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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  New Frontier...1 year later - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By Bob - December 6 - 10:16 pm

  Overall I am very happy w/this truck. I love the high seating position and powerful engine. The mileage is disappointing for a 6 cylinder, about 14.5 mpg around town, 17-18 on the highway. The turning radius is also too big, bigger than my Chevy Tahoe. The drivers window control switches need to be replaced (under warranty) and a new circuit had to be added to the towing package (at no cost). I feel confident driving this truck in all weather conditions.

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  This is the worst car I ever owned. - 2005 Nissan Sentra
  By Mike - December 6 - 9:00 am

  This is hands down the worst car I ever owned. At around 30 thousand kilometers, it started to leak water every time it rained a little bit harder, both passenger and drivers side door rubber/seals. At around 85 thousand kilometers a blown head gasket, astronomical cost to repair, close to $2000. 89 thousand kilometers, check engine light constantly on. I owned several economy class cars before this one and Sentra is hands down the most unreliable car I ever had. I will NEVER own a Nissan again.

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  What A Sweet Car - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By LosCampiones - December 6 - 5:10 am

  Picked up my 2009 SL AWD today, and man is it fun to drive. It has every option you can get on the SL (i have the dual panel moonroof instead of the DVD). The wife loves the dual panel moonroof, I love the navigation and the bluetooth. The start of the engine is a nice growl, and the rearview camera will start your journey out the right way. The turning radius is great, and the handling of the sterring wheel is fantastic. The ride truly is smooth, even over bumps and road imperfections, and you will find yourself well over the speed limit if you dont monitor your speed. The CVT truly is quite nice once you get used to it. Braking is safe and quick.

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  Bells and Whistles - 2011 Nissan Maxima
  By chefjohn2 - December 5 - 10:46 pm

  Wow I went from a 08 Maxima and now in the 2011 all I can say is Wow...Nissan you did right on this model..better turning radius, more comfort, tons of options, and 20 more HP. This is my 3rd Nissan and it cant get much better. Only dislike I have is that they do not have the rear back up sensors like my 08. Other than that fun to drive and turning heads. Paddle shift is awesome. PRICE was great compared to other vehicles...and Nissan is extremely LOYAL to past customers. This is the ONLY car out there that gives you the options that you want and need at a affordable price. Interior of my car is to say the least STUNNING!

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  Great Truck - 2007 Nissan Titan
  By Dirty Sans - December 5 - 4:43 pm

  Great Truck, I own a 2000 Dodge Ram and love my old truck. Nissan did a good job with this truck solid body good looks and a powerful engine. Standard features out class most trucks in its category. Gas mileage is bad but what do you expect with a big engine, if I was worried about gas then I would have bought a little truck.

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  Brand new and already needs repairs/replacements. - 2011 Nissan Armada
  By denverdan - December 5 - 3:16 am

  I traded in an Infiniti FX35 that I never had a single problem with. I needed a vehicle that would tow my new boat and since the Infiniti (Nissan) was so good, I figured that the Armada would be the perfect choice. So far the vehicle has 210 miles on it and I have made a horrible mistake. There is a terrible shake from the steering wheel when the vehicle hits 65mph (I never took it that fast during the test drive). The lift gate doesnt shut tight without slamming it and pushing hard at the same time. I feel like my rear window will shatter some day if I have to keep this up. The drivers side rear view mirror begins vibrating at 40+mph and only gets worse the faster I go.

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  Luv my SUV - 2001 Nissan Pathfinder
  By BJW - December 5 - 12:03 am

  I bought my LE used with 24K. This is the most functional car/truck Ive ever owned and the reliability is so far equal to my experience with Camreys and Maximas. I now have 55K and the only issue I have is with the Bose stereo. The CD/cassette function quit working at around 45K. Otherwise the reliability has been flawless. It hauls my stuff, my kids, and my trailer in all seasons and never lets me down. I test drove every conceivable competitor and for my needs this SUV had the right combination of power, space, torque, comfort, and handling. Very happy with my decision.

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  Best New Car for the price - 2010 Nissan Versa
  By kate&cal - December 4 - 9:06 pm

  So far the car is amazing! We looked all around car shopping and we could not find any other car that could compare. As they say the price was right. Make sure to get the S series not the base it makes a difference. The only problem we ran into is we never owned a brand new car so no one told us that the first 5000 miles you get less MPG than on the sticker "engine Brake in they call it" except no one at the dealership told us. Worth the test drive!

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  Loved this car - 1998 Nissan Altima
  By Katie R. - December 4 - 10:00 am

  I just sold my 98 Altima to get a new car and wanted to review it. I LOVED this car, it was my third car, I bought it used with 55,000 miles on it and it drove like new EVERY day. Never had a problem with it. It was well cared for before I bought it and I cared for it until I sold it at 72,500 miles.

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  spec - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By npecora - December 4 - 10:00 am

  good car, reliable, and fun to drive. bought it and got what i expected out of it! excellent car! YEA