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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  Just an AWESOME CAR - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By EX-BMW driver - December 31 - 10:00 am

  Love the car!! Better than a BMW roadster and better on price, performance, and power. Thanks Nissan for making such a superb vehicle.

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  Great care - fair price - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Sperbsy - December 31 - 10:00 am

  Car is very fun to drive, but not as good on gas as we originally thought. Otherwise, slightly cramped but still comfortable. Ameneties are very good.

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  100% happy - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By plirq - December 31 - 10:00 am

  Avery good ride.plenty of power.alot of room in the back.big trunk.sound system out of this world{bose}

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  Maximized - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By reggieburris - December 31 - 10:00 am

  Being an avid Honda owner and Honda fan it was quite a wakeup when I drove the Maxima. It is extremely fast and has an abundance of features. Besides the Nissan Dealership being inept I am pleased with my new/used Maxima. I did notice that the plastics are not up to Honda quality and smoothness and the torque steer can be atrocious if you are on you Ps and Qs. Considering the price I paid I feel I got a steal.

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  turning radius - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Tonyd - December 31 - 10:00 am

  I just absolutely love the car. As much as I love it, I hate the turning radius even more. Cant even make a U-turn without backing up. Better radius on mini vans. Dont know what the engineers were thinking. Also, fresh air vent blows hot air. I understand a design flaw about letting in air over the engine. DUH! Glad I have auto climate control.

• 

  Outstanding Value - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By rufus1959 - December 30 - 7:33 pm

  This sedan is roomy, rides smooth, and sporty handling. Nice interior. I got a great deal on it. Below TMV. The 175 hp are plenty to haul the family around. Good trunk space. Standard equipment is nice if you dont need, or want to pay extra for.

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  Absolutely LOVE it! - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Chardoi - December 30 - 2:06 pm

  My occupation requires me to drive hundreds of miles a week and I wanted a reliable and economical "work tool." Stepping down from an 8-cyl BMW X5 for fuel economy, I must say that I am very pleased with the pep and gas mileage of my 2.5 S. As an audiophile, it is very out of character for me to settle for the factory (base) stereo. In doing so, I am pleasantly surprised at how nice is sounds. Im sure the Bose may be a little better, but I doubt its worth the extra moola. The car is quick for a 4-banger, agile, quiet at interstate speeds, and comfy. My wife is telling her friends "Its a miracle that he likes a 4-cyl car!" In a nutshell, I absolutely love it!

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  Good but not great SUV - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By Rick in ATL - December 30 - 3:53 am

  Lots of rattles and air leaks keep this good SUV from being great. Great powertrain and sound system, smooth ride and comfort. Poor dealer service.

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  So far so good part II - 2001 Nissan Sentra
  By 96flea - December 29 - 10:43 pm

  This is my 2nd review on this car. Its now going on 60k and the rear caliper needed replaced but it was due to the person/dealer never put a shim/retainer back on after doing a brake job. The paint on the front bumper has peeled off, no biggie. The Firestone tires are junk! The in-cabin filter is good but the dealers want $$$ for replacement filter. Go buy a home filter for $20 and cut 3 or 4 out of it and it will filter out x100 more stuff. The sr20de is why i bought the SE. Many have recommened this engine. The Granite color is attractive. Im getting 24mpg city and 30mpg hgwy. Its good in snow. If you want to get a Sentra find an SE! They stopped making them in 2001 so good luck!

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  First Pickup Truck - 2007 Nissan Frontier
  By Ed - December 29 - 11:00 am

  This is my first p/u and the vehicle is very nice to drive. Smooth, quiet,and handles very well. The 5 speed auto shifts nicely and the engine has excellent power. The ride is not busy on the highway. I drove a Tacoma with similar equipment and found it to be not has sure footed. The ride in the Tacoma was unsettled at highway speeds. The Rockford/Fosgate stereo is very nice indeed. I have the leather interior, it is very comfortable. Even my wife likes to drive it. We have owned Nissan cars since 1987 and we were never disappointed.