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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  Satisifaction not match w/ price - 2010 Nissan Versa
  By heart breaked buyer - August 31 - 8:53 am

  Car only designed use for iPod, should change to universal usb drive for all other device. Manufacturer said avg 28 mpg local & 34 freeway-lie! I test as 26.43 mpg freeway. Car seat latch system missing building 2 on the seat back. I can use house key to open door w the alarm system on without any noise! Backseat sm window design 2 big, if close 1st roll window, open 2nd roll drive next to airport2 min, will feel huge pressure& hard to breath. Winds come in and reflect from back to front.

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  2005 Nissan Titan after a year - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By Joe E. - August 31 - 8:16 am

  I am very pleased with my 2005 Titan, after one year. I purchased the truck based on looks and drive-ability I find it to be very nimble in town or on the highway. I do limited towing, I cannot really comment on heavy loads, but see more and more pulling large trailers on the road. The integrity inside and out has been solid. I had a problem with a brake vibration early, but my Nissan deal readily repaired the problem and showed me the technical bulletin. I highly recommend driving the Nissan Titan if you are in the market for a full size truck.

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  Best for your money!! - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By krissy - August 31 - 2:10 am

  I previously leased an 05 Altima 2.5S and absolutely loved that car. I was a little nervous about leasing the 08, hoping that they knocked all the kinks of the new model out. This car truly is awesome!! They bumped up the safety features by making side curtain air bags and ABS brakes standard. I now have 8 speakers instead of 6, dont let the stock fool you. Plug in your iPod and the car is amazingly loud, dont need any kickers here!!!! CVT is really nice, no kick backs or sudden jolts, just nice and smooth. Ive only had the car for a few weeks so the MPG arent too great but hopefully in the future it will be better.

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  Rugged Sport SUV - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Ryan - August 31 - 12:43 am

  Owned Pathfinder for 1.5 years. Been 100% reliable, just regular maintenance. Gas mileage kinda stinks but you know before you purchase. Engine has loads of speed and torque. Truck has 58k on an 02 model, hopefully last and last... would recommend to a friend , in fact i have he bought a 2008 black se beautiful upgrades!!

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  Nissan Murano SL AWD - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By MARY WETZEL - August 31 - 12:33 am

  As my family is growing up and gas prices are soaring, I made the decision to trade my Expedition for a Murano and am very happy I did. The Murano has nice tight handling around my country roads. I do agree that the transmission intermitently become sluggish, but it is not intolerable. It is quiet and quick to stop. The milage continues to improve and the bells and whistles of my SL have been fun. The interior is roomier than it appears and I love the automatic/personalized seat adjustment. The cargo space is smaller than I am used to, but with the easy flip down of the seats I have been able to move furniture. It has taken time to get used to the cars blind spots.

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  16 Years of Dependability - 1999 Nissan Altima
  By Eric - August 30 - 5:49 am

  I got this car new in December of 1999 with the help of my parents and just now finally letting go. Day in and day out this car has been there for me, even after 2 accidents (Rear ended in 2001, front driver side wheel well smashed in 2009). I cannot recommend this car enough. Im trading it in with 206k miles on it. Outside of my gushing love and nostalgia, I do have several minor gripes that I just got accustomed to over the years: - The acceleration is fantastic in 1st and 2nd, but not so much in 3rd and 4th - Interior overhead cloth came loose where the roof and rear windshield meet around 130k. Has never came completely undone or had more than 2 inches loose. - A/C compressor died somewhere around 150k miles. Never bothered to fix it. - Sun damage got the best of the leather interior, specifically the driver seat, which now has a miniature rendition of the Grand Canyon in it. - Rack and pinion started leaking at 180k at miles. - On days that were about 50 degrees or lower, transmission would struggle shifting from 3rd to 4th, but would eventually get corrected after about 5 minutes on the road. - Weird spurts of feedback occasionally (like 4 times a week) coming through the speakers at 190k. The only time the Altima ever died on me, outside of batteries or the alternator, was when I was young and dumb. Never checked the fluid levels and let the coolant drop super low, blowing a head gasket. That was somewhere around 80k.

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  Reliable and a great value! - 2012 Nissan Versa
  By tubulartrish - August 30 - 3:07 am

  I bought my new 2012 Versa about two and a half weeks ago. I absolutely love it! For the price, you really are not going to find anything better. The interior is surprisingly spacious. My 64" boyfriend fits in with plenty of room to spare. The ride is incredibly smooth. I noticed it the first day. There is a pothole near our apartment which I inevitably hit driving home. But, I barely felt it. The tires bumped over it, but the cabin stayed riding level. That was a huge surprise. I am incredibly happy with my purchase. Despite a couple drawbacks, it is still an amazing value!

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  IMPRESSIVE! - 2010 Nissan Maxima
  By Richard Serna - August 29 - 9:16 pm

  Very firm on the road, but quiet. Very powerful, enjoy driving this vehicle. The monitor is a great help for us when backing up. Easy access to all of the controls for this vehicle to operate. Just take this vehicle for a test ride, you wont be sorry.

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  31000 miles and plenty to Go! - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By Veenherbluesentra - August 29 - 4:56 pm

  Ok, so Ive had my sentra for almost a year now. This car does well as far as gas mileage since I drive 50+ miles one way commuting back and forth to work. All and all its a great car with great gas mileage, only thing is the steering wheel is rather hard to steer, and limits your movement as far as hand placement. For a tall and thin sedan this car seems very grounded and handles curves alright.

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  2011 Maxiima 3.5 SV--fully loaded - 2011 Nissan Maxima
  By maxima_in_nc - August 29 - 3:43 pm

  The short list was between Genesys V6, Infinity G37 and the Maxima. The $ value proposition favored the Maxima hands down and the test drives sealed the deal. Perf & Tech packages were added as I wanted all the bells & whistles. My three month ownership experience vs. expectation align well. The V6 is more than enough @ 290hp with a responsive power train. The suspension is smooth without being cushy. The interior while below the Infinity does not leave one lacking. Visibility & ride quality are tops. Driving this car is pure fun. Thanks to the DVD tool grasping the all the technology was simplified. Premium Fuel is a downer and something Nissan should address especially @ 26 mph highway