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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  My first Murano - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By Dan - June 18 - 11:30 am

  I just got my Murano a few days ago, the car is extremely great!! Modern looks, luxury interior, great mileage for an SUV. I compared the Infiniti EX35, FX45, Lexus RX350 and Murano, after all my research, test drives, etc. I ended up getting the Nissan Murano, sporty look, great tech features, great mileage. So far totally in love with the car. Thanks.

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  cennic at heart - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By karen higdon - June 18 - 10:00 am

  ihad this car for 2years i drive almost 40 thousand miles a yr. this car has gotten me thur rain,freezing ice storms,uncovered snowy road and save me from crazy drivers on the interstate.it seems that no matter how hard i am on this car it just keeps taking the abuse.i have never had such a reliable car with so few problems i have had alot of cars but this one takes the cake! all i have to say is if you want a car that has it all and need to fell secure in what your driving this is the car for you!

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  Poor Choice - 2001 Nissan Sentra
  By vrkeller - June 18 - 10:00 am

  I bought my Nissan Sentra GXE brand new in August of 2001, I was deciding between this and a Honda Civic, I made the mistake of choosing this car. Since then, Ive put about 30,000 miles on it, and it has been in the shop about 6 times. 3 times for recall, and 3 other time the car just broke down. On one trip to the dealer they sent me home while the car would just stall for no reason while in motion, and after leaving the car with the dealership for over a week, the dealership still couldnt figure out what was wrong with the car. And as we speak the car is in the shop for axle noise (warranty of course) Now Im planning to purchase a Jetta.

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  3rd time sentra owner - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By d. gleason - June 18 - 10:00 am

  This is the 3rd nissan sentra Ive owned. You cant kill the engines. I wouldnt but the automatic again it really takes away from the gas mileage. My 95 5speed got 35mpg. With the automatic its about 22 in the city. The interior comfort is poor. the a/c blows very cold. The bottom line is for comuting back and forth to work its ok. And the price is right.

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  Nice Truck w/Fun Spirit, bad gas mileage - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By mswh777 - June 18 - 10:00 am

  I like this truck. My other is a 4Runner, so its hard to expect too much from this one. However, Im still pleased with my purchase. The manual 4- cylinder is fun to drive, but lacks some power; only 143hp. The interior with power option package is of average quality but does the job. The exterior has a simple but rugged personality. On the 4-cylinder, expect to see about 3200 RPM while doing 70mph on the highway; maybe contributing to the somewhat disappointing gas mileage.

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  They dont get any better than this! - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Joenissan - June 18 - 10:00 am

  After driving the Oddessy, new Sienna, and the Town & Country, we went with the Quest...our 12th Nissan now. This thing is like a limo. Its larger than any minivan on the market and its cocoon quiet and smooth. The interior is elegant when compared to the competition. We enjoy this Quest better than anything weve driven....and its a MINIVAN! Nissan now has the new benchmark minivan!

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  Truly Sumptuous - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Another Altima Fan - June 18 - 10:00 am

  A very reliable car with lot of and room inside. My friend bought 2002 Honda Accord V6 same time as I bought my 2002 Altima 2.5 SL V4. I drove that car, but could feel some resistence once speed go above 75 mph, but Altima is so smooth, you dont even feel anything and it reaches 85-90 mph

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  Altima- Better Than Ever! - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By four80east - June 18 - 10:00 am

  Cant say enough about the new 2003 Nissan Altima 3.5L V6 SE. Fell in love with it at first sight. Have owned the 1995 Altima and the 2003 has outdone itself! Beautiful exterior, really stands out on the road. Roomy interior, leather is wonderfully tailored. Bose 6 CD stereo is top notch! V6 engine is more than able to pass the competition! A smooth and quiet ride. Handles beautifully! No problems!

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  Very Good - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Luanda - June 18 - 10:00 am

  This is the best car Ive ever driven. It is great.

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  Decent Econobox - GXE Synergy Package - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By kenjae - June 17 - 9:14 pm

  Ive had my Sentra for almost one year now. I recently had a Nissan dealer do a 25 pt inspection. I was told my rear motor mount was torn, my throttle body needed cleaning as well as a few other minor issues. I have had the car since 55,000 miles and I am at 76,000 now. The thermostat went out at around 73,000. Basically, it is a decent decade old econobox. The factory battery is still in there working fine. I get high 20s in town mid 30s highway gas mileage. A/C kills a lot of engine power but its got a sunroof. Engine noise is not too bad. Road noise can get frightening if it is a nice pot hole. Be careful on windy highways. Performs better than expected in the snow with allseason tires