellent car, but this Maxima beats it and its new model hands down. The value quotient for this vehicle is outstanding! Performance and feature content cant be beat. Reliability of my past two was excellent, no issues! I look forward to a long loving relationship with this third Maxima. By the way, Fox Nissan was outstanding giving me a GREAT deal and excellent delivery experience. NO hassles! Buy a Maxima!