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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  my baby z - 1996 Nissan 300ZX
  By Dan S - September 28 - 2:00 am

  i own a 1990 n/a Z (with a bunch of mods) and its the best car ill ever own....its great to drive around just for the hell of it, and its great owning one of the best cars ever made. it looks great, better than most cars of today....and even at 13 years old, she still beats everyone i race

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  moded v - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By propane - September 28 - 2:00 am

  i hade my v for 3 weeks now i went all out with the fanatic pkg & moon roof for $20k flat the 175 horspower motor feels vary strong and i love the rush when my blood races when i skrach 1 2 and 3rd gear {TIP WANT TO CHERP 4TH GEAR.. RED LINE 3RD WITH YOUR RIGHT FOOT ALL THE WAY ON THE ACCELERATER THEN ENGAGE THE CLUTCH WITHOUT LETINGOUT THE ACCELERATER MOVE TO FORTH THEN LET THE CLUTCH OUT AS FAST AS YOU CAN YOU WILL CHERP FORTH I DID}I MODID MY V WITH HI FLOW MUFFLERS COLD AIR INTAKE HOT SHOT HEADERS WITH THES EASY EXTRAS I MAD 198.7 HORESPOWER ON THE DYNO AT THE CRANK SHAFT FOR $650 THE ALREADY FAST V IS FASTER AND WITH MORE DEADLY WHEEL SPINING POWER

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  NIssan Maxima - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By Grant - September 28 - 2:00 am

  I love my Maxima it is a great car with a competitave price and good build quiality... i couldnt resist....i choose the Maxima because of the great price and all the standard features and I love the SE edition... it is so much fun to drive all around it is a great car!!

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  03 altima - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By jatepp - September 28 - 2:00 am

  In my opinion, my 03 Nissan is one of the best entry level luxury sedans for the money. Ive mainly compared it to the VW Passat and overall, the Altima is better. It is about six thousand dollars cheaper and looks about the same on the outside. The interior is very advanced for its time as well.

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  370Z - 2009 Nissan 370Z
  By baldman - September 27 - 9:53 pm

  Much improved looks inside and out from the 350 z. Great engine and brakes. Nav system is very good. Tough to beat features for price.

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  Best car out there! - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By lisajoe98 - September 26 - 1:36 pm

  This is an awesome car to drive. The feel of a sports car with four doors and enough room for the entire family. I will never buy a 4 cyl again.

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  Truck of Trucks - 2007 Nissan Titan
  By Nissan for Life - September 26 - 11:00 am

  This is the best truck I have ever owned. Never a problem. 41000 so far with nothing more than tires and oil. Passing 2 mini-vans and a rig on a two lane road all at the same time is not a concern. I haul 2-3 dirtbikes all the time, love the utility bed. I have also towed a couple of 6000+ lb travel trailers with dirtbikes and firewood at 75 mph. This truck hauls with plenty of power. A little wide for off-roading(if you like your paint), but it will go almost anywhere. I rated fuel mileage high because this is a truck with power, it takes fuel to make 6000 lbs go 80 mph. Driving the Titan is very comfortable. The captains chairs feel like a Lazyboy. I have had 3 other Nissan trucks and a Z.

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  Near Perfect Car - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Nathan - September 26 - 9:23 am

  This car is beautifully styled, both inside and out. The ride is smooth and my 2.5 S engine is plenty powerful. All power and comfort items needed came standard with the base 2.5 S model. Really appreciate the standard iPod jack (some other manufacturers charge extra) though I hate its location - the cable runs down the console to the IiPod. The 2.5 S base model is a bargain for the money when bought right. The CVT is far superior to conventional automatic transmission. Keyless entry is great! Code Red is gorgeous and my black cloth interior is nice enough I didnt need the leather. I bought an unobtrusive aftermarket Stillen spoiler which really makes the car turn heads!

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  Killer - 2006 Nissan Frontier
  By Stu - September 25 - 10:00 pm

  My Ranger was starting to die on me (150k) so it was time for an upgrade. After testing out the Taco, F-150, Ridgeline & Titan, I was sold on the Frontier. It was the most comfortable to my frame(56"), plenty burly and looks killer (the wife was pleased). Being in Houston I didnt even ask about 4WD (would have been a special order), but at least I got the NISMO which is kind of like 3WD with the limited slip rear and nice clearance etc. The only knocks I have are that it always makes a clunking noise in the front when I start out in the morning, the doors swing way wide open and the steering is quite wide and somewhat sluggish feeling at low speeds. Wish Id gotten the Rockford sound.

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  A very good mini-van. - 2005 Nissan Quest
  By arcticslalom - September 25 - 8:29 pm

  Weve owned the car since fall of 07 and its been a really beauty. I had to put a front wheel bearing in each side, but the van is now at 170,000 miles and still going very strong. Interior fit and finish isnt the best, but overall Nissan makes a very good engine and transmission. I cant complain. I would recommend a used Nissan Quest to anyone with kids or bulky stuff to haul. So MUCH more room than other SUVs out there. Dont buy an SUV to be in the in crowd. Accept the fact you have kids and get a van, save gas and haul all your stuff in comfort.