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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  First Nissan - 2016 Nissan Maxima
  By Doyle - August 19 - 10:21 am

  I traded a Chevy Tahoe in for my Maxima Platinum. This is the first car I have owned since high school (I am 68). I am very impressed with this car. Believe me I did a lot of research and drove several vehicles before buying this car. I actually went to the dealer to look at a smaller suv, when I saw the Maxima I was really impressed with the body style and all the features on the Maxima Platinum. One of my main concerns was road noise, I told the salesman that if the car had road noise I was not interested. After driving, I was completely sold on this car. For the price, you will not find a classier sedan.

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  yowzaa!!! - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By socal4now - August 19 - 10:00 am

  this is the best sports car for the money ive ever owned. FANTASTIC. I have a 2004 touring model and plan on keeping it for a good long time. Harsh ride? Not so much. And hey, Its a sports car!! Thank you Nissan for bringing the Z back--better than ever.

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  Worth the wait - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By bhoyl - August 19 - 10:00 am

  Just an awesome vehicle. Ive been burned by domestic SUVs (reliability, resale, etc) and I have waited for Nissan to build a large SUV. Could not be happier. Has TONs of power and is more nimble that you would ever expect from a large vehicle. We get stared at at ever stop light and while the look may not work for everyone, it is unique and at least not boring and omnipresent like Tahoes, Expeditions, etc. I was a little reluctant to buy a first try from Nissan but so far I have been extremely satisfied and it was worth the wait. Glad I didnt wait longer...

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  Best Minivan Ive owned! - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By KrisBeck - August 19 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned a Sienna, which I loved, but the new ones didnt get good crash ratings, and Ive heard they dont deal because its a sought-after vehicle. Didnt care for the Honda, and I drove the Nissan and I was sold. This is the best-driving minivan, it feels like a car and handles easily in any parking lot. I havent noticed any rattling yet as others have reported.

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  The Best - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By sridhar - August 19 - 10:00 am

  This was my first vehicle, and the experience is far far above my expectations. the consumption is amazingly good for a SUVs in its class, 21/25 mpg city/highway. The smooth ride is so cool that you wont even notice the gear shift. The control on high speed is something one has to feel. Talking more about this vehicle is not possible at this moment due to the stipulated number of characters in this section. So, in short it THE BEST. Highly recomended.

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  Perfect - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Emily Anderson - August 19 - 10:00 am

  The ride is so incredibly smooth. For the price, it is really fast as well. Its got 175 hp and V-Tec, so the pick up is nice. However, after about 40,000 miles, I noticed a slight increase in engine noise. Also, as I had never felt previously, I felt it change gears ever so slightly. This car is beautiful, I recommend it to everyone!

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  Nissan Driver - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By Tulsan - August 19 - 8:03 am

  I love Nissans. Maxima was my first NEW car. Loved it! Fell in love with the style of the Armada when it first came out. My biggest fear was that it was manufactured in Canton, MS. I wasnt sure it was going to be dependable. But this SUV is great for large families. I have 3 kids and all 3 car seats fit in the 2nd row with room left over. Nobody smashes fingers trying to get their seat belts hooked.

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  Big mistake, transmission out at 23k miles - 2009 Nissan Altima
  By nick131 - August 18 - 10:02 pm

  I bought this car after was told it is sporty to drive. It might be sporty for old folks. The engine is loud as a jet taking of every-time you accelerate. My main issue with the car is highway driving. After driving on highway for more than two hours and then you decide to get off an exit for gas or a quick break, the car wont move. It has done that to me every time i had come to a stop after highway driving. It is very dangerous because the car wont move at all while the gear is on D and gas pedal pressed all the way down to the floor. Dealer wants to replace transmission. The second thing is this car is the worse vehicle for winter driving, especially in snow.

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  Stunning Car - 2009 Nissan Rogue
  By Moodles - August 18 - 3:56 pm

  We absolutely love this vehicle. We had looked at the Honda Civic but this is head and shoulders over the Civic. Its much more stylish and a joy to drive. Very reliable, weve had no problems with ours at all. A great vehicle.

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  My third Nissan - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By Pete Lange - August 18 - 3:43 am

  This is the third Nissan that I have owned. It is the second Truck, and I am more than satisfied. It is a very sporty looking vehicle and has the motor to back it up. Also the ride is very comfortable. I really cant think of any gripes at all.