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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  Good Car with some issues - 2009 Nissan Cube
  By Livin in my Cube - October 6 - 9:00 pm

  So far the Cube has lived up to expectations (which were not all that high to begin with considering the price). The road noise gets a little annoying on the freeway. The heater fan went out within the first 6 months. But biggest negative was having to replace the brakes after only 16,000 highway miles. Didnt see that coming. The service tech said that lighter cars come with ligher brakes, so it can be an issue, so beware! Cool car though, and lots of people staring wondering what it is!

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  early, but so far so great. - 2013 Nissan Maxima
  By minarets2 - October 6 - 7:50 pm

  its early. i have only had the car for a week but have 758 miles after that week. bought it with 9 miles on it. i drive a LOT for work and the ride on my sport model with 19" wheels/tires are definitely rougher than the 18" models, but not too rough. i drove both, preferred the looks of the sport. the BOSE is good, the ride is good,but cant say enough about the Bluetooth. no one knows, even at 80mph that i am using BT, its that good. i am coming out of a RAM and was worried about the transition from a lot of space to a car, and so far not too bad. the 290 HP is really there. my previous 2 vehicles were a G8 GT and a RAM with HEMI so i thought this would lack punch, and it does not.

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  Happily traded my lexus for the maxima. - 2009 Nissan Maxima
  By maxima4life - October 6 - 7:10 pm

  Just got the car yesterday. I had a leased IS 250 to trade in and was looking to spend less but not downgrade too much. No buyers remorse here! (Except for my backup camera- that was nice.) I got the S model to save some cash and I dont miss the Lexus at all. The Maxima is a blast to drive and looks sleek- I got a compliment after owning it less than 24 hours. It has WAY more room than the IS but drives just as good. It has good pick-up on the highway and really turns heads. I test drove a loaded Camry SE and it just felt boring after owning the IS 250. The Maxima is a great car- I am very satisfied and cant wait to show it off. I got a great deal since it was an 09. Go get one!

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  Best gas mileage car ever!! - 2006 Nissan Sentra
  By sentraowner - October 6 - 4:36 pm

  This is my 3rd Nissan Sentra. The first 2 lasted 240k and 320k. This one is heading for 400k if the body will hold. With the 1.8L engine, manual 5 spd transmission, Amsoil 0w-30 full synthetic oil, full synthetic in both the manual transmission and the transaxle, this car averages 38-44mpg with cruise control on and at 65 mph. I use my Garmin Nuvi to sync my speedometer and find it is 3mph slow. Bad points: Slow acceleration Good points: Great in the snow, even in WNY winters. Very reliable. Only dealer service I have had is having the belts (timing, alternator, water pump) changed every 60k. Oil changes at 10-15K miles using Amsoil filters.

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  The best car made - 2005 Nissan Quest
  By cheeky1 - October 6 - 1:46 pm

  I purchased my Nissan Quest 2005 when it first came out. I have driven it throughout California, north and south. And let me tell you something I would never sell this car if someone paid me a million dollars! I just love it, its fuel economy friendly. A full tank ($50) lasts me 2 weeks on average, including driving to work and sending kids to school everyday and also entertainment out of town at least once a week.

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  Amazing vehicle front to back - 2012 Nissan Leaf
  By xando05 - October 6 - 1:36 pm

  What an amazing piece of machinery. I really dont have one bad thing to say about the Nissan LEAF. Nissan really hit the nail on the head with this car. The technology is second to none. It drives a like a dream car. It handles very well and brakes extremely well too. I highly recommend this car all the way around. I look forward to driving the LEAF everyday!!

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  A nice upgrade since my last Altima - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Coneman - October 6 - 12:10 pm

  Traded up from my 2000 Altima SE; big improvement. Went with all the bells except the NAV option and brights. Performance is very good and fun to drive. Pickup is awesome. Would recommend to anyone who wants a roomy, stylish sedan with performance.

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  Great vehicle if you need it - 2006 Nissan Xterra
  By sky_captain - October 6 - 9:30 am

  I bought my Xterra with 4wd used in 2010, and have since had it for 2 and a half years. It has been a fantastic vehicle in terms of reliability and performance. The problem is the gas mileage. If you do not need to haul heavy things, pull large objects, or you do not frequently encounter bad weather, then I do not suggest this SUV. The back seat is cramped for adults, and the interior lacks a lot to be desired in terms of comfort. Combine those aspects with the very poor mpg, and it makes this SUV difficult to validate. HOWEVER... if you do need such a vehicle, I could not suggest a better one. The reliability is up there with Honda, and off road/ working performance is great.

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  "Impressed" - 2007 Nissan Quest
  By Rick - October 6 - 4:46 am

  Very nice van. Was a little hesitant when I bought it because of the Honda and Toyota reliability reputation. Have driven a Toyota, Honda and Caravan since I bought my Quest and I DO NOT regret my decision one bit!!! Again...Very Nice Van!

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  shift!!!!!! - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By aaron - October 5 - 10:00 am

  this is a very fun car to drive. the first time i got in it was at the dealership and i felt the power as soon as i pulled out of the space. very nimble. about the only down side to the spec-v was getting used to the outragous torque steer when really pushing it.