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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  2004 Nissan Titan - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By rick smith - July 14 - 10:00 am

  I was a die hard ford guy until I drove the nissan. The new ford that I drove just didnt seem to have the power. The nissan when you kick it down has quite a bit of force. It will set you right back in the seat.

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  04 Maxima - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Victor Hernandez - July 14 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned a 99 Maxima and you cannot compare the two. There are so many nice features on this car, for one is the style, it went from a old mans[99] car to a nice sporty design. This is a car that needs no upgrade, it already has 18 inch wheels and a great soundsystem for the younger owners and comfort for the middle aged and older owners.

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  The number one sports car of the world.. - 2006 Nissan 350Z
  By Lao Moua - July 14 - 4:43 am

  This will be the ride of anyones life. Even better then six flags roller coasters.

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  Great truck - 2007 Nissan Titan
  By Mick - July 13 - 5:40 pm

  Nissan has really kept stepping up to the game with the new Titan. There isnt anything I dont like about this truck.

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  For Better or Worst - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By AltimaMan08 - July 13 - 4:03 pm

  I was extremely impressed from the altima the first time I drove it. I compared it to the accord which was Nice but it was pricy and only had a 5spd, and to the Camry which had the crapyest cluch feel of amy car ive ever driven, was difficult to hold to floor. I love the keyless everything, very convenient for me bc im a delivery driver and am in and out of my car hundreds of times a day, gas mileage varies widely, when lead- footing it around town I have gotten as low as 20 mpg (burn out at every stoplight driving) to an extreme 40 mpg highway (55-65 mph), my best is 700 miles to one tank of gas. Which holds 20 gal. The best in its class

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  2005 Pathfinder is a disaster! - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By thestizer - July 13 - 1:03 am

  I just recently leased my new 05 Pathfinder. The problem started with a constant (what I thought to be) "spark knock" sound coming from the engine. I immediately returned the vehicle to the dealer. They told me that they called Nissans tech line, and were told that there is an inherent defect in some of the 05 Pathfiner intake manifolds, thus they had to order the part, and they replaced it. I still get the knocking (at lower tones), the engine noise in inordinate, and it doesnt get a highway MPG better than 14 MPG! This experience has been a complete disaster!

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  My Horse Barn Truck - 2008 Nissan Frontier
  By Cate - July 12 - 5:20 pm

  It is a truck. Dont expect a car ride. Love the truck itself. Hate the gas mileage but it is 4WD. Gets me where I am going. Plenty of "Lets Go!".

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  Sweet ride - 2005 Nissan Sentra
  By Mario - July 12 - 5:10 pm

  I picked up a SE-R a couple of weeks ago, and Im loving it. It has good power, sweet handling, and looks sharp in the blackout color that I bought. The stock stereo system has a AUX in for your MP3 player which is a huge plus for me. An excellent car with some nice power for a low price.

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  Best-in-class performance @ lowest cost! - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Steve - July 12 - 7:30 am

  Best mid-size SUV in features and performance, and at the lowest cost. Better standard features and innovations than Explorer (Used to own an Explorer) or Grand Cherokee. (Trailblazer was out due to sloppy suspension and handling!) Great suspension feel with minimal body roll. Engine & transmission are strong with plenty of reserve power. Transmission is smooth-shifting and very predictable, always giving power without elevating RPM too high. The combination of engine, transmission, suspension, and braking makes the truck not feel as large as it is. This is a great truck at a competitive price. Ive only driven it 700 miles, but I cant think of many things I would change.

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  2005 Murano - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Race Fan - July 11 - 10:20 pm

  We traded my 2003 350Z for the Murano when my husband had a serious heart attack in July of 2004. I wasnt sure I would be happy with this car because I have always driven sports cars. However, this has proven to be a wonderful car in town and on the road. We took our first trip from Atlanta to Cedar Key,FL. in March and it was a delight. I love all the space in the car which made packing so simple compared to a trunk.. I didnt want a big SUV that seems some women drivers have a problem driving but this size is perfect. I guess you can tell I REALLY like this Murano.