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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  2010 altima v6 - 2010 Nissan Altima
  By Rick - September 2 - 6:46 pm

  fun car for the money. worth every penny over 4 cyl. got leather and sport package. must drive with transmission on "sport" (see manual). completely different car in regular "D".

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  Very Solid. - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By scotter63 - September 2 - 2:30 pm

  I have only had my Murano for a few days, but it is a joy to drive. I love the intelligent key, and Bose sound. I had a 2003 Murano that I really enjoyed, but this one is built much more sturdy. The interior quality is much improved over the previous generation.

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  satisfied titan owner - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By CTRankin - September 2 - 7:46 am

  The Titan out-preforms the Chevy Silverado I previously owned in every aspect. Its more comfy, has more power and gets better mpg. My Titan averages 16 mpg every tank and thats running mountains at 75 mph. Its nice to know this truck has some pick- up-and-go (more so than the murano I also own)should I ever need it. Brakes were replaced with the upgraded materials with no hassel at 12k miles. Truck feels much better when braking.

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  This Ride is Tight!!!!!! - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Ron Johnson - September 1 - 2:06 am

  This is a very nice car, very affordable to lease with the residuals on these cars. I love it, it totally kills the Ford explorer i used to drive, i dont think its a sluggish car contrary to what the edmunds review states. this car has alot of zip and pickup. plenty of power,

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  Nissan Altima is the Best - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By Tina - August 31 - 5:33 pm

  I needed a mid size car and I looked at the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and the Nissan Altima and by far the Altima was the best deal. Honda and Toyota did not have any special offers but Nissan did and the features of the Nissan were out of this world!! I owned a Honda Civic which I had no problems with but I needed something bigger and the Nissan Altima surpassed all of my needs. THANK YOU NISSAN!!

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  Been driving for 3 years and... - 2005 Nissan Quest
  By MommaOf3 - August 31 - 5:06 pm

  I bought this van brand new and loved the styling of it. For the most part, this is a great van. I love the skylights in the back, dual screens, heated side mirrors and leather seats, etc. That being said, another reviewer was right. Nissan should have equipped it with better tires. Mine have already been replaced and I dont really drive that much. Also, the drivers side power sliding door motor burned out after only 3 years of use. Since the warranty expired in Feb 08 and this happened in May, Nissan refuses to assist with the cost (which I think is poor cust service since its a major repair and so new out of warranty. Not sure Ill go with Nissan again due to cust service.

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  Great SUV! - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Vince - August 31 - 1:20 pm

  After owning a 98 Blazer and an 02 TBlazer I decided to try something different. The Murano is powerful, roomy, comfortable, fun to drive, and stylish. I recommend anyone looking for a new vehicle to test drive it and see for yourself. Ive had it for four months now and have had absolutely no problems, which is more than I can say for the previous two SUVs Ive owned.

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  nissan - 2000 Nissan Frontier
  By jz - August 31 - 11:00 am

  nissan trucks are so dependable and well-built i decided to buy one and try it out. it is a great investment very reliable and durable. has good performance great fuel economy

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  Nissan Altima...SMH - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By soa - August 31 - 10:50 am

  My 2008 Nissan Altima has been out of commission for a month! At first I thought I needed new spark plugs, but found out that one of the cylinders needed to be replaced. Mind you if only has 67k miles on it. Took it to the dealership and they could figure out what was wrong with the engine and wanted to replace it. Ive been back and forth with them for a month now and Im tired as heck! I found out that other consumers have been having the same engine issues and there is a class action suit building in California. Honestly, I think the consumers need to all get together and sue the pants off of them for not correcting this problem. Lest we forget Toyota ? Im not trying to be a causalty!!!!

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  Excellent Car - Great Value - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By John - August 31 - 9:16 am

  I have had this car for about a year now, and I have been extremely pleased. The car performs better than I dared hope, and I have not had any reason at all to complain. I really believe this car is one of the best buys available when you consider cost, performance, and reliability. I have been totally satisfied.