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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  Not Sure what to think anymore - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Hextreme2000 - November 30 - 2:50 am

  Well at only 61K barely out of powertrain warranty my engine needed to be replaced. First was the catalytic converter. Replaced under warranty, got the truck back and started burning oil, NIssan 23 in NJ where I bought it, worst customer service and would never buy or service any car there, they said I needed new engine $7k repair. Called Nissan corporate and they have been helpful and covered the repair at another dealer since I have been a loyal customer for years. No complains about Nissan corporate and their service but still I dont feel confident that I wont have more problems with my Pathy. I love Nissans and I def love my Pathfinder but have not had good luck with its reliability

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  Fantastic Car! - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Kat0402 - November 30 - 12:06 am

  I traded my 2003 Tahoe for the 2008 Altima S yesterday. It had 6 miles on it when I drove it off the lot. It has 96 now. I love driving it. The gas mileage is great and the main reason for buying it. The style is a lot sportier than the Accord and Camry. I love the CVT. It is extremely comfortable and has lots of storage in the glove box and trunk. Ive driven a V8 for the last five years and was happily surprised at the power in this 4 cylinder. I cant wait to take it on a long trip. My daugher loves the back seat. She has plenty of room and finds it very comfortable. The keyless entry and pushbuttom start are great. The ride is smooth. You cant go wrong with this car!!

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  Dont buy - 2009 Nissan Rogue
  By Jackol - November 29 - 10:40 pm

  First, our car has 55K miles. I know how this car performs and I do my own maintenance. This review is based on 2 1600 mile trips, two weeks apart. Received a recall letter from Nissan relative to Trans belt noise. We had no problem but took it in and had the new software installed. Our gas mileage went from 27-32 down to 20-24 MPG. Nissan refused to fix it. I will paint large lemons on it drive to every Nissan dealer I can find. Paint quality is also pathetic.

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  Best value - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By shopguy - November 29 - 4:06 pm

  This is my fourth Nissan King Cab. I expect this one to last as long. The last one went 164K when the insurance totaled it. The prior truck has 278K and is still running with only standard maintenance. The new V6 is great and I am avg. 22.1 mpg city/hwy. I need a truck for work & look at overall longterm cost. Vehicle quality compares to my other cars, an Acura and a Boxster.

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  My Nissan - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By Rick - November 29 - 6:43 am

  We have had our Altima for almost 4 years. Since then, we have made several long distance trips...it was great on the highway as well as in town. It even did well on the Autobahn when we moved to Germany. We have owned many vehicles in the past, and have kept the Altima the longest. It has proven to be a reliable, dependable, and fun car to drive. Prior to the Nissan, we had never owned a Japanese car before...we had always owned GM. Never again.

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  Great car, even for heavy driving. - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By MK - November 29 - 5:26 am

  I drive 130 miles to work, five days a week. When it was time for a new car, I wanted something roomy inside, fun to drive and good on gas. I purchased the smaller 2.5L engine for fuel economy. (Ive got the CVT.) I added the SL package to beef up the interior as Id be spending a lot of time in my car. The smaller engine puts out a surprising amount of power and makes the drive fun while the SL package interior looks great. Like a much more expensive car. The gas mileage is good considering I drive on a major highway at 72 mph on cruise for 90% of my miles. I get about 27 mpg. 14,000 miles in five months and the car is holding up great. I couldnt be happier with this purchase.

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  Almost a year - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By Louisiana Drive - November 28 - 11:53 pm

  Ive had my second SE almost a year now. I drive between 2500 to 3000 per month. As with the 03, the 05 is a fantasic car. Its comfortable, stylish, and fast. I can easily get 28 MPG doing 80 and got 32 MPG at 70. Look no further for a good car. The torque steer is noticable, but love the power when you step on the gas. Youll get used to it. Get the sun roof to really enjoy the car, its worth the extra money.

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  A let down - 2007 Nissan Maxima
  By Scott D - November 28 - 11:13 pm

  Have owned other Maximas and have not been happy with my 2007 SL. Parks like a truck, have had ongoing problems with front struts, even after being replaced after 4 trips in. Have a co-worker with an 07 SE with the same issue yet deal claims they have not seen this before. Has nice speed and decent ride but handling is not great on the highway or on curves. Too much road noise in cabin.

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  Satisfaction!!! - 2010 Nissan Murano
  By my cuv - November 28 - 5:33 am

  We just got the Murano SL couldnt be happier. The ride is great, the seats are extremely comfortable and the controls are very accessible. We live in New England so unfortunately we havent been able try out the sunroof, but the AWD works awesome. The iPod hookup could be a little more accessible, USB should come standard, but it certainly doesnt make or break the deal. The mileage could be better but what are the chances the dealer filled it with the good stuff.....NOT. This vehicle is fantastik, Great buy!!!

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  Not quite as reliable as it predecessor - 2001 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Mikekai - November 28 - 5:13 am

  Previously had a 95 Pathfinder that lasted us 200K miles, this 01 seems it will last another 20-50K at best. It has a good strong 3.5 for hauling even decent loads. It is comfortable but a bit tight for a larger or taller person. Fuel economy is average for an SUV (always 15-16mpg). The inside is easy to use and get to. The 6-disc CD player was dead when we bought it at 45K miles and the dealership would not fix/replace it. This vehicle also eats through 60K mile tires every 30-35K miles even with perfect alignment and maintenance. The engine over 100K miles seems to be weakening, especially at higher RPMs (interstate). The front brakes have needed to be fixed 3 times in the past 40K miles.