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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  Excellent Z - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By sparker - December 6 - 10:00 am

  Great xar!

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  2002 Nissan GXE - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By mmiller317 - December 5 - 7:16 pm

  Quality & Value!!! Features found on high end luxury cars.

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  Transmission / Radiator issue must be addressed - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By john534 - December 5 - 10:07 am

  Very unreliable and very poor powertrain and electronic system design. Started experiencing shudder at 89K miles when the automatic transmission moved between 1st and 2nd gear. Symptom did not occur over two day period until driving on third day where the issue worsened rapidly until transmission became inoperable above 10 mph. I investigated the issue and learned that this is a well known issue with the Pathfinder where the radiator fluid fails into the transmission, causing both the radiator and transmission to fail... great design! My transmission and radiator are shot at 89,000 miles. Looking at $6000 repair bill that I will not pay.

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  So Glad I Purchased It! - 2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet
  By rob_d - December 5 - 8:38 am

  As some reviewers have commented across other websites, you either love this car or hate it. After driving it for some 6 months and 12,000 miles, and having made multiple 400 mile trips through both snow and through 100F heat, I absolutely love this car! There are not many AWD convertibles out there, and while it was never meant to be a sports car, this crossover has been everything I could have wanted in an AWD convertible for taking long trips over mountains. The build quality is excellent and I have not experienced any of the difficulties (handling, door weight, etc.) noted in other reviews I read before purchasing. And get used to compliments from truckers and teenagers. Its non stop!

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  Back to Basics - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Keith - December 5 - 6:03 am

  First, some background. I had a 94 Pathfinder SE 4wd that I got rid of a few years back. Loved that truck because it was the original, reliable, Nissan hardbody SUV. Didnt care for the 96 - 04 design and the compromises in capability due to the unibody structure. The 05 Pathfinder gets this truck back on track. The power is superb and further reinforces that Nissan builds some of the best V6 engines. The engines responsiveness is superior vs. the similar Toyota V6. The off-road capability is excellent and it does very well in deep snow/off road. The stiff structure makes it quiet and very assured both on and off road. Top it all off with actual 18/24 mileage.

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  GREAT Fun - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By LeaLea - December 5 - 12:40 am

  It has a great solid feel, lots of fun on the road, lots of power, quiet, just love it.

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  time to buy it - 2008 Nissan Titan
  By designbo1 - December 4 - 10:41 am

  Well my lease is finally up and as stated before Im buying this truck!!! Nissan tried their best to sell me another one, but they couldnt budge me from purchasing this one. One fine truck. 50K on it and not one issue what so ever. Im stuck on this one and hopefully it will last many, many more miles.. Fantastic truck... Heard Nissan will be coming with Turbo-Charged version in 2014,, If its anything like this it will be a winner!!!!!Ride is still outstanding, performance is second to none and it rocks!!!

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  A great car for the great price - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By K. Chen - December 4 - 10:00 am

  Hey, this is not a BMW, but it sure feels like driving one (with that price tag). For the pirce of US$15000, I am a happy Nisaan driver.

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  Best Bang for the Buck - 2003 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Jon_Osman - December 4 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I drove every available SUV, large and small, and the Pathfinder was, by far, the best value for the dollar. Our LE was fully loaded and was only $32k. Thats a steal when compared to every other SUV on the market. Plus, it has good acceleration for a 5000lb SUV with a V6 and its tight steering makes getting around Washington and Baltimore a breeze. By far the best SUV available today with all things considered.

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  Fast and Reliable - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By Rich255 - December 4 - 10:00 am

  Great acceleration, good handling, bullet-proof reliability. 18k miles in six months and not hint of a problem. Cruises effortlessly at highway+ speeds. If it wasnt a work office I would have gone with the 6-speed.