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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  Smooth Operator - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By Dan - October 17 - 11:03 pm

  This is a great car. We were first attracted to the elevated seat height, about 6 inches higher than Altima or Maxima. There is plenty of headroom and legroom for my 65" frame. The car is very smooth and quiet on the road (think Buick) and handles very well. Very little body lean while cornering (think Jetta). The CVT works very well but it took some getting used to. Forget the tachometer and just drive. Aggressive driving has very little effect on fuel economy. It accelerates very nicely if you step on it. I have been getting 30+ MPG in suburban driving and 35 MPG on trips. It is the quietest car I have owned. You can carry on a normal conversation will passengers in the front or back.

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  WOW! - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Jamie - October 17 - 11:56 am

  I traded in my Xterra for this because i wanted something a little bigger and a little more powerful. The new motor is awesome and i love the ammenities inside. I have the premium and convenience packages which provides the Bose® stereo and the sunroof. I love the "on-steering wheel" radio controls and the trip computer is nice for feedback information. This truck is a lot more appealing then my Xterra (04) but i do miss the ole girl a little. My biggest love of the Pathfinder is the roomy interior and the monster motor. I ended up leasing it but i plan on purchasing at the end. I havent taken it off road yet but I do a lot of 4wheeling in the summer and am confident it will do just fine.

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  I love this hard body - 2000 Nissan Frontier
  By Donald Thompson, Sr. - October 17 - 8:23 am

  Purchase this truck from dealer, with 40k all ready on it. It was a lease truck by a one owner and was well taken care of. 130k on the truck as of this review. I previously owned a Toyota 4x4 "87" bought new and traded it in at 150k . I loved that truck. I never thought I would like another truck as I liked that one, but this Nissan is as good as the Toyota was. I take this truck to Florida two or thee times a year and drive straight threw, a 15 hour drive. Just gas and go with normal routine maintenance. This Nissan is a keeper.

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  Nissan Hit the Target With the Xterra - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By Will - October 16 - 10:43 pm

  First off, the Xterra is not a vehicle for everyone. It rides like a truck, is built like a truck, and feels like a truck. So if this does not appeal to you, look elsewhere. If you like the idea of a vehicle that has a lot of storage, holds 4 people and gear in decent comfort, then the Xterra is a great choice. The vehicle is extremely useful. There are pockets, and bins all over. It is the first vehicle I have owned that lets me keep all the junk I carry with me organized.

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  Piece of foreign junk!!! - 2000 Nissan Sentra
  By Awful luck with cars - October 16 - 8:50 pm

  I bought this 5-spd car in Nov. 2008 only because my 93 Buick Centry(oh how I miss you!!!) finally died. So the car was great for the first 5 months, then the battery and alternator died, but i expected this since the car was 8 years old with 101,000 miles on it, so no big deal. a couple of months after that, Mass Airflow Sensor died, then EVAP Sensor, then a coil in 1 of my cylinders, then my struts, springs and strut mounts broke on the driver side....oh yea, and my check engine light is still on!! Ive spent about 3k just trying to fix the car so it passed inspection, but after the struts blew, Im done!!! To make things worse...I still owe $2500 on the loan when I bought the car! My luck!

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  Oldie but goodie - 1998 Nissan Altima
  By Cel - October 16 - 2:57 pm

  This car is one of the most reliable cars Ive ever owned. Superior engine and surprisingly good mileage. The flaws are the cheap plastic used for the sun visor and radio buttons. Other than that, I feel very safe driving in any weather. This 1998 still has freezing cold air and toasty heat.

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  Reliable and Enjoyable - 1999 Nissan Sentra
  By Florida Fun - October 16 - 8:20 am

  This was a first car purchase. It really was a great car to drive. The only difficulty was an air fan problem after six years of owning it. Well worth the purchase price and very reliable.

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  Hmmmm...well - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By Cafasco - October 16 - 2:46 am

  Lots of room...luv the large trunk. CVT makes the 4 feel like a 6cyl (up to 65mph anyway). Doesnt help it sound any better though. MPG is pretty good @ 28 mixed driving, but stinks on the freeway over 65mph; quickly drops to 24ish at 75. Its not much fun to drive faster than that. It does handle the curves well, but road noise is more than I care for. Its great for around town and going the golf course. I owned a Pontiac G6 3.5L v6 that got 30mpg all the time, even at 95mph across Nevada. It didnt shake like a tractor while waiting at a stop light (like the Altima does) It was a far better road car...am looking to get another!

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  Better Brakes but otherwise solid - 1997 Nissan Maxima
  By carl - October 16 - 2:20 am

  Bought used in 2002, with 60K miles. Replaced muffler, brakes, wheel bearings, tires. Redid alignment. For an old car, seems to be doing okay. People claim that these cars seem to go forever. A/C stopped working, power steering seems to have corroded. However the dings and scratches from life seem to be doing it in rather than mechanical things. Maybe now that Altimas made in the US, replacement parts might be cheaper.

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  2008 Nissan Titan - 2008 Nissan Titan
  By TITAN PRO - October 15 - 2:53 pm

  Have had it since Dec. of 2007 and it has lived up to my expectations so far. The horsepower it provides is out standing and the torque is just amazing. Lots of room in the king cab enough to fit 4 adults comfortably. Great truck for the buck! Could get better gas mileage!