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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  2003 maxima - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By projo - October 28 - 10:00 am

  good engine,fine interior, excellent head lights,superior handling. No opinion on traction control until the snow falls. The odometer reads about 2% short,as did the 2000 model we just sold.

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  Overall great experience. - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By ckeegan - October 28 - 1:56 am

  Ive had about 10 weeks and 3,623 miles in my fully loaded 3.5SE. Overall, let me just say that I love my Altima. After A LOT of research (spreadsheets comparing mpg, leg room, head room, insurance costs, etc), I know I made the right decision. The 3.5 receives outstanding marks by WardÂ’s Best Engines. Performance is exceptional, and the CVT took getting used to, but now I have trouble going back to a normal auto. The Altima is comfortable, and has great front leg room, and rear leg room exceeds my Â’03 Accord, the BMW 5-series, and MB E-Class. I have averaged 21.8mpg city, and 29.4mpg hwy on a 1,152 mile trip (I dont drive slow). This means more room, mpg, and power than the E350 or 528i.

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  Love the Options! - 2016 Nissan Rogue
  By Dee Summers - October 28 - 12:47 am

  What I like most about my 2016 Rogue SV (with premium package & moon roof pkg) is the adjustable seats for my 5 3" frame. Most vehicles are challenging for my height, but the Rogue is not. In addition, for a 4-cylinder, it has considerable pep, and the steering is exceptional. The interior is comfortable, and of better quality than the Subaru Forester, Subaru Outback, and the Honda CRV, which I also considered purchasing. Its great to know that Nissan realizes that not everyone wants leather seats and, as such, provides the buyer an opportunity to select the premium package and/or the moon roof package, with fabric seats. I definitely recommend that the Nissan Rogue be considered among comparable SUVs. You WILL notice a positive difference!

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  Murano Migraine - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By traines1 - October 27 - 10:30 pm

  I purchased this car in 2008 for 17 grand. In the four years that Ive had it, the car has cost me over 11 grand in repairs. Most recently it had Catastrophic Transmission Failure, among many other things that now need repair. It only has 81505 miles on it. Nissan is refusing to cover the Transmission under the Warranty as well. They want 4 grand to fix the Transmission and another 2,500 for other repairs, such as, Camshaft sensors,drive belts,head gasket,Transfer case.. This car has caused me huge financial and emotional pain. I would not recommend buying one. I will never purchase a nissan again.

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  Love to the Max - 2007 Nissan Maxima
  By rideordie - October 27 - 2:36 pm

  Ive had my max for a few weeks now and I love it. Ive driven many V6s but this CVT is, by far, the smoothest, and one of the quickest. It adjusts to your driving style so when your taking it easy, it drives in a higher gear for better fuel economy, and yes as someone said, it can feel a bit lethargic off the line in that mode. Feels like it starts in 2nd? However, if you drive a more aggressively, off the line, at 100 mph, or anywhere in between, this car is a beast! It automatically adjusts and rides in higher RPMs to stays in the "sweet spot" where are the power is. Its very sure-footed in corners with hardly no body roll, but feels a bit heavy. All around a quality built car.

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  from BMW to Maxima - 2006 Nissan Maxima
  By ceevee - October 27 - 10:46 am

  i wanted to save money. i was looking for style, comfort, performance. i found what i was looking for without having to pay too much for it. whats standard in the maxima is an arm and a leg when compred to audi, bmw, CTS Cadillac, Saab as they charged a lot more for all the extras that came standard with the maxima

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  Ownership >1yr - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By Ownership >1yr - October 27 - 10:10 am

  After about 14 months of owning one, its still a fun car. Positives,... powerful engine, agile reflexes, sporty, economical, relatively good mpgs, reliable. Negatives, and a BIG negative for me, the 6 speed transmission is god awful to shift. Rarely will it slide effortlessly into gear. While not cramped, not as roomy as a Focus sedan by comparison. Ride is harsh, way too stiff for daily commuting. Yes, I know, should have gotten a lesser trim level. Other negatives, Rockford Fosgate stereo package not worth its cost. Also, intermittant wipers not adjustable enough. Another negative, A/C isnt quite as cold as a Ford Focus either. All in all, like the car for what I paid for it.

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  Best value in class - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By zip92029 - October 27 - 1:43 am

  I looked at EVERYTHING from Corolla to LS. This is easily the best value on the market. It has good handling, great interior room, all the gadgets, and it looks good (when you add some decent aftermarket wheels). If the long term reliability is good, then this will be a real benchmark.

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  Nicccccce!!!!! - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Anita - October 26 - 2:56 pm

  Ive had my 20005 Altima for about a year now. I really love this car! Its fun to drive, and has pickup equal to my old Sable 6 cylinder car! Im short, and its adjustable seats & steering wheel make it very comfortable for me. On the other hand, my 6 foot boys and their friends have never complained about being cramped in the car. Go figure. The gas milage has been great - this is, of course, becoming one of my favorite features lately. I think the car is fairly quiet, and yet very responsive. I did have a broken strut after this winter however, which was promptly repaired under warranty. Otherwise, no other problems. Funny, my old 72 Datsun used to break struts also!! Hummmm.

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  Yes you should get one! - 2011 Nissan Frontier
  By Roland V - October 26 - 7:58 am

  Awesome truck, wish I purchased thr PRO-4X instead. This is the 3rd time Ive own a pickup truck and the best time. This truck is bullet proof. Ive put it through the wringer. Awesome in snow and mud. Very stable and at times almost drives like a car. No problem yet in the last 5 years just regular maintenance. The answer is yes a Nissan truck is a better buy. Glad I didnt choose the other brand that starts with a T and ends with an A!