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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  comfort - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By mahogonysworld - July 17 - 10:00 am

  the best vehicle i ever had.as for as comfort, best for family size. plus i can go shopping take my three kids;plus get the grocery at once.the best thing i feel it handles the road.

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  we luv our X - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By d and v - July 17 - 10:00 am

  this suv is amazing . it rides so comfy..looks are awesome.steers and drives so steady.went shopping for pickup and was so impressed with this Xterra, we bought it instead. thank you

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  First Japanese Car - Extremely good - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By David Headspeath - July 17 - 10:00 am

  No problems at all, great car to drive has the pull and the style coupled with luxury feel. Check it out, no more LexMercInfins this car is up there. Satisfied Driver

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  One Fantastic Package - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Red Rider - July 16 - 4:00 am

  This car has got the LOOK !!!!! It runs smooth as silk... The new interior design and color combinations match the exterior colors perfectly... The BOSE 6 CD/8 Speaker system has excellent sound reproduction. Nissan has really amped up the performance/fun factor !!! I just cant stop staring at it....

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  The fit for me - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By Paul - July 15 - 2:03 pm

  Im a big guy and needed room. I fit comfortably , even in the back. The transmission is a wonder! The heated seats are great for the winter and my old bones. CD player and stereo system rivel my Volvos system -great feature.

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  1000 miles so far - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By hphyslp - July 14 - 11:43 pm

  Sharp looking. Smooth ride. Good gas mileage for an SUV.

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  I Love My 2016 Nissan Altima 2.5 SR - 2016 Nissan Altima
  By JCon21 - July 14 - 6:15 pm

  I absolutely love my 2016 Nissan Altima 2.5 SR. I was in the market for a mid-size car, and didnt know where to start as I have only owned trucks my entire life. I did a lot of research online on Edmunds, KBB, and The Car Connection before going to dealerships. I pretty much made up my mind on the Altima from the first test drive. It just looked and felt great. The Altima handles great, the SR model looks sporty yet classy, and the comfort is a solid 10 out of 10. I still cannot believe how comfortable the seats are. Not only in front, but also in the back. I have a sore lower back that always hurts when sitting, and honestly it does not hurt in these Anti Gravity seats. Also it is so roomy, even in the back, and Im 61" and 240lbs. Also the trunk has a lot of space. The only real complaints I have about the car is that there is a fair amount of road noise, but I think it may be the stock Dunlop tires. Ive been thinking about getting some better tires to see if it would help. Also the nissanconnect stuff is pretty worthless. I can only use Pandora, IHeart Radio, or Facebook. I dont subscribe to any of those apps, but do subscribe to spotify which streams great through bluetooth audio. I think they should add some useful and helpful apps like google maps, waze, or yelp. Overall I am extremely happy with my purchase.

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  Go for it !!!!!! - 2006 Nissan 350Z
  By barkpr - July 14 - 4:13 pm

  I love this car and so will you. It is definitely the class of its class,as well as much more expensive cars. I feel good looking at its incredible styling,and I feel good driving it. No car has ever stirred like this one,and I am 57.

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  first time nissan buyer - 2001 Nissan Maxima
  By lavona truitt - July 14 - 4:06 pm

  this vehicle has been very reliable and fun to driver. i have not had any problems with this vehicle as i have always kept the oil changed etc on a timely basis. i would recommend this to any potential buyers.

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  Great vehicle - 2001 Nissan Pathfinder
  By dbhons - July 14 - 2:00 am

  The Pathfinder is an easy driving vehicle; handles well on the road, including in turns (better than anything else we test drove). Going up into mountains and canyons, towing a SeaDoo (about 1,000 pounds), camping "stuff" on the top and inside the car, is no problem. Plenty of spare energy and torque. The Pathfinder comes with a lot of standard items that are GOOD; i.e. disk changer and sound system, running boards, tow setup, extra 12V plugs, etc.