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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  Love my Exterra - 2006 Nissan Xterra
  By Mike from Boynton - September 28 - 8:36 am

  This SUV is made to be driven and takes abuse. Tailgating is fun and we dont have to worry about the interior its made to get dirty. If you take care of the truck it will last a long time. Lots of engine. I already have 52000 miles on it and it still looks like new.

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  one dogone good truck - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By robert SILCOX - September 27 - 5:16 pm

  this truck is one of the best that i have ever owned. bar none. 22 mos. of pure drive pleasure 99.9 perfect reliable as sun rise. i have drove most all brands i am 58 years old i have been a mechanic for 40 of those years. i know what i am talking about

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  A well executed SUV - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Syklar - September 27 - 8:26 am

  I have owned this vehicle for three months. CVT transmission is a delight-- responsive and sparing with gas. Front seats are superb. Ride is well controlled--not too soft and not too harsh. Hatch is a bit heavy to lift. Handles beautifully at high speeds.

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  Love My Murano!!! - 2006 Nissan Murano
  By PBRAUN - September 27 - 7:43 am

  Best SUV I have ever owned! Have had it 2 years, and am drooling over the new one! Cant see myself without a Murano ever again. Tranny is great, good gas mileage, hauls my toys very nicely (4 wheelers, snowmobiles, waverunners) and my dogs love it. I average 20 MPG, around 23 on the freeway on trips, with fairly aggresive driving. Highly recommend this vehicle to anyone looking!

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  Lots of problems with the 4WD - 2002 Nissan Frontier
  By Zas Karson - September 27 - 5:36 am

  I live in Colorado and use 4WD a lot during the winter. I frequently experience problems shifting from 2WD to 4WD and usually I must come to a complete stop in order to make the transfer successfully. The dealer has tried to repair the problem twice with no success. I am a four time repeat Nissan truck buyer, but I think this may be my last.

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  2013 Altima LEMON! - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By ally07 - September 26 - 12:18 pm

  I regret ever buying the 2013 Nissan Altima. At about 1,200 miles I started experiencing a jerking sensation when the CVT transmission went from 1st to 2nd gear at about 15-30 mph. It took months for Nissan to issue a service bulletin to fix the jerking, and then the fix required taking out the transmission to replace the torque converter. As if that wasnt bad enough, my local Nissan service center here in Lynchburg, VA DROPPED my transmission in the floor and broke it and the axle and had to order new parts. Theres no telling what else they damaged in the process since the 2 times I have talked to them they have been waiting on different parts. I will NEVER purchase another Nissan!

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  Great buy - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By EJ - September 26 - 10:00 am

  The real test of a choice is if you would do it again. If I could do it all over, I would buy this car again, just at a different dealership. The buying experience was horrible but the car is great! The only thing i dont like about it is that i could not afford the model with dual auto sliding doors.

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  The Great Experience - 2010 Nissan Sentra
  By Dino Hull - September 26 - 10:00 am

  I have had the Nissan Sentra for approximately two months and I have truly enjoyed my experience. It is such a smooth driving vehicle with a nick "kick" for a 4-cylinder. I particularly was amazed at the amount of interior space. We have already taken a few short road trips and the seating room was surprising. Most significantly, my wife and I had the most pleasurable car buying experience weve ever had. Salesman at Jim Keras was AWESOME! He was attentive to our needs. He did not play the cat and mouse game that car salesmen are known to play between the customer and the finance manager. There was no high pressure sales pitch to buy what we could not afford. I was thoroughly pleased.

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  LOVE MY QUEST! - 2007 Nissan Quest
  By bublesbabe - September 26 - 9:46 am

  My husband bought me a 2007 Quest in Blue on New Years Eve. It is a fabulous minivan! I love the power, the design, and the fact that it doesnt look like all the other boring minivans out on the road. I have nothing but good things to say about my Quest and am so happy that my husband traded in my Odyssey. Keep up the good work Nissan!!!

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  Excellent Sporty Car in a Mid size body - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By linda1kanobe - September 26 - 7:56 am

  You get the best of both worlds, a sporty looking car with the size of a midsize sedan. Comfort, quality, design, all great!