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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  Snow White - 2012 Nissan Rogue
  By Clara Lander - March 23 - 8:24 pm

  Thats her name. I have named all my cars Ive owned. My other cars were 1999 Malibou and a 2000 Volvo Wagon. Snow White is a good upgrade for me. I like the better acceleration. I am difficulties using the navigation for backing up. I miss having a big rear window.

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  Beats a minivan - 2007 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Eckstrom - March 23 - 5:10 pm

  Our 2005 Chrysler Pacifica hit 50,000 miles and started to experience a variety of problems, so we decided to trade it in. We needed a 6+ passenger vehicle that was not a minivan. Nissan Pathfinder fits our needs perfectly. Its not much bigger than the Pacifica, but has a lot more interior space. The gas mileage has not been as awful as we expected (about 18 mpg). The 4.0 liter V6 packs a ton of power although its fairly noisy. The front seats are not very comfortable, but power adjustable pedals allow for finding a pretty good driving position. In the rear, theres plenty of space in 2nd and 3rd rows. The vehicle drives more like a truck than a passenger car.

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  Fun to drive - 2004 Nissan Altima
  By m1109 - March 23 - 11:16 am

  I love this car. Since it is my wifes car I donÂ’t get to drive it enough. Excellent highway mileage. I will agree that the interior has a somewhat of a cheap feel to it but if you choose the right color combination you can minimize it. The 3.5 se has way more look and drive that any other car in the price range.

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  Good buy! - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By sd - March 23 - 5:33 am

  Bought it when it was 34K miles. Now its 67K miles, no issues whatsoever! Pricey tires though, had to replace every year (but looks great). Some minor rattle coming from the center console. 20 mpg not sure whether its good or bad but somewhat high compared to my old 4 cyl Camry that was sold to get this one. Will buy M35 next after this one gets to be 100K.

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  Buy One! - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By Mike Zeinstra - March 23 - 3:46 am

  Overall a great buy. Roomy, spray in bedliner, good visibility, plenty of power, adjustable pedals, easy to clean cloth seats, disc brakes all around, and plenty of storage! Tires are good for road and rain but not for off road mud/snow, flip up middle seat/console fabric prone to pulling away from retaining clips, heavily baffled muffler is extremely hot and should be replaced with a less restrictive one. The only real complaint I have is with Nissan dealerships. The scams and pressure and tricks almost made me rethink my purchase. But getting the Titan was still a decision I do not regret.

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  Not what I expected... - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Zeke - March 22 - 1:40 pm

  Horrendous gas mileage, window leaks, exhaust rusted out after 20 months, lots of noises coming from rear end, CD player does not like the cold weather, steering wheel is falling apart. Original tires lasted 20k miles. Will not purchase a Nissan product ever again.

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  A G35 for less than 35k - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By edwin - March 22 - 12:56 am

  I love this car! Every time I pull up to the valet, everyone always comments on my super black, fully loaded coupe! The gas mileage is fantastic. I never get tired of the push-button ignition. Nissan doesnt advertise this model too often, so when people see they are very surprised. A great 50k car for under 30k!

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  If I could marry my Altima, I WOULD!!! - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Terry Cobb - March 21 - 8:36 pm

  The moment I saw it, it was Love at first sight.eSleek sassy, and a lot of class.Then there was the test drive, and after that,I knew that she was the one for me. Great pick up when passing or getting on the freeway.My Altima is the 2.5s with convenience package and 5speed manual transmission, which really makes it drive like an expensive sports car. It has a beautiful paint finish. In a gorgeous color,Sonoma Sunset. A beautiful red that looks different at different times of the day.The engine is so quiet, that sometimes I am not sure that it is running, now thats quiet.I plan to keep the car for a long time, or a least until one thats prettier comes along.

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  Forever in the with the max - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By Jarvis Weber - March 21 - 1:43 pm

  Definitely fun to drive. Its the sedan of all sedans. I also owned a 99 limited edition, found it to be a bit small. Very pleased with the larger body, 18 inch wheels and dual exhaust.

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  Manual transmission issue - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By richard keyser - March 21 - 3:00 am

  I find the interior to be rather cheap for a car of that price range. The dash looks cheap and the ride is not particularly smooth. I had a 15 year old Saab prior to this Nissan and it had less road noise and drove smoother than my new Nissan. Also every time I try to shift into second gear the manual transmission gives me trouble. Almost have to force it into second gear. Very disappointed in my purchase. Dealership not very helpful in fixing the problem. First and only Nissan I will ever own.