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:

• 

  Greatest Car - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By SLY - February 8 - 10:00 am

  this car is an improvement over the last models...and thats saying something.

• 

  Major Disappointment - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By andreas - February 8 - 10:00 am

  Cheap Interiors; Extremely poor quality both inside and out. Im trading it in tomorrow.

• 

  FLAW LESS CAR!! - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By PATEL - February 8 - 10:00 am

  i dont see anything major wrong with the car. a little stuff here and there but no big deal. way better than the ACURA. great handling and power.

• 

  2005 Pathfinder - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By lectraglidebnb - February 8 - 7:13 am

  Im 62" and could use more head room. But other than that I like everything about the vehicle.

• 

  2000 Xterra Still Going Strong - 2000 Nissan Xterra
  By clgd3 - February 7 - 11:40 pm

  I have owned my Nissan Xterra since I bought it new in 2000. I have not had any problems at all mechanically. I have the oil changed every 3000 to 5000 miles. The only thing that has been replaced a couple of times has been the battery. Other than that it has been a great vehicle. I am even thinking about buying a 2008 or 2009 when Im ready to buy another vehicle. Ive been totally happy with my Xterra the past 8 years. I have read that some people have had problems with rust forming on the exterior. I noticed some rust that appeared to form in the paint but with occasional waxing it inhibited any corrosion. Overall the best vehicle Ive owned.

• 

  Another winner - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By NewCarGuy - February 7 - 11:36 pm

  When my lease on my 04 Murano expired I went to lease a new 09, but was surprised with the significantly higher lease payment. After driving many competitors (MDX, RDX, RX350, Edge, RAV4, Pilot, FX) I still came back to the Murano. Compared to the previous model the 09 offers a more comfortable seat along with a smoother ride. There seems to be plenty of power, but I notice a slight lag off the line compared to my older Murano (it may just be something I have to get used to). Nissan has another winner on its hands!

• 

  2005 Nissan Murano - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Lynn - February 7 - 11:30 pm

  At first, I loved my Murano. No problems for months and months. To date, the car has not "broken down", but the engine is starting to concern me with odd noises and hesitations upon acceleration. The dealer finds no technical problems, so I am left to worry and baby the car. Also, the fuel economy is embarassing. Chevy Tahoe beats my 18 mpg by 6-7mpg. It is much bigger and it is just fine on 87 octane, where the Murano prefers 93. Whatever happened to Japanese dominance in that dept?

• 

  Love it, BUT....... - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By josh37 - February 7 - 8:42 pm

  I bought my 2005 Nissan Maxima SL with about 71000 miles on it, i now have 123000 on it. I LOVE the car and how it drives and looks. It has plenty of power. But, my transmission is slowly dieing on me. This is a common problem with these cars. I read the other day that, with these cars you have to change the transmission oil every 30,000 miles for it to last. I havent decieded if i am going to get ride of it yet, or just replace the transmission. If i decide just to replace the transmission, i will make sure to change the transmission oil every 30,000 miles, if not earlier. I truely love everthing about this car.

• 

  Love my Cube! - 2009 Nissan Cube
  By Jen - February 7 - 8:06 pm

  I went from a huge van to the Cube a couple weeks ago. I was getting 14 MPG and my first tank was 22 MPG..all city driving. I am hoping this increases in time. I am 6 tall and large and the fit is good..plenty of leg room in the front. Not sure how tall people would do in the back. LOTS of looks from others and comments. It is a real novelty at this point. I also looked at Kia Soul and Scion. I am hot natured and both of those interiors came only in black. I like the white exterior and light grey interior I got. Plus, I feel Nissan is a better quality product. ( I sure hope so!)

• 

  This is my 2nd Xterra - 2011 Nissan Xterra
  By shoodoobee - February 7 - 3:19 am

  I traded in my 2001 Xterra XE with 108k miles for 2011 Xterra SE about 1 month ago. This is a solid, safe SUV. The 2011 is very comfy, but there are some things I wish it had for the cost: a temperature gauge, a decent stereo, carpeted cargo area (otherwise EVERYTHING slides around), power seats, multi-CD changer, Sirius radio, and - better/different interior upholstery and plastic. Even a drop water stains these seats. It didnt on the 2001, but it does on the 2011. And the plastic console collects every piece of dust because it has a softer material. It really is annoying how much it collects and retains dust, hair, etc. Drive-wise, its solid, fairly quiet, and does well in the mountains.