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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  THE HAZARDS OF THIS VAN! - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By TENNESSEENONNA - April 8 - 10:00 am

  RE: NEW VAN! AFTER PURCHING THE FIRST VAN, IT BROKE DOWN- DEALERSHIP COULDNT FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX IT SO-GOT A DIFFERENT ONE- HAS BEEN BREAKING DOWN WITHOUT ANYONE BEING ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHY! THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SAFE WAY TO TRAVEL WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN!!! NOW I HATE TO SEE MY GRANDCHILDREN IN THIS VAN! AM TERRIBLY WORRIED! THIS IS SO UNSAFE! LOOKS GREAT, AND IS GREAT TO DRIVE- UNLESS IT IS ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTA-W/O POWER OR AT THE DEALERSHIP & THEY DONT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT! AFTER HAVING 2 OF THESE VANS WITH MAJOR PROBLEMS - DANGEROUS PROBLEMS I AM SORRY THAT BOTH OF MY CHILDREN BOUGHT THEM! AND WISH THEY HAD STAYED WITH THE TRIED AND TRUE AMERICAN VERSIONS! WHAT NOW??

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  Perfect!!!! - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By Daniel Chaney - April 8 - 10:00 am

  The experiece you get with a Z is like none other. The feeling you get as you accelerate past other vehicles is an incredible feeling. Its not the fastest car out there by far. But it feels damn good when you push that gas pedal. The style is very unique and so is the car considering how many were built.

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  Photographers Pathfinder - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Galefconifer - April 7 - 5:23 pm

  As a free-lance Colorado photographer I drive out during bad weather to get the perfect shot. Dont go off-road but travel on roads that are not always user friendly.Considering the purchase of a new 4x4, my top priority was reliability. Research indicated Nissans quality & reliability to be one the best. I wanted to buy American but reliability was low and recalls were high. My Pathfinder has already been through deep mud,dirt roads,Kansas Summer temps and over Vail Pass (10,666Ft.)during a snowstorm.With over 8,000 miles(already),of Colorado driving and a St.Louis road trip the Pathfinder has the comfortable ride, off-road capabilities and the power to get me the perfect shot.

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  Lovin It - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Jim Irons - April 7 - 4:33 pm

  Bought mine right after the 2004 models arrived. Had to have it. Drove 50 miles to a dealer who had the right color and option pkg. The Driver Preferred package has more features than the 2000 I-30t Infiniti that I traded and at a lower sticker. Has never needed dealer repairs or adjustments. Just returned from a 2400 mile trip to Florida. Averaged 68 mph and 27 mpg by cars computer. Rock solid and very comfortable driving over 12 hours at a stretch. Lots of rear leg room and back seats fold -- have carried a 6-foot step ladder in back. I just might settle down with this one.

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  Nissan is Reliable - 2012 Nissan Altima
  By b4nissan - April 7 - 1:15 pm

  This is my second Nissan Altima. My previous Nissan was a 2002 Altima - 127,000 miles only replaced tires and battery in 10 years! Fabulous car, best Ive owned so had to buy another Nissan Altima. This one is great as well. I like the exterior, absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE the keyless entry and keyless start! This is wonderful. The mileage will improve with time. Nicer, quieter ride than my 2002 and takes those bumps and potholes really well!! My only complaint would be the interior is boring. After looking at GM cars, GM knows how to do interiors. Nissan doesnt. Boring boring boring. But reliability counts for alot. Reliability trumps interior!!

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  Best Car for the Money - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By maitresaman - April 7 - 5:34 am

  This car has all the features (some competitors didnt have at the time) for much less. It has enough get up and go yet it take getting used to the CVT which means you dont feel the jerk as the car shifts. I bought it in 2008 and have more that 56,000 miles. Ive had to change the front brakes and went with the best pads and lifetime warranty. Ive only used synthetic oil and high end filter on regular schedule. I have had no major issues in the heat (90+) or the cold (snow and freezing).

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  Good Buy - 2010 Nissan Xterra
  By ficklest - April 7 - 4:50 am

  I purchased the Xterra because I wanted the, up-high road view, safety and comfort of an SUV, but didnt want to spend over $30K. Also, the style of the X has always turned my head; I got the gun metal gray - great looking vehicle. So, I got exactly what I wanted. Nothing fancy about the X, but I have what I need, but no toys. Toys are nice. I miss them, but dont need them. I commute 104 miles per day and find the X to be a comfortable ride - not rough as so many have said. Im getting 21 MPG on a stop-and-go highway ride - much better than I expected. With gas prices on the rise, I will most likely go back to a small, gas efficient vehicle next purchase, but I am enjoying the X.

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  Elite Edition Orange Maxima SE - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By markscpu - April 7 - 3:00 am

  Great car. Wasnt afraid at all to buy a 2004 with 112,000 one-owner miles. I plan to take it to 200,000+ in the next 5 years (mostly highway driving). Worse case scenario, I may spend $1,200 on an engine/tranny/or front end work in the next 5 years. That makes for some cheap driving. Dont be afraid of miles people - you can get a hell of a deal on a late model car with some miles so Im more than happy that I can spend money for repairs if needed. So far, the car has been beyond excellent!

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  Best of Full-Sized - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By Na - April 6 - 10:56 pm

  Id like to begin by saying that I am in the process of trading my Armada in for another vehicle because all of the problems I am having. This might contradict my ratings, but thats because the issues I am having are all due to bad construction rather than bad design. The Armada beats every other SUV I test drove in every aspect save interior quality. Such cheap and soft plastic!! Terrible gas mileage, but to be expected from something that dynos at the rear wheels around 340HP. Nothing like darting past little sports cars around town in something 4x their size.

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  2014 Pearl white Altima - 2014 Nissan Altima
  By nicecarz - April 6 - 6:31 pm

  Love this car. Smooth, quiet and a good quality car for the money. Traded in a 2014 Honda CRV for a 2014 Altima SV. Getting better gas mileage and a smoother ride. Have noticed that noise when accelerating that everyone is talking about. It does not bother me though after all I am coming out of a noisy SUV.