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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  Great big little car - 2010 Nissan Sentra
  By Mo - September 10 - 4:30 am

  I just bought this car over a week ago. I love it, its smooth, fast and comfortable to be in. It has a lot of extra features that I would expect in a bigger car in this car. I like the touch screen GPS, bluetooth, XM, etc. The bluetooth is clear and I could hear the person on the other side and they could hear me without me yelling, if you know what I mean. It has great steering, acceleration, and traction control. The windshield wipers are quite and I really enjoy having a true keyless system. I sometimes forget that I dont need to reach for my keys when I leave or start my car. This is probably the best car I have owned to date. Way times better than the Ford Focus with more features!

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  1100 miles and it needs new brakes!!!!!! - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By horatio - September 9 - 8:33 pm

  Wow! 1100 miles and pulsating front brakes. No recall yet! No parts available! Will resurface the rotors but the problem will come back! Can they spell class action lawsuit! Sign me up! I love the truck but the issue has not been resolved in months according to these postings. Its a real shame.

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  Right Choice - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By ken - September 9 - 6:33 pm

  Waited for 2005 model to work bugs out. Great Car! Find a crooked road and go nuts. Love the sound of the engine and how smooth it winds out. This car will make you find a way to go driving. And the dealer gave me a terrific price!!

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  Good car - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By jt11649 - September 9 - 10:00 am

  Good car no real problems until recently (185,000 miles) and now just things wearing out. Drives well and still gets 28 mpg combined. A few minor things bother me like cup holders and the fact hat the fold down rear seats give limited access to trunk. I would definitely buy again. Not as good as the civic I had but still very reliable.

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  Tough but Fragile - 2007 Nissan Titan
  By James - September 9 - 10:00 am

  As much as I love my Titan, my comfort has been a bit shattered. The service advisers at the dealership are great but they have been unable to figure out the reason for my constant radiator failures. I am currently on number 3. The radiator is definitely of poor design, but as long as it remains under the extended warranty Ill continue to bring it in. This truck has great potential.

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  Best Car Ive EVER owned - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By TexasGypsie - September 9 - 10:00 am

  After reading the bad reviews, I had to weigh in on how pleased I am with my Maxima. Im the original owner and have 112,000 miles on it. It has been the perfect car. Ive had great reliability, smooth ride, excellent gas mileage and comfortable interior. I love my heated seats, excellent sound system, roomy interior and large truck. This car has not disappointed me and Im sure Ill be looking to Nissan for my next car!

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  Love my Truck - 2010 Nissan Frontier
  By Front Range Lady - September 9 - 10:00 am

  I love the smooth ride, handling and that I didnt have to give up any of my interior luxury. The 18 inch wheels are a plus.

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  2 years with the Rogue - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By TXdirt - September 9 - 10:00 am

  First time Id ever bought a first year model. Overall the vehicle is great. Few minor things; hear a lot of road noise from the back when driving in the rain, they should have insulated the wheel wells a bit. Also, as with most Rogue owners, visibility is something you have to get used to, would love a bit more, especially when backing up. The AWD makes it easy to get around when we get ice/snow.

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  Love the Sentra - 2006 Nissan Sentra
  By Pam - September 9 - 6:40 am

  This is the first car I have driven in years. Always was a SUV. I had my doubts going to a small car. I wanted the gas mileage. This car is extremly comfortable and easy to handle. I love it.We had to drive it to San Antonio from Ohio a few months after we got it. We were comfortable the entire trip. Did not feel cramped at all. The gas mileage is better than expected. On the highway I usually get about 37 mpg. In town about 31-33. I drive 200 miles to work a week, so this is awesome for me.

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  Very nice for the price! - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By Kei_Calibur - September 9 - 2:53 am

  I bought this car new and so far Ive only a couple of complaints. One is the hotspot on the shifter assembly. Turn the lights on and your leg will feel the heat. The other is the front brakes are horrible. I fixed this problem from the get go by ordering new rotors from ebay (I know... I know.) and using a high quality pad from autozone. To those with the tire sensor problem, make sure to check the spare tire also. Ive NEVER had my light come on for anything other than low pressure or one flat. I use this as a family car, and it does its job VERY well. Plenty.. and I mean PLENTY of space for almost anything you could need. Mileage is great also! Nissan loves to make a torquey engine!