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 this car! - 2009 Nissan Versa
  By MargeHD - September 14 - 6:53 am

  This is a great car. Classified as a sub-compact but feels much bigger. More front seat room than my friends prius. (I am a big person.) sits high which makes it easy to get in and out of. First tanks mileage=27 mpg in mixed driving, including a Major multi-mile summer beach traffic jam.

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  the best SUV yet - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By carluvr - September 14 - 4:16 am

  We bought this Armada used in December 05 with only 11000mi on it and my dad and family took the truck to Yosemite in the winter three weeks after we got it and it worked wonders in the snow and its got the 2WD off road package....it has dusted every suv out there and returned 20+ mpg on the highway back from camping fully loaded....One problem is a rattle that happens once in a while by the drivers A-pillar...overall this rig is the best SUV we have owned or driven...

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  Excellent Car - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Great Value - September 14 - 2:50 am

  Very sporty, fast, comfortable, and extremely fun to drive. Perfect blend of speed, power, and agility. This car will make your heart pump on the highway, and look professional in the office parking lot. The technology package is worth the additional money. The seats are comfortable and provide many different options, its a spacious car, and reasonably quiet. The shifting is smoother than any car Ive been in. Bottom line for the features and reliability you get, there is no other car that can match the price. I am so happy with my Altima.

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  June review - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By PEDRO J PUIG - September 13 - 7:40 pm

  Very well built suv very pleasing great quality very quiet fun to drive not one problem since i got it already have over 10000 miles on it so i do drive it alot and still very pleased

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  Most fun vehicle I ever purchased - 2010 Nissan Xterra
  By fuzzman - September 13 - 6:26 pm

  While I have only had this vehicle 1 wk. It by far is most fun to own out of the dzns of cars/truck I have had. We just had a big snowstorm come thru town and this rig drove thru it like nothing! Plenty of power & lots of style. My only disappointment is the cheap sound system that I will have to upgrade! Other than that the best way to sum it up is great fun!

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  Darth Rogue Black on Black 2016 SL w/Premium Pkg - 2016 Nissan Rogue
  By Charles Borchers - September 13 - 7:55 am

  I went from a 2012 Nissan Frontier SV Crew Cab with the Sport Appearance package to this 2016 Rogue SL with the Premium Pkg and it was like going from the Flintstones to the Jetsons from an options, comfort and tech standpoint. Loving all the amenities that are in it and with a daughter coming up on going to drivers education all the safety features certainly appealed to me. So far so good. I wish the splash guards came with the SL package I figure at $34K sticker price it should have them already from the factory. Not worried about the lethargic CVT and engine as my performance car days are behind me and I was looking for features and a comfortable interior. Love the styling as well, sharp looking vehicle. So far so good!

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  love my x - 2007 Nissan Xterra
  By Tony Cabrera - September 13 - 4:10 am

  have always loved the stance of the x- terra, purchased mine used with 17000 on it,two 1000 plus mile road trips later and I LOVE this truck. highway mileage is good, lots of pockets inside. stout frame, bulit proof 4.0. no complaints with power. off road this vehicle shines. very happy.

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  Fell in love at first sight - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Mary - September 13 - 12:26 am

  Have had 2 Nissan Maximas and was ready to turn in my lease for a 4 door Altima 2007. When I saw the 2 dr coupe, I fell in love at first sight. The car is awesome on gas which was exactly what I needed (driving 6 cyl Max for ten years). Not as spacious as the Max, however still comfortable and fun to drive. To date, have only seen 5 on the road... cool! Have been stopped by people on the road wondering what model it is. Truly love the car!

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  Replaces my SAAB - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Peter - September 12 - 2:20 pm

  I got this car with 40,000 miles, 3 years old. It is raplacing my 2004 Saab 93. I am pleasantly surprised by this vehicle. The 4 cyl coupled with the 4 speed automatic perform very well with good fuel economy. The brakes are not bad & arent much worse than Saab which are probable the best of any car produced at any cost! I drove my Altimait 800 miles within 4 days & the front seat comfort is outstanding! This vehicle runs like a new car with very few rattles considering its age & mileage. Only maintenance has been brakes which is to be expected. For some reason, Japanese brakes wear poorly & this car is no exception however they do perform well. Great car Nissan!

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  One of the best SUVS in the market - 2009 Nissan Pathfinder
  By fxromawac - September 12 - 1:53 pm

  Had my path for a year and living here in Winnipeg Canada, I had noticed the exceptional power especially when driving in snow covered roads. The only problem is the third row seat (only good for kids) but overall, regardless of the poor gas mileage if your looking for a car that can race with a v8 yukon, a lighter v6 pathfinder can beat it!!!! (Im telling you guys! Ive tried it with a friend when we raced down I-29 North Dakota)