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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  New to Nissans - 2001 Nissan Sentra
  By edmunds13 - July 28 - 10:00 am

  I was just about to purchase a Honda Civic or Accord when I tried my new Nissan Sentra GXE. I am glad I did not go with Honda because the Nissan has more features for a better price.

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  beats them all! - 2003 Nissan Pathfinder
  By sharkbait - July 28 - 10:00 am

  the edmunds research was dead on. we test drove all the mid-size suvs on the market. this one beats them all in design, quality, ride, sound system, braking, acceleration, reliability, comfort - you name it. dont bother with anything else. this is a truck you will be able to drive for a long long time.

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  Back to nissan :) - 2012 Nissan Frontier
  By bgarthe - July 27 - 6:20 pm

  Years ago I had pathfinder and 720 pickup and went Jeep for a bit. Our Nissans were great and I am very glad I returned. I recently bought new Frontier crew cab Pro 4x and it is a dream. The styling, power, performance, and features set it apart from the many other brands considered and researched. It helps that the local dealership has such great service dept. It is quiet, has a nice music package, moonroof (my first), and handles really well. I think the safety features are a sure plus. Mileage is ok, but is sure to get better as she ages. I had my Jeep for twelve years and look forward to at least that with this truck.

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  Rain drops keep falling on my head - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By chuckles - July 27 - 12:13 pm

  I purchased my 2009 Nissan Murano LE AWD in April 2008. This vehicle has almost every bell and whistle, including the dual moon roof. And there begins my nightmare. One day, shortly after heavy rain storm. I noticed on the inside drivers side pillar at the bottom. the fabric was discolored. Well it was wet. I called the dealer, they had a subcontractor come out to fix it. They said it was the moonroof drain. 2 weeks later another rain storm, more water. This time the dealer kept my car for 4 days. They assured me that it was water tight!! They even soaked it with a hose for 30 min. 2 weeks later it rained again, interior was soaked. 10/04/08 my Murano is back with the dealer still leaking

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  Very Dependable and safe car - 2001 Nissan Quest
  By Nissan Qwest Owner - July 27 - 9:36 am

  Bought the 2001 Qwest brand new on 1/1/2002. We have owned it for 7 1/2 years and it has been very dependable. All we ever had to do is the routine maintenance and oil changes. In all that time we just had one window latch break on the van. It has been through a stress test of three children.

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  New so new I shouldnt be writing this review yet. - 2014 Nissan Versa
  By paulden_guy - July 26 - 11:14 pm

  I bought a sedan over the Note even though I could have gotten a Note for a lot less. I like the sedans looks better. I bought the car for the gas mileage, interior space and trunk size. I am a large guy and fit with no problems. I did not buy it because it is a sport sedan, but it is practical for my daily commuting needs. Many reviews I read on here this site and others make me wonder how many are disgruntled owners that wanted a more expensive car (ALTIMA) and could only afford the Versa!?! I could have bought most any Nissan on the lot, but I chose the versa-tility of the Versa sedan

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  Horrible Never again - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By Gregnice23 - July 26 - 5:36 pm

  I will never ever get another Nissan again. From the headlights to the cd player breakin within the first 3 months to the speakers not working correctly. Nissan makes a good engine but I do not like the lil trinkets that are faulty. I will go with toyota or honda or mazda or hyundai next time.

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  My Max - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Peacock - July 26 - 5:33 pm

  I have owned my max for the past 2-1/2 yrs and I love it. If I had to complain about anything it would be the turning radius of the car is maneuverable but a little hard. I am not crazy about the orange dash board illumination because it seems harder to see in the daylight. Otherwise, i LOVE my Max!

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  Rough Ride - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Don - July 26 - 10:53 am

  Bought our Altima 2.5SL in may. I am satisfied with the mileage we are getting 21 city 35 hwy with avg. hwy speed of about 63 mph. This is a great car so far but they need to improve the ride. It is very rough if the road is not smooth. I would also suggest that you get the connection package which I wish I had done. I also like the lifetime power train warranty.

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  Air Conditioner - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By Kathy - July 25 - 1:45 pm

  My 2009 Murano has almost 75,000 mi on it (now 8 years old), and up to now, havent had much problem with it. My Air Conditioning Compressor just went out, and the dealer cost to replace it is over $1,200.00!! So far apparently, there is no recall on this.