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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  So Far So Good - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By Hoppes11 - June 23 - 2:00 am

  We are now past the 1200 mile breakin phase and all seems to be fine. No major problems, I have heard one little rattle and the (internal only) antenna to the Bose stereo seems a little week. Our most recent fuela mileage was right at 14 in mostly in town driving. Our first road trip will be in about a month.

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  The Quest Continues - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By DREWSTER - June 23 - 2:00 am

  Weve had a quest for a month and a half with about 2,400 miles traveled. Im beginning to worry about the build quality. The two side doors are rattling and it refused to start during some cold weather (possibly frozen fuel).Two days after getting the van home we had a flat tire. The Goodyear service center told us the bead of the tire was seated properly. The Quest feels great on the highway and is comfortable to travel in.

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  my murano - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By ibaraktx - June 23 - 2:00 am

  I have been in SUVs since 1985.This is my 3rd nissan SUV and I would highly recommend the Murano

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  IMPRESSED........SO FAR? - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By ICEMAN - June 23 - 2:00 am

  With a limited amount of mileage this is just my initial opion of the truck. Ask me again in six months.

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  almost perfect - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By pluckYew - June 23 - 2:00 am

  first of all: theres no rear axle electronic locking differential until April 2004. not even a limited slip differential. were getting 8 city/15 hwy mpg, first 500 miles with the off road and big tow packages (3.36 final drive) easy to get stuck on deep (1) snow, but then what 4x4x isnt, i guess. truck lock is always locked..annoying. ca not anser the Reliability question yet...

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  I love my car! - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Susan Torres - June 23 - 2:00 am

  I love this car! I test drove a few cars before buying the altima and was totally impressed with this beauty!

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  04 maximus - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By bigwayne - June 23 - 2:00 am

  owner of 3 maximas this one is the best performance is insanely fast love it.. best one yet..

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  Very satisfied owner - 2004 Nissan Frontier
  By John - June 23 - 12:30 am

  I am about to hit 100k miles today (XE V6, 4WD, Crew Cab, 5 speed). Havent had a problem yet and Ive worked it hard. There arent even any rattles in the interior. Itll tow an 18 boat, haul a yard of stone, plow snow, and commute to work. The ride, handling, and build quality are much better than my previous truck, a Toyota Tacoma. As far as mileage, I have seen 21mpg when driving with a light touch on the highway, but its mostly 18-20mpg. Its certaintly no worse than any other compact pickup on the market. I did install a Magnaflow exhaust and K&N filtercharger, which helped with throttle response. Overall, I couldnt really ask for more from a truck.

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  12 years, 147,273 miles later - 1996 Nissan Sentra
  By topy1991 - June 21 - 11:03 pm

  I absolutely adore my little Nissan. Never had any major issues except the O2 sensor. This car even sat for over a year and I was told there was nothing wrong with it surprisingly, just need some TLC. Its got great pick up for an automatic 4 cylinder (gotta know how to use that overdrive button!). It handles quite well, I tend to drive it at no less than 65-85 mph and I get about 35-40 mpg depending on how well I top it off. The clear coat is peeling, its got some scrapes and bruises, but I doubt Ill trade her in, Im way too attached. This car has been there for me always and never left me stranded anywhere (knock on wood). Nissan knows how to make a car!

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  Good Car - 1996 Nissan Altima
  By my96altima - June 21 - 10:00 am

  Great car, very quiet, smooth, and pleasant on long or short trips. Handles normal driving well but feels weak when pushed to its limits.