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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  Nissan got it right! - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By RKW - September 25 - 3:03 pm

  In 2004 we bought a 2004 Frontier for our daughter in college. In November my husband bought a new 2004 Titan and in December I bought a 2005 Frontier in black. Its an eye catcher and Ive had a lot of compliments on it. I drive 100 miles every day and the new 05 Frontier is comfortable, lots of power and Im getting almost 22 mpg on the highway. Nissan has done an awesome job in the redesign of the Frontier. Of all the trucks weve owned, by far, this is the best one. Im a convert having been a fan of the Chevy Silverado for many years! I can haul a two horse trailer with two 1300 lb. horses aboard with this new Frontier with no problem.

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  3rd Nissan in a row - 2009 Nissan Maxima
  By SRVN20 - September 25 - 1:50 pm

  This is my 3rd Nissan in a row, I went from Sentra, Altima and now the Maxima. I looked at couple of other vehicles to include the Infiniti M. For the price the Maxima has almost everything that I want. I am not happy with the XM radio, I have a Sirius subscription.

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  Sentra SER - 2005 Nissan Sentra
  By John - September 25 - 7:40 am

  The option it offers compare to price are great but fuel economy in city driving is really less advertised. SER stearing is very very senstive (responsive) at high speed. While driving if you not pay "full" attention to the road then you can get in serious accident.

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  Maxima SL - 2008 Nissan Maxima
  By cannon51 - September 25 - 6:26 am

  Had vehicle only short time. Previously had four Maximas this is best yet. Very luxurious interior, adequate power, handles well. First road trip this week, 380 miles, at 4500ft ASL, flat interstate (across Bonneville Salt Flats), speed variable between 65- 85 mph, one short blast near century mark. Fuel consumption 27.44 MPG on unleaded REGULAR fuel.

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  Love at first sight - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By J&C - September 24 - 10:53 pm

  I went out for a 2.5 SL, but when I saw the duel exhaust and the spoiler on the 3.5 SE I had to have it. It didn`t have leather so I had them install the Nissan after market leather and boy am I glad I did, it`s so much nicer than the factory leather. I also had a gold package done(the car is gold) and it is just georgous. I can`t say enough about the power of the 3.5, every time I step down on it I am truly amazed. I got it early so I paid a little more but NO regrets

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  Excellent value, comfort and acceleration. - 2016 Nissan Maxima
  By Tom - September 24 - 9:58 pm

  2016 Maxima is my first Nissan purchase... I have driven GTR on the track multiple times and am always impressed. My Acura was out of commission due to the airbag recall and I was put into a Maxima S rental. Needless to say, I was so impressed, that I bought a platinum 2 weeks later. Being a 40 yr old Engineer, I am very particular and can say that Maxima provides the best 4 door performance and comfort for the money. Strong acceleration, quiet and soft ride, good fuel economy and excellent fit and finish. CVT is very smooth and provides nearly instant acceleration at any speed similar to driving an electric car. My favorite aspect of this car is the driver’s layout along with seating position and comfort. Nowadays most cars are moving toward touch screen everything… which can be a frustrating experience in real world driving and not very safe IMO. Maxima provides 4 ways to control the electronics… touch screen, buttons, steering wheel buttons and a rotating button by the gear shifter. Although it is not AWD, the FWD drive provides plenty of traction in everyday driving and almost no torque steer unless under hard acceleration. Other cars in its class lack the driver’s layout and comfort, are slower and more expensive. No worries here as Maxima will not disappoint. Don’t be over sold by brand names. Do your homework and you will find that Maxima is an excellent value.

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  New experience - 2007 Nissan Quest
  By palur - September 24 - 9:13 pm

  I have tested Odyssey, Sienna and Quest. We wanted to buy anything other than Quest as we were bored with Nissan in the past. Sienna was good and were about to buy it but when we test drove 07 Quest SE fully loaded, we were pleasantly surprised. Steering is much smoother, accelaration for once outpaces Sienna. Interior: leg space is much better than Sienna and with multiple skylights, my daughter fell in love with it. Ride is superb and very comfortable interior, it is a sheer joy for our family. It was more expensive than Sienna 06 XLE but is superior and rollover testing was also excellent (highway safety...). Until a redesigned Sienna or Honda Odyssey are available, 07 Quest seemed best!

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  Roys Car - 2006 Nissan Xterra
  By Roy - September 24 - 4:10 pm

  So far, Ive only owned my Xterra for a little over a month. This is the most fun behind the wheel Ive ever had. The car is responsive in every way possible. Im impressed with the inside storage spaces and the ability to tie down gear in the back area. I like the idea of four plug ins for electrical items. The Xterra has accesories that can make this vehicle a true sports auto. Has good looks and the ability to take you anywhere and truly enjoy the experience and make you want to do it again, and again, and again.. Had I known about an Xterra, I would have given up pickups a long time ago!!!

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  Best pickup yet - 2007 Nissan Frontier
  By sca1211g - September 24 - 2:20 pm

  Have owned two Ford 4x4 F-150s, and a Ford Ranger 4x4, this truck crushes all three in terms of power, reliability, "fun factor", off-road performance, ride and overall quality. Hauls three kids, 4,000 lb boat, and all our gear with room & power to spare. Blasted through 12-24 inch snow drifts before any plows had a chance to clear the roads after a nasty Michigan storm. Have pulled many friends full sized domestics from sloppy mudholes while hunting/fishing up north. Drive around 22,000-25,000 mi per year, no issues as of yet. Use roof rack in conjuction w/ cargo basket more than I thought I would. Bedliner/tiedowns great.

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  Fun and Practical - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By John - September 23 - 9:00 pm

  When local Chevy dealers would not work with me to get the Silverado with the equipment I wanted, I looked at the other vehicles available. The Titan was a vehicle I had read reviews about and knew to be very well rated but until I drove one, I did not appreciate all it had to offer. I have owned the truck for about 13 months and am completely satisfied with the ride, comfort, power and payload the vehicle has. I regularly get compliments on the color, Canteen, and the overall appearance of the truck. I have bought about 20 new vehicles over several years and this is the first that I have been totally satisfied with after the first year. I would recommend this truck to all.