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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  Awesome Van , Hey bill7638737 you suck - 2002 Nissan Quest
  By Jose - November 16 - 2:00 am

  This van is something else, great power and the TV feature is great. I cant wait to see the new remodeled quest that nissan has in stored, but this van will do. Good Job nissan and bill you really suck

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  Flawless Acceleration - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By Ultritium - November 15 - 11:03 am

  I test drove other mid-size cars in similar price ranges; Camry, Accord Ex, Mustang GT 4.0 and none accelerated like the Maxima. I do a lot of highway driving, and hate not being able to pull out and away from a bunch of slow pokes, who love riding each others bumpers.

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  Fantastic - 2007 Nissan Pathfinder
  By steve wilderman - November 15 - 6:03 am

  I just bought my Nissan Pathfinder LE and I love everything. The drive was extremely impressive for such a big body and after all complaints of the engine noise, I thought it was fine (I like louder engines though) but this one is nothing to worry about. Seating is superb and luxuries are great.

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  great car but too many problems - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By jessica j - November 15 - 3:06 am

  i have had 2 scary instances with this car where i was driving with my foot on the gas and the car started slowing down by itself which is scary.i brought it to the dealer they said there was no gas filter in the car to ice crystals were forming in the tank. It makes you question why wasnt it put it when it was made.Also i have had the O2 sensor replaced 2 times and it has trouble starting in winter. when you get tires for it there is only one brand availible called continental which arent that great either. but i love the way the car looks on the inside and the outside just to many mechanical problems.

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  Fun to drive, with a few caveats - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By Wasim - November 14 - 8:00 pm

  I had a 6-speed manual version with HLSD. The car looked great and was so much fun to drive, but it had lots of small problems. Individually, none would have been a big deal, but it all adds up. I had to turn the rotors every few thousand miles because they kept warping, replaced the Bose radio three times, and had to replace a wheel bearing all within one year of owning it. The squeaks and rattles get on your nerves after a while, and the big turning radius makes it annoying to park and make U-turns. That said, the manual was pretty nice, the car was FAST, and it handled great - the SE really has a nice suspension. And the interior was nicely appointed in my fully-loaded version.

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  Outstanding large family van - 2013 Nissan NV Passenger
  By deltasierra - November 14 - 10:34 am

  With the expected arrival of our 6th child, our Toyota Sienna minivan was going to be too small for our needs. The thought of diving a huge 12-passenger van did not appeal to us. The choices for a long time have pretty much been either Ford or Chevy, which have limited features, and the Mercedes van, while nice, is just too expensive. So we were very pleased to learn that Nissan has started selling 12-passenger vans, at about the same price as the Ford and Chevy vans. When we saw all the options available on the NV, we started to get more excited about it. And after about 2200 miles, weve been very pleased with it. It drives surprisingly well for a large van. I highly recommend the NV.

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  A big truck in a small package - 2007 Nissan Frontier
  By Dave - November 14 - 9:16 am

  When I set off to ID a replacement for my little 01 Toyota Tacoma, I wanted to match its overall reliability, maneuverability and fuel economy but also gain a roomier interior, 4 doors, horsepower, a more civilized ride and a few bells and whistles. Some internet research and a few test drives quickly steered me towards the Frontier over the Tacoma and Colorado. The "Fronty" (CrewCab, 5 bed) had big truck power, ride and interior room without being gas thirsty and a PITA to park/drive in tight places. It also, IMHO, had better styling and initial build quality than the others. (My Taco was a rattle trap!) I got 20% off/ below invoice on a loaded LE with little effort. Try that with Toyota.

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  My first Mini-Van - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By JTUWDAWG - November 13 - 10:00 am

  Aside from a few little "ticks" this first mini van of mine seems to certainly pass the test! Being a non- traditionalist, this van seems made for me! An aside from the nagging back up sound it makes, it has been everything that I hoped in getting. Comfort, styling and economical to run.

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  Nissan Frontier - 2004 Nissan Frontier
  By yeadan - November 13 - 10:00 am

  Disappointing fuel mileage. About 21 mpg. 4 cyl has low power for getaways.

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  My zzzzz - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By JImmy - November 13 - 10:00 am

  I LOVE IT. Still turn to look at it as I walk away.