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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  Maxima platinum - 2017 Nissan Maxima
  By Rhonda Massa - March 25 - 12:23 pm

  I looked for a sporty car that wouldnt break the bank for about 6 months. I finally found the maxima platinum and I LOVE it!

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  Maxima platinum - 2017 Nissan Maxima
  By Rhonda Massa - March 25 - 12:23 pm

  I looked for a sporty car that wouldnt break the bank for about 6 months. I finally found the maxima platinum and I LOVE it!

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  $30,000 for this? - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By jim - March 25 - 10:56 am

  The suspension is horrible. The front shock has been replaced as has the front strut, yet you still feel every crack in the road. The radio has to be turned up the noise level is so high. The drivers side power window has been repaired twice and it still goes up very slow. My avg. gas mileage runs around 18-20 mpg. I have to reset the clock every 4-6 weeks because it runs fast. The display screen that shows the radio station and time etc. had to be removed because it was cloudy and hampered viewing the settings. The lights do not adequately light the road, they seem to be misaligned, but I am told they are not. I keep checking to see if my lights are on and I have 20/20 vision.

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  Awsome Truck - 2003 Nissan Frontier
  By JoNaThAn - March 25 - 10:00 am

  This is a awsome truck that is big and can haul around a lot of stuff. IT has big tires and has good ground clearance so a teen as myself can go over things and not mess anything up!!

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  1995 Maxima SE - 1995 Nissan Maxima
  By rfl - March 25 - 10:00 am

  This has been the best car I ever owned. Bought it new in 94. Now have 140,000 miles on it. Only problem has been a set of noisy chain tensioners. Car still looks and drives like new. Leather seats in interior are still flawless. The engine stills hits redline in a hurry with nary a hiccup.

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  Good to go - 1997 Nissan Pathfinder
  By andrewalter67 - March 25 - 10:00 am

  Good reliable car. No major repairs yet (knock on wood.)

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  cool truckin - 2002 Nissan Frontier
  By ldldldld@earthlink - March 25 - 10:00 am

  The vehicle performs well for a pickup at all speeds. Nice quite ride, lots of cab room (4 door Crew Cab), and a superior sound system stock.

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  RIDES LIKE A CAR - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By DANO631 - March 25 - 10:00 am

  I like the way that this vehicle rides. It is more like a car then a truck. The gas milege is 18MPG artound town and 23MPG on the highway. I love the AWD, it has helped me

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  A minvan for todays family - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Chris N. #1 - March 25 - 10:00 am

  We have looked for a minivan with certain features and this one has it all. The exterior styling is fantastic, making you feel like you are driving a sport car instead of the typical minivan mom vehicle. The interior design is wonderful done and very spacious with plenty of leg room.

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  Great minivan real challange to Sienna - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Siddiqui - March 25 - 10:00 am

  I beleive This Minivan is serious competitor to Sienna and Odyssey , The styling is awsome, More feature in the price as compare to Sienna XLE package. After Test drive doesnt take long to make the decision. Minimum Road noise. Very clear front view, This van is biggest out there but it drives like car, very nice steering, Nissan has paid lot attention to small details inside, I chose the cloth seats, the quality of Cloth is very good. It is difficult to Find this van at the dealership only few available to choose from. Anyone wants to buy Sienna or Odyssey should test drive this van.