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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  06 NISMO lover - 2006 Nissan Frontier
  By Lew - April 27 - 3:36 pm

  I have had my NISMO CC for 2.5 months,and now have 10,000+ miles on the odometer. I do not go off roading but my job does require me to make regular use of the NISMOs ground clearance as well as occasional use of the 4x4. This truck has performed flawlessly. To be blunt, I love this truck! People complain about the fuel mileage. I find it fair for a vehicle of its weight and performance specs. My job entails highway and city driving and I average 15 to 16 MPG. Recently I took the NISMO on a 1600 mile round trip. Going out(VERY windy) I averaged only 18 MPG at 70 MPH+. The return trip with better weather and slightly higher speeds returned 20.2 MPG. This truck rates a 9.5 on a scale of 10!!

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  Entry level sedan? - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Matt Gaskins - April 27 - 3:43 am

  This car has overwhelming power with its 3.5liter V6 which will get you from point a to b faster than the desired Nissan Maxima for a cheaper price. and exterior styling.I recommend upgrading to the premium sound system which is definately worth the price. Standard options such as cruise control, remoteless key entry, cd player, and ac set this entry level sedan apart from the rest.

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  Love my z! - 2010 Nissan 370Z
  By allicsirp19 - April 27 - 2:53 am

  I was a bit hesitant when my husband was considering this car because of the price. After having this car for a few months, we have no regrets whatsoever! Totally worth the price and it is constantly turning heads. Its actually better on gas than I thought it was going to be and we are very pleased with what a show on TV said about it. It said if the mileage is kept low and it is maintained, it will be worth a lot in the future! Good job on this car Nissan!

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  Border line luxury car! - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By CBooker - April 26 - 8:03 pm

  This is a great car for the money. With all the features it has it beats the competition hands down even on the lower trim level. The 4 cylinder engine is faster and sportier than you think with plenty of power for passing maneuvers on the highway. The looks of this car can be deceiving, at first it looks the same as the last generation until you see it in person and look closely. All around this is the best car for the money.

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  Love this truck - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By Tim - April 26 - 7:00 pm

  I waited for a long time to purchase a midsize truck and I am glad I did. Love this truck. Love the horsepower. Love the exterior design. Love the quality. Love the build in tie-down system in the truckbed. GREAT vehicle so far.

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  Love it! - 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By wes in ny - April 26 - 8:16 am

  Ive owned my 08 Altima for almost 5 months now and am extremely pleased. There have been absolutely no glitches. MPG range from 32-36, with 50/50 city highway driving. I notice my wife has some difficulty keeping it in EV mode as often as I do. It does take a little practice and experience anticipating hills, stops, etc. But the thing can really move on command! Great having a car that gets over 600 miles on a tank. Ive gotten many positive comments about its sleek styling. Nothing negative to offer.

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  Four Door Fun - 2009 Nissan Maxima
  By 09NMFan - April 25 - 10:36 pm

  I have had this car nearly five months and love it. It is gorgeous to look at. I get tons of compliments on its styling. It is fun to drive, very intuitive and sporty while feeling like a luxury car. My previous vehicle was a Jaguar and I am not disappointed in my Maxima. Love the control panel. It is easy to read and use. The iPod integration is excellent. I find myself wanting to go places just to drive my car. I have not had any problems with it. My only complaint is that I am only averaging 18 miles to the gallon in mostly city driving. I have taken road trips with four adults in hilly terrain. All adults were comfortable the entire time. Truly a four door gem!! Very versatile car.

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  2013 Altima review - Nice car - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By txman - April 25 - 11:24 am

  I just bought an SL model and am very pleased so far. I rented one (S model) from Hertz before I bought one, and. got 40.8 MPG on a 90 mile highway trip with the cruise set at 69. That sold me. A couple of thinfgs of note: The car is very comfortable, but the S model lacks lumbar support - you notice after a while. The oil change interval is 3,700 miles -expensive over the life of the car. There is a 500 rebate on the car that I didnt know about until after I made my deal. I paid 26,300 after the rebate. I also rented a new style Malibu as well. It also drives great, has a nice interior and got 37 mph on the same trip. I found the cars drove similarly, but preferred the altima styling

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  Very Happy Titan Owner - 2007 Nissan Titan
  By Harold - April 25 - 12:00 am

  I purchased my Titan with the tow package to tow a travel trailer and serve as my main vehicle. The gas mileage around town could be better but it is still fun to drive. I am half way through my second cross country tour towing a 17 travel trailer. Mileage towing 14-15.5 MPG. In the Rocky Mountains I pass RVs and trucks all the time. Not one problem to date.

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  Nice Machine - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By Charockin - April 24 - 2:16 pm

  True sports truck! No problem taking curves hard. Love the manual shift on the SE. CVT is ultra smooth. Interior room is great. Poor mans BMW X5 and I dont mind being with this one.