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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  Excellent - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Henry Allen - August 23 - 8:06 pm

  We have bought a many cars over the past 32 yrs from oldsmobile to jeeps, and not one coule ever compare to this Nissan Murano, it is really joy to drive. Mrs Henry Allen

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  A great car for a mid range import - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Rich Thorn - August 23 - 5:00 pm

  I have had this car now for about 18 months and I still love it, the fascination of having a new car has not yet worn off after 2 months of owning it like it did when I bought my a new VW Jetta in the year 2000. I have had only one slight problem with the car which Nissan took care of with no problem. The from rotors warped, probably enhanced by my hard driving here in the City of Boston. Also have received a recall notice on the strut housings.

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  2017 Rogue - 2017 Nissan Rogue
  By benito zambrana - August 23 - 12:16 pm

  Initially I was looking for an affordable SUV, a Mitsubishi Outlander 2016 it seem like a good deal and had great safety features. Looked around and happened to visit the Nissan dealer just to see what was available. Looked at a 2016 Rogue, seemed nicer than the Mitsubishi but the 2017 Rogue is much nicer plus is a 2017 after. The interior of the 2017 has a more sportier feel to it even the steering wheel is different plus the color of the vehicle is unique. Finally decided that that the 2017 rogue was the one for me. With the features the vehicles has such as eco mode sport mode is teaches the driver how to drive plus the other safety features it has and luxury features like Bluetooth,Xm Radio TPMS for the tires among other. I feel it is a great investment in my part, there is no need to worry about breaking down on the side of the road any time. Just turn the key and drive.

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  What SUVs were meant to be - 2000 Nissan Xterra
  By XterraOwner - August 23 - 10:00 am

  The Xterra has been an excellent truck. I expected a reliable, well-built vehicle, and thats what I got. It is great both on and off road; especially great in the snow. Needs a little more top end on the manual transmission, but great low-end power. I highly recommend this truck for anyone looking for a reasonably priced, well- performing SUV.

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  What SUVs were meant to be - 2000 Nissan Xterra
  By xterraowner - August 23 - 10:00 am

  The Xterra has been an excellent truck. I expected a reliable, well-built vehicle, and thats what I got. It is great both on and off road; especially great in the snow. Needs a little more top end on the manual transmission, but great low-end power. I highly recommend this truck for anyone looking for a reasonably priced, well- performing SUV.

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  Best under $30 sports sedan - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By BAW - August 23 - 10:00 am

  Lets face it - there is no other sports sedan of this caliber under $30K. Nissan tried it with the Altima and that thing is sooo cheap its scary. The only real downside is that it has more power than the handling permits - you need to toss the tires right away as a start.

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  Spec- tacular SER - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By mpolo66 - August 23 - 10:00 am

  4 Dr Econo M3... Great build quality. Livable sports sedan. Lives up to the old Sentra SER with a much fresher look and, feel. Handles like my Integra GSR with less lean.

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  Beats the competitors hands down! - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By 2w05thletes - August 23 - 1:53 am

  I researched the mid-size sedan market for months. The Accord, Camry, Fusion, Mazda 6, and Sonata. The Altima is a cut above the rest. The exterior design is beautiful, and the interior is sharp and crisp. I have 2 little boys both in car seats and they fit perfectly in the back seat without feeling cramped. Fuel economy is as advertised if not a tad better. Im averaging 31MPG, mostly HWY but some city. I LOVE the CVT. Nissan did an incredible job with it. Its smooth and the manual option is a fun bonus when I feel like it. The ride is smooth and surprisingly quiet. Trunk is HUGE, only complaint there being the hinges. Plenty of cupholders including an adjustable one. 5 Stars!

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  So far, so good. Wanted something SMALL - 2012 Nissan Juke
  By juraszek - August 22 - 11:52 am

  Have had this car for about two months now. I purchased this auto because it is very easy to steer and also has the AWD feature. It is very easy to maneuver & park. The turbo really provides bursts of energy, especially when using the "Sport" mode. I am getting around 29 to 31 MPG in town. Havent yet taken it on a long drive, but figure I will get more MPG using the "economy" mode. I love the looks, the handling, & the weight of it. I was looking to replace a 2000 VW Beetle. Interior could be nicer, but it does have heated seats. They need to add an "auto down" button for passenger seat and add electric adjustable drivers seat. I wanted something quick and nimble & easy to drive.

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  Best crossover all things considered - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By Peter Zeff - August 22 - 7:40 am

  We considered many SUVs and narrowed our choice down to Toyota Highlander and RAV4, Honda CV-R, Subaru Forester, and Nissan Rogue. The Murano has by far the best styling inside and out. The size was slightly bigger than it appears so it is not quite as nimble as some of the smaller offerings. We did not want either a sunroof or third row seating and this is one vehicle where you dont have to pay for those options and you can actually find in dealer inventory. We recently took it on a 400 mile trip and found it to be extremely quiet and comfortable. It seems to be getting good mileage about what the EPA estimate suggests. All things considered I think of it as a "poor mans" Lexus RX 350.