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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  Altima is number 1 - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By Luis - December 29 - 10:00 am

  Ive had this car for almost 2 years now and Im still in love with it! It turns heads every where I go, and handles and drives great. The 2002 Altima 3.5 SE V6 : - Best Horsepower & Torque for its class - Most Room in its class - Nissan Reliability - Best Exterior for its class - Excellent Leather Interior - Super Quality BOSE sound system. Best price at John Elway Nissan (In less than 3 hours I was on my way out the door).

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  Problems - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By Dmitry - December 29 - 10:00 am

  Interior ergonomics design is awful. E.g. dashboard is invisible from passenger site. CD panel is invisible under bright sun because of its angle to the driver. Cruise control doesnt work for speed over 90 mph. There was a problem with transmission when driver over 100 mph - it starts to shift randomly. During hot weather all dashboard guages died while car still ran - happend couple times.

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  Another Altima ...not disappointed - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By carolscar - December 29 - 10:00 am

  My 5th Nissan, 2nd Altima..usually lease and dont find NMAC great to deal with on that, but interest rates too good to pass up for a purchase. Traded a Sentra SE -Altima and Senta SE have about the same power on the road but Altimas a better "ride". Good audio system , theres lots of interior storage and a huge trunk..Controls well placed. Got "base" S model with no frills.

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  Great Value - Amazing Power - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By rehcmh - December 29 - 10:00 am

  After 350 miles, I am confident I made the right choice. Styling, both inside and outside stand out from other cars. Lots of features for the money. Powerful engine (sometimes hard to control) a major plus. Center console is packed with buttons, sometimes confusing. Auto climate control sometimes makes bad choices. Avg 21 MPG

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  peterpat - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By peter j monchino - December 28 - 2:10 pm

  Although compact, the interior feels like a full size car. The front seats are extra comfortable. The pick-up and ride is extremely smooth. It is extremely stylish in comparison with the other comparable small compact cars. I being 61" felt more comfortable and roomy in the Versa. The sound sytem is great. The cargo space is adequte considering the back seats fold down. The car itself feels solid with protected air bags from front and sides. For the price, style, size and equipment, I am certainly pleased with the design, comfort and reliablity.

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  Not perfect . . . but close - 2006 Nissan Pathfinder
  By brown3 - December 28 - 9:43 am

  Looked at every midsize SUV in this price range, and it came down to the Pathfinder LE 4x4 or 4Runner Sport. Close call, but the Pathfinder won - seats are much more comfortable, dashboard ergonomics are FAR superior, side airbags are standard. (Side airbags are NOT available in the 4Runner Sport w/leather; if you want both you have to move up to the 4Runner LTD.) My previous SUVs were an 84 Bronco and 93 Explorer - this Pathfinder trumps both. In my "hill country suburban" driving, Ive gotten just under 18 mpg in my first 1100 miles on regular - about 2 mpg better than I got with my smaller, less- powerful Explorer. Plus, the Pathfinder has more US content (60%) than the 4Runner (5%).

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  2005 maxima - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By TMoore - December 28 - 8:06 am

  I own a 2005 Nissan and I get lots of compliments and several friends purchased one after I allowed them to drive mine. Awesome torque on the highway, great maneuvering and handling. This is my 2nd Maxima and I really enjoy my car however, my a/c was out of coolant after @18 months. I only received notice about 1 recall, dislike cheap interior panel. Motor mounts needed replacing after around 86K

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  Love it! - 2008 Nissan Pathfinder
  By mrredskin - December 27 - 8:06 pm

  Very pleased with the purchase. Feels almost like a luxury SUV, except for half the cost. Only mechanical issue Ive had was a loose heat shield that took an hour to fix at service dept. Some controls could be arranged better, and definitely should have another 2 inches to move the drivers seat back (im 62). not uncomfortable - just cant stretch my leg out completely. i havent second guessed myself for buying this, and i doubt i ever will.

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  Average - 2009 Nissan Altima
  By kurtski - December 27 - 12:30 am

  CVT not as expected as it downshifts too often. Windshield is always fogging up. Electrical issues as airbag and tire pressure light go on and off.

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  I live to drive this SUV! - 2007 Nissan Murano
  By Steve Gregory - December 26 - 9:46 am

  This is my first Murano, and the finest vehicle I have ever owned. The performance is outstanding. It is quick, powerful, and drives like a luxury car. It is very comfortable, with soft leather seats, amazing head and leg room, and the ride is very smooth. The interior accents are so unique. The cluster gauges are easy to read, the steering wheel controls for the stereo/cd and cruise control are very convenient, and the dash display for various functions and rear view when backing is unbelievable. The body styling is ahead of its time. The chrome accents are great. The quality workmanship of the interior and exterior is obvious.