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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  Nice family vehicle - 2006 Nissan Quest
  By Zbyszek - March 5 - 5:43 pm

  I love the vehicle but I have two major complaints: 1. The vent system in the front console when in external air mode (AC off) with the fan on and the leg or upper/leg vents activated blows very hot air right onto your feet. I have driven 3 different 2005 Quests with different trims and all presented the same problem. I had the vents in my vehicle re-routed or blocked off but now I get no air flow through the leg vents whatsoever. 2. The windshield angulation shows the dashboard outcast all day and all night long. It is annoying. I love the vehicle styling in and out. I love the engine power and the ride comfort but the above complaints should be looked at right away.

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  No happy with it car - 2004 Nissan Altima
  By Cesar - March 5 - 5:37 pm

  I had this car for 2 years and I have so much problems with it. I wish i had never bought this car

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  Good car - 1998 Nissan Sentra
  By Mephisto - March 5 - 10:00 am

  A solid reliable car.

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  Got beauty & brains; Needs brawn - 1997 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Kirk B - March 5 - 10:00 am

  Having a short highway commute shows the major flaw of this SUV; lack of horsepower. Merging and passing can be a chore. Other than that, its comfortable, rides well and is built pretty well. So throw in a K&N air filter, a few other tweaks and this SUV will get you where you need to go in style....albeit not very fast.

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  Its an OK Car - 1997 Nissan Altima
  By Rams - March 5 - 10:00 am

  I have this car for 6 years 98 K miles, no major problem but always some minor problems. Alternator died at 72 K, front brakes at 75, muffler at 84, rear break at 92. Car is very reliable so far. What i dont like about this car is its noisy, gear shif is not smooth, pick up is not smooth, power steering is not firm and there is a lot of vibration at high speeds (these are not just my car, i have some friends who have the same complaints). I would rather pay an extra 2000 and buy an accord.

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  Japanese Gas Hog!!! - 2001 Nissan Frontier
  By Nunya - March 5 - 10:00 am

  Bought ours new. Have appox. 57,000 miles now. Not to happy with no way to be comfortable resting arms.I was out of state when wife bought it after finding Ford escape testing to be pathetic. Dealership took advantage og a female and charged her a 10% apr!! And thats with a fico score of 810!

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  Spec V - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By wmarauder - March 5 - 10:00 am

  The Nissan SE-R Spec V is not only fuel efficient, and comfortable, but also a pleasure to drive. I would recommend this highly reliable car to anyone.

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  2003 Maxima - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By Max007 - March 5 - 10:00 am

  Maxima is the best sport sedan out there that offers great package.Recently I bought 03 GLE Max,I just love everything about this car. Overall its a great car to drive.

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  Great value for the money - 2001 Nissan Maxima
  By Olliemax - March 5 - 10:00 am

  The Maxima is a great car for the money. The engine is the best - incredibly smooth and revs freely. Im not as impressed with the auto transmission as it sometimes hesitates and seems tentative when accelerating after coasting at a slow speed(under 20 mph) Not terrible but sometimes annoying. Shifting is silky smooth under hard acceleration above 4000 rpm revs - very impressive. Comfortable cabin. Ive never had a maintenance problem. A very well made and fun to drive sedan.

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  02 Nissan Altima - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By 1integra - March 5 - 10:00 am

  This car is everything you could ask for. If you need performance then this car is ready to take you for a ride. It has plenty of room for 4 adults and their baggage for a trip and enough room for 5 adults for a night out. If you have children and dont want a van then this is the car.