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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  Would not own another Nissan - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By mbe35008nm09 - March 3 - 3:23 am

  I bought a 2009 LE on 4-1-09 and sold it on 5-15-08 I had a jerking/vibration at speed of 40 - 60 and they were giving me the run around that it was the gas. They wanted me to run 4 tanks for 93 octane this would fix the problem. Well it made NO difference. If you are thinking about buying one of these I would make sure that you do a hell of a good test drive, overnight drive at different speeds and on different roads. Selling it was the best thing for me to do to deal with it!

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  2013 Pathfinder review after 2 weeks of driving - 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
  By gotexans - March 2 - 6:29 pm

  Traded in acura mdx for something more affordable. I was pleasantly surprised with many of the features on the SL as listed in my fav features section. It drives and feels very similar to our 2004 acura mdx and has plenty of room in the 2nd and 3rd rows. Decent power and acceleration with good mileage (after 2 weeks im getting 20.1mpg average though). Overall you get great value for price paid.

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  Best value for your money - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By bwinter7 - March 2 - 4:23 pm

  I have owned a 93, a 97 and an 01. I had the 01 for about three months before somebody in an SUV sandwiched me between a snow plow and himself. I am convinced the design quality save our lives. I then bought my 02, and I have never been happier. The six speed, and all the little changes new to that year are that much better. In terms of power, luxury, performance and desirability, try to find something better. That Nissan 6 cylinder is one of the top 10 best motors ever made. All of my Maximas had well over 200k on them (except the 01) and never a motor problem. Everything else starts to go, but the engine will still purr like a kitten. Take care of it, regular oil changes etc., it will last

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  Not what I am use to - 2009 Nissan Versa
  By Kristee - March 2 - 4:23 pm

  I just got my Versa 8 days ago and have already put over 900 miles on it. So far so good! I have always driven a truck or SUV and was very concerned about going to a smaller car. So far I like the Versa. It rides nice and has some nice features. The seats are comfortable and the car seems very quiet. I test drove 5 other cars in its class from other makers and the versa was by far the best one in its price range.

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  Little old ladys Z - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By Patti - March 2 - 2:30 pm

  I love my Z and people thinks it funny because I am 60 years young. Have to replace tires after 33,000 miles and cant rotate. Still tho car is a head turner or is it because granny is driving one and not them..Had BMW Zs but this car is much more fun to drive.

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  Outdoes GM, from a loyal chev owner - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By Armada - March 2 - 2:16 pm

  This vehicle has outdone my expectations on all facets. I pull a 32 foot travel trailer with ease, and struggled with the suburban. Dealership was more knowledgable and willing to work with me to get a match on vehicle. Will never go back to the GM line.

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  So Far So Great... - 2009 Nissan Altima
  By Nando9 - March 2 - 11:20 am

  I bought this car two days ago. I am a believer in waiting to give a review until a full month or two has passed, as you cant understand a car fully in a couple of days. I will update my review to include whatever needs to be updated at that time. So far I love the car. It looks great both interior and exterior and more importantly, it runs GREAT! The CVT is weird at first but is actually pretty neat. It is one factor that gives this car great mpg. The push to start is another neat perk. The car rides smooth, runs very quiet, and has a good load of features fro the price. The dealer tried the usual tricks to rip me off, but I was able to hold off and get what I feel is a v good deal

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  I love it - 2006 Nissan Frontier
  By RMichael - March 2 - 9:23 am

  I really enjoy driving it. I got plenty of torque at low RPM, great low gear ratio in 1st and economical yet still with lots of power 6th. Dont get me wrong theres a lot that I would like improved but for the price its a solid, fun to ride pickup(its too new to say how reliable it is...) Before I got it I testdrove Tundra and in my opinion the only thing going for toyota might be the build quality. Toyota sways more when cornering, engine is weak at low RPMs and siting is somehow...weird. Thats just my opinion of course.

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  Love this car, but... - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By Rich - March 2 - 2:30 am

  The GOOD: Wife was sold on a Scion Xa before I insisted she take a Versa test drive. She bought the first Versa the dealer sold. Impressive power w/6spd, fun to drive & great interior room & materials. The BAD: A/C compressor failed 2nd day. Took factory 1 month to replace. A/C now sounds like a dentists drill @3000 RPM. TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM {TPM):Has been in Dealer shop for re- set 3 times in 2 months w/no low/high tire pressure detected. Consider an extended warranty if this problem is not addressed under a Nissan re-call. Online correspondence reflects an ongoing TPM problem among Versa owners. Hopefully Nissan will address this ongoing problem. $100 cost per re-set.

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  So Long Subie - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By Brunson - March 2 - 1:50 am

  My wife was in the market for a newer vehicle and we were in the reluctant position of trading in our beloved 02 WRX Wagon. We needed a solid commuter car with better gas mileage without compromising too much on performance. Our search led us to the 07 Spec V and we are very happy with the decision. This car is by no means a saturday track day type of ride but I still find a smile every time it rips up to 7k on the tach. The ride is smooth, maybe stiff for some, but much quieter highway crusing than the WRX. Interior is finished nicely and comfortable for my 64" 240 frame. For the price and features, cant beat it for a fun/zippy commuter car.