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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  The BEST of the BEST !!!! - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By Ronald Remis - July 30 - 10:00 am

  More Bang for the Buck! I have owned Ferraris, Porsches, Corvettes, Benzs and this new "Z" is simply remarkable!!! Great exterior looks, Dramatic interior, Superb handling, Bose stereo system, Ease of operation drop top and just FUN TO DRIVE! Why spend more and get less?

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  2003 2.5S Six month review - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Brian Kristel - July 30 - 10:00 am

  I am writing this at just over the six month mark for my Altima. Overall I am very pleased with the car. The 2.5S engine still surprises me with its energy on the highway and its pickup during merges. The cabin room is fantastic. This is a car that is very comfortable to ride it its back seat. The only options I went with were the splash guards, floor mates, and automatic/compass mirror. The automatic/compass mirror is a must (it saved me several times. This car is a great deal in that 18,000- 19,000 range.

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  Most lovable car - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Maria Heinrich - July 30 - 10:00 am

  I just love it, this is the 3rd Maxima I have owned and will continue to buy another when I am ready

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  Magnificent - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Bethzaida - July 30 - 10:00 am

  Experience is a great car I love my car

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  Great Car - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By T-mony - July 30 - 10:00 am

  This is truly a drivers car, and the bose 320 watt system is great.Nissan went all the way with this new design.This car turns more heads than a Mercedes!

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  Fun to Drive - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Dawn - July 30 - 2:13 am

  This is a fun car to drive. It gets great gas mileage. I love the 20 gallon gas tank (that was a seller for me!). You can go forever on a tank of gas. I miss the room of an SUV (which I drove for years) but I was tired of the gas prices and poor gas mileage of the larger vehicle.

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  A Dream.... - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By happymetoo - July 29 - 7:53 pm

  This car is a dream! I just traded in my Nissan XTerra for the Murano. We loved the XTerra but this feels like I am driving a Cadillac which just happens to be an SUV. In Alaska where we are, handling on ice & snow are primary for us with a vehicle. This couldnt handle better. The heated seats are a plus too, along with the dual climate control for both front seat passangers to be comfortable. The sleek design leaves me looking back at my car each time I park it to see how beatiful it really is. The back seat is so roomy for passangers, along with the fact they recline also makes it a great driving experience for all.

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  Great car! - 2006 Nissan Murano
  By PVale - July 29 - 2:03 pm

  I purchased this car for the safety features and supposed gas mileage. This car handles great and I love to drive it. I purchased this car about 6 months ago and was in one hit and run accident Christmas Eve. The safety features worked beautifully, the repairs were done and the car drives like nothing ever happened.

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  you gotta get this truck - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By irishtj - July 29 - 3:23 am

  I have only had this truck for 2 months but it is AWESOME...265 horsepower on a mid size truck. this thing hauls butt. It is solid, well built, fun, and The looks i get at every light, people keep asking me about it and are impressed by the looks of this truck. I was not impressed by the looks of the full size titan but it works on this truck. it is a guys truck nothing wimpy about it at all..it handles beautifuly but you still have the truck feel due to its heavy duty frame

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  Great truck - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By bensimmons_99 - July 29 - 3:06 am

  Great all around truck, I am impressed with its comfort, its smooth ride and its power. I shopped around for over 3 months, and finally found a great deal. For the money it is the best truck!