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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  My Maxima - 1996 Nissan Maxima
  By Khanh - February 20 - 10:00 am

  Get car, I just traded it in for a Pathfinder, the car never had any problem. All you have to do is change the oil, transmission, and filters (gas & air) and the car keeps going and going, if I wasnt starting a family, I would still own this vehicle. One thing nice is you don;t have to warm the car before driving... overall, its one of the best cars Ive own

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  best car - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By john6789 - February 20 - 10:00 am

  best car for the money

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  The best car to buy - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By mika - February 20 - 10:00 am

  I picked this car over the Civic and Hyundai Elantra. I love the way it rides and this car dooes very well on the road if you like to travel.

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  Already having problems - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By Altima Issues - February 20 - 10:00 am

  I loved my 2002 Altima when I first bought it in June. It was fun to drive and a lot faster than my old car even though it is just a 4-cylander. But now, only 4 months later, I am having transmission problems, the center console is really difficult (the compartments are very hard to open and the arm rest doesn’t stick into place). Besides that, I find the Altima roomy and comfortable. The back doors open wider than the average car and are very easy to get out of.

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  Great Car!!! - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By whampa65 - February 20 - 10:00 am

  Great Car!!! Love this car!! Ive had it a little over a month and this car is a blast to drive. Hope to own this car for a very long time.

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  altima - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Sarkis Aleksanian - February 20 - 10:00 am

  i love this car....

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  Nissan Quality - 2008 Nissan Frontier
  By Gary - February 20 - 7:20 am

  I purchased this truck based on the reliability of my older Nissan 4X4 pickup which I purchased new in 1984 and which still runs well. This 08 vehicle is solidly built and engineered to accommodate the demands of a truck which is used for work both on the highway and off-road. Shifting is exceptionally smooth and power from the V-6 is plentiful. Excellent handling on mountainous terrain and in winter weather. Interior features are accessible and comfortable for +6ft. passengers. Rear Jump seats not designed for long-haul comfort but space is useful for stowing items needing protection from the weather. Fuel economy has been 21 mpg highway driving. Utilitrack system a big plus.

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  Hate to see it go - 2006 Nissan Frontier
  By Masked Bandit - February 20 - 1:26 am

  I bought my "Fronty" last fall when I was getting back into a truck. I had it narrowed down to this or an Avalanche. I chose the Frontier based on prior Nissan ownership that was rock solid. This truck has not let me down. The only problem is that with two kids now (both in car seats) there just isnt enough room in the back. Other than not fitting the two car seats, this is probably by far the best truck Ive ever owned. TONS of power, very reasonable gas mileage if you keep your foot light and the factory Rockford Fosgate stereo is amazing. Once these rug rats are out of the car seats Ill be back to a Frontier.

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  245,000 And Runs / Drives Like New! Amazing Car! - 1999 Nissan Maxima
  By rh287 - February 20 - 1:18 am

  My 1999 Nissan Maxima SE runs like BRAND NEW with 245,000+ miles. Yes, the factory ignition coils are a problem, but you can get some after markets on eBay for $114.00. Installation is very simple. You are also replacing your plug wires as well when you do this. Go ahead and replace the upstream OS sensor at the same time. You can get a new one for $23.00 on eBay. If your check engine is on, go to Autozone and have them turn it off after you do this. Many "experts" agree, the 1999 Nissan Maxima has the best drivetrain ever built with the exception of the toyota pickup 22R and 22RE. Its crazy but at 245,000 miles my Nissan Maxima has NO blowby at all. AMAZING car and fun car to drive.

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  With proper maintenance, a good car - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By tjonston - February 19 - 11:12 pm

  I bought my 02 Altima from the original owner with 112k and it now has about 164k. Overall, it has been a good car with reliability that is comparable to Honda cars Ive had. Apparently, there was a problem with the catalytic converter for the first couple of years of this version of the Altima but the first owners mechanic had the foresight to swap it out and there has been no problems at all. The performance is great and so is the fuel mileage- I get close to 30 mpg on the freeway.For me, it has just been regular oil changes so I am pretty happy.