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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  My Third Nissan and Not My Last - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By Justin - August 7 - 5:34 pm

  I have owned this car for one year, and I am still pleased with it. I traded in an SUV, so the Altimas driving dynamics were a large departure for me. Real world fuel economy is near/at EPA estimates. The interior is superbly ergonomic and has held up well for my 25,000 mile/year commute. I like the way it looks and materials/fit and finish are above average. Overall fit and finish (mainly exterior) seem just average, but are an improvement over my last vehicle. Earlier in the year I had standing water in the cabin; turns out water was coming in through two holes in the body, which were sealed and Nissan reimbursed me for the repair despite being out of warranty, as this was a major issue that was not from wear and tear. Other than this one issue, I have nothing but accolades for my Altima. I look forward to many more years of ownership.

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  I LOVE THIS CAR! SL Platinum Premium - 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
  By kamikazijen - August 7 - 2:17 pm

  There are always lemon cars and lemon dealers out there of which I do not have either. So 4 months and 4000 miles mine is going strong no problems! The CVT transmission is different and will bog down if you try to floor it you have to give it gas steadily and before you know it you are passing someone uphill going 80mph! I live at 7500ft elevation in Colorado I have had no problems with power or passing and it handles great in the snow. I have averaged 26mpg on all of my tanks since buying this car. Its a 7 passenger SUV that handles like a sports car! Much better than the 05 Xterra I traded in! That was a tank!

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  Disappointing - 2005 Nissan Quest
  By m j - August 7 - 12:00 pm

  I read many reviews, loved the styling, peppy engine etc. Problem is, the the thing is poorly built. Constant rattling, noisy ride, brakes are touchy. The car has plenty of acceleration and on the highway in overdrive the engine does not labor. BUT..... I would not lease another. Thankfully my lease is up in May. I also own a Saturn Relay, which has its own short comings, but I find it superior to the Quest.

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  Nice quality truck - 1999 Nissan Frontier
  By Hooker - August 7 - 9:00 am

  Bought this truck 5 years ago with 31,000 miles. I now have over 200,000 miles as I commute 200 a day to work and home. No major work preformed except for tires, oil changes, brakes and clutch (at 180,000 mile). Truck is comfortable for my daily trips. I average 30 miles per gallon on the highway with a standard tranny. Dependable truck!!

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  Great commuting car - 2008 Nissan Versa
  By Joe - August 7 - 3:40 am

  100 miles/day and the car is great. Comfortable, but the S needs a center arm rest. Very smooth ride and handles very well. Most interior room of any small car we tested (Yaris, Elantra, Cobalt, Mazda3, Corolla). Im 62" and leg room was very important. This is a great buy for your money. 32 MPG when I drive reasonably, 29 MPG when I keep up with Chicago traffic at 80 MPH.

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  Overall its OK - 2006 Nissan Murano
  By pilotkid21 - August 7 - 12:02 am

  Had my 2006 nissan murano SL AWD since Feb 2013. Overall its an ok car. Gas mileage is alright, im averaging 18 mpg on premium. So far I have had 2 problems. I replaced struts at 102k, bought it at 88k, Electronic coupling assembly broke, repair cost anywhere from $1000-$2000. I simply just unplugged it. Everything else seems to be fine. The CVT takes some getting used to especially on decelaration. As for the BOSE, theres nothing wrong with it at all, its a pretty powerfull system, i dont know why people hate it. Words are loud and clear and the bass is powerful. what more can you want from a sound system.

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  Solid Car all phases - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By Zeike - August 6 - 9:30 pm

  I have had my Murano for nearly 3 months now and so far, so good. The ride is smooth bordering on luxurious. The gadgets and accommodations are enjoyable (iPod interface, panoramic roof, xenons, sensing wipers, memory seats, trunk dividers/shade). Coming from an Audi this car is not as fun to drive but it is certainly responsive and well built. Looked at the Venza and Santa Fe and the Murano is a much nicer ride than the Hyundai and offers more features than the Venza, with better pricing. Only minor complaints are the gas mileage has been right at 20 mpgs while I was hoping for closer to the 23 number and the in dash cd is just a single. Overall, very pleased but need to practice parking.

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  Fantastic!!! - 2016 Nissan Rogue
  By Elle Kay - August 6 - 9:13 pm

  We upgraded from the 2013 Sentra SR to the 2016 Rouge SV for our college-age child. I honestly cant say enough about this vehicle. It looks great, and feels great. I upgraded to the Pearl White exterior with charcoal interior and its a beautiful car. The ride is very smooth and it handles very nicely. The interior feels very roomy. I also especially like the flexibility in the storage area in the back, as several other reviews have mentioned. There are many safety upgrades with the 2016 that are well worth it. My daughters favorite thing is the heated seats and mine is the auto lift gate. We highly recommend the 2016 Rogue SV.

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  2000 Nissan Pathfinder 4Dr SE 4WD Wagon - 2000 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Bmtaurus - August 6 - 5:56 pm

  I purchased this Pathfinder in 2003 with 44,000 miles. It now has over a 100,000 on it and I couldnt be happier. I have had no major problems with it and have kept up on all the regular maintenance. This truck is very reliable and would recommend it to anyone. I plan on keeping this one for a few more years though as its just too good to give up so soon.

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  Traded my 2014 Accord LX for the 2016 Altima SV - 2016 Nissan Altima
  By michael yarber - August 6 - 6:52 am

  What?...traded the Accord for an Altima, yes, you heard right. Why, the main reason for me that the seats in the Accords were not working for me. In a recent long trip from Nashville to Richmond, VA., I had to get out the car three times going and coming back. My was seat was hurting. I do have some health issues, but it was enough to start looking. Went around trying out cars out, like the new Civic, H-RD, and some others and the seats were not any better for me. I went to a Nissan to dealer to set in a Rogue first and then a Altima and WOW. These zero gravity seats are really true, they are comfortable! We went for a drive and I like the drive also. The SV model had everything we were looking for in a car (except the NAV package, I use my iphone for maps). My wife chose the color, Pearl White, and we got a really good deal with the trade and the new car! We only had the cars for a few days, but I think I am going to really like it. The seats are really something and even the back seats are great! Ironically, I just toured the Nissan plant in Smyrna, TN this past Thursday (I live 4 miles from the plant) and was really impressed with the mile long production line and the quality of the production. If guess time will tell.