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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  Love it - 2009 Nissan Cube
  By brenda - May 29 - 10:40 pm

  Really enjoy the cube. I hate that all cars look the same right now. Either a box or a sedan. This one has the chutzpa to have an asymmetrical window, nice lines, radiating roof design, etc. It just feels fun.

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  Great value and performance - 2011 Nissan Altima
  By Ben - May 29 - 6:30 pm

  I purchased my 2011 Altima 2.5S Special Edition three and a half years ago with 12K miles on it. The vehicle now has just over 60K miles, and has been a great value. The only repairs to the vehicle are the issues with the exhaust welds and heat shield (common issues on 07-12 Altimas), but that was covered under warranty ($900ish otherwise). The car handles very well and is downright fun to drive! Great acceleration even for a 4 cylinder thanks to the CVT transmission. Average between 27-28 MPG mixed driving. The front seats arent terribly uncomfortable, but arent anything fantastic either. The sound system is quite good for a stock system. I replaced the stock head unit with a touchscreen Pioneer with Bluetooth and its a fantastic combo. Just had the 60K service completed, heres to another 60K miles!

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  Not bad for $10,990! - 2012 Nissan Versa
  By astonvsbugatti - May 29 - 3:15 pm

  I just bought my 1.6L Versa sedan in manual transmission, and I enjoy it. I especially enjoy not having a car payment! Its practical and economical, but its not for everyone. I have a basic model, and had a brief moment of buyers remorse when I realized that the car didnt come with floor mats, rear speakers, or even a trunk lid release! But, it gets great gas mileage, shifts smoothly, has an adjustable height lever on the drivers seat, an AUX jack for iPhone/iPod, a basic trip computer with MPG info, and front, side and curtain airbags. It also has good safety crash ratings. I think that Nissan did a great job of incorporating the important things into the car.

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  Great Fun in the Sun - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By Charlie - May 29 - 12:31 pm

  Love this car. This is my third Z. I think it is the best. Only problem area is small -- the doors will not stay open. Replacing the door stops at a dealership cost $250. Update: got the door problem fixed at dealership. $250.

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  Trouble Free - 1996 Nissan Altima
  By Sonny2003 - May 29 - 10:00 am

  Only oil, tires, brakes, fluids, etc in 85000 miles. Very solid second car. Not exciting, but very dependable

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  Another trustworthy truck! - 2003 Nissan Frontier
  By MtbVA - May 29 - 10:00 am

  For 16 years Ive driven two NISSAN Trucks (84 bought used in 89) & (95 bought new), this is my third. Not one problem that wasnt normal wear & tear (brakes/tires/clutch)! Extremely low maintenance costs! This truck has many more creature comforts & storage options than my past trucks!

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  Pretty Good Car - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By Meandmysentra - May 29 - 10:00 am

  I enjoy it allot, seriously

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  Most practical in its class - 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
  By mlebauer - May 29 - 9:23 am

  The Pathfinder was not originally on my list, gravitating towards the Mazda CX-5 due to sportiness and fuel economy. When I took the 15 & 17yo boys to look at the new car, they sat in the back of the Mazda and declared, "no way". We headed up car dealer row trying out similar vehicles: Mazda CX-9, Hyundai Santa Fe, Subaru Outback, Toyota Highlander, Chevy Traverse & Equinox, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Journey, Ford Edge and Explorer. Of all those that "fit", the Nissan had the best fuel economy, and the most attractive interior. Its just plain a comfortable ride, with near luxury interior and nice soft leather seats. Good since I was replacing an Escalade and Jaguar with the Nissan.

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  Terrible Vehicle - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By mkamalesh - May 28 - 9:10 pm

  This car has given me nothing but problems. I have had the rotors re-surfaced twice under warranty, the brake master cylinder replaced, front brakes replaced at 12k miles, the tire pressure light refuses to go off. The engine is noisy, the MPG average has gone from 29 to 23.9. Significant loss of torque, it can barely handle a steep graded hill. Its an overpriced garbage car. Go spend your money on something with better quality. I have driven Hondas all my life and took a chance on a Nissan. Big Mistake.

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  Happy New Owner - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Deacon Fan - May 28 - 8:23 pm

  As a former sports car owner who now has a wife and a family, I love driving this car (05 SE V-6 5 sp) Unbeatable engine performance for the money, combined with lots of interior space. Ive looked at Altimas ever since the 2002 redesign, and have test driven 2002 and 2003 models before. The 2005 model is an improvement in refinement and interior materials quality. 5 Speed manual shifter much smoother than in previous models. Having driven competitor vehicles, I prefer the Altima over: a) the Mazda 6 due to interior space and road noise b) Toyota Camry and Honda Accord due to the Altima having "more soul." Excellent choice if you want a good mix of performance, value, and family space.