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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  Better get the 100,000 mile warranty - 2010 Nissan Maxima
  By All good - January 28 - 7:46 pm

  Sport model is fantastic to drive if you like hugging corners and quick acceleration. Feels like a German car but 20k less. Needs more sound dampening around the fender wells.Drove many other cars with similar power and handling. Best car in class for the money. And yes I do own a German car. Nissan stepped up to the German counterparts with the electronic controls.

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  Not What You Drive, But How You Drive It - 2016 Nissan Versa
  By DudeBaker - January 28 - 4:41 pm

  If you are considering purchasing a bottom of the barrel Versa S, then you probably care about precisely three things: Economy, practicality, and reliability. Thats great, because the Versa has those bases covered. But you should also know that this clumsy little gas-miser can also be an incredibly fun and engaging drive. I own and daily drive a 2015 Versa S with a five-speed manual, and it has quickly become one of the most fun cars I have ever owned - and Ive owned a lot of cars. I absolutely love tossing this car through the corners, driving directly over every bump in the road, and taking all five gears up to an raucous 5000 RPM. The claimed 109 horses take a very heavy foot to reel in. The interior panels rattle and creak in protest of every bump. The front suspension compresses far too much during hard cornering. Understeer is standard. The back-end seemingly drags on the ground behind you. Yes, I drive this car hard. Very hard. It roars, it rattles, it thumps and clunks, and I love every second of it. While Im having fun, Im also enjoying fantastic economy and mostly worry-free ownership. Mixed driving brings me 37 mpg average and just one visit to the pump per week. Oil and air filters are so cheap that I replace both every 3000 miles. There are no fancy electronic parts to fail, no expensive interior surfaces to worry over, no fancy paint job to polish and protect, no shiny alloys to dodge potholes for. My Versa is so cheap, in fact, that it came with rust pre-embedded in paint. Yes, my brand new car is already rusty. BUT - I just dont care. I bought this car to get from A to B, not to worry about. Even with the rust and cheap build quality, I like the way the Versa sedan looks. When its cleaned up, it looks kind of sophisticated, grown up, mature. Contrary to what the price may tell you, the Versa is not for everyone. If youre looking for a smooth, quiet ride, dont buy a Versa. If youre looking for state of the art electronics, dont buy a Versa. If you want high tech engine management, disc brakes at all four corners, fully independent suspension... Dont buy a Versa. If you own a track car, the Versa is a perfect daily beater for you. If the best car youve ever owned as and E30, the Versa is a perfect daily beater for you. If you dont want to worry about locking your doors ever again, the Versa is a perfect daily beater for you. If youre anything like me, then buying a Versa for you commute will make you very happy.

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  Love My Z Roadster - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By Ron York - January 28 - 1:10 pm

  I like virtually everything about my 2004 Nissan 350Z Roadster. The only things I would change are the color of the clock/radio display numbers in the daytime and the oil dipstick, which seems overly difficult to get in and out. I get compliments and admiring looks everytime I drive the Z. It is especially fun with the top down, but has been very warm and snug with the top up in bad or cold weather. The performance is superb, with remarkable acceleration and excellent braking. The paint, fit, and finish are excellent, and the fully automatic top raises and lowers flawlessly. This is one of the best looking cars to hit the market, and could easily sell for more than the sticker price. Superb!

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  Still early, but a great truck - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By amram80 - January 28 - 1:03 pm

  Traded in a full size Chevy to get better gas mileage. So far, so good. Im getting about 4 to 5 more miles per gallon, which in my case translates to about 40 to 50 dollars of savings per month.

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  2017 Altima 2.5 SR review - 2017 Nissan Altima
  By Al - January 28 - 9:46 am

  Traded in a 2013 Camry Le for this Altima. Best decision ever. The Altima is way more comfortable in drivers seating comfort and handles way better on turns and on the highway. Do not listen to online video reviews for this car from people who driven the car for 5 minutes. I am a sales rep and put many miles on the car each day. SR trim looks great and you wont regret buying one.

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  112,359 miles and still going strong - 2006 Nissan Xterra
  By rdossey - January 27 - 11:30 pm

  Pros; My 2006 Nissan Xterra Just had a few updates at 112,000 miles, new brakes, rotors, tires Generals, Synthetic oil change, and filter, transmission flush, added external transmission cooler, eliminated radiator transmission cooler. Cons; timing chain guide problems, very expensive $ 1800., Mine did not have this probem, Radiator fails leaks coolant in to transmission ruining transmission, $ 3800 repair. Mine did not have this problem. I added external transmission cooler, and eliminated the possible problem.

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  overall experience - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By larry418 - January 27 - 6:03 pm

  This car has been a pleasure to own. It performs well around the city ,but it is esp. appreciated on the highway.Very stable at high speeds. The lift gate opens wide to an easily accessable flat interior compartment.

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  nice ride - 2001 Nissan Maxima
  By mayur - January 27 - 1:13 pm

  For my first car, I was looking for something reliable, powerful, safe, reasonably priced, and fun to drive. I decided to go with the Nissan Maxima and I have been very pleased with the car over the last couple of months. The car is built very well and is nicely appointed for a 12-17,000 used vehicle. Another thing I like about this car is the body style that sticks to the shape that is very attractive to the eye. Inside the controls are well laid out, and the BOSE system performs quite well. I would recommend this car to anyone looking for a well-priced, reliable, and sporty choice for a long term vehicle. I have read many reviews and the car holds up to its rating.

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  This car owns - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By Bastard - January 27 - 10:00 am

  Just about everything about my 350Z is wonderful. The power is great, the cornering is also good. Nissan did cut corners on the material used in the interior, but the design is attractive. Mileage is good for a car with this much power. The car understeers slightly in stock form, but this can probably be fixed with minor suspension modifications - swaybars, wider front tires, etc.

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  This Car Kicks All Sorts of Butts - 1996 Nissan Maxima
  By The SuperPianist - January 27 - 10:00 am

  I dont know about the guy who said that this Maxima has poor reliability. This is the best car Ive ever owned, no question. The v6 engine is super quick and the 4-speed auto tranny shifts smoothly. The interior is comfortable and luxurious, and well thought out. Its small enough to be very easily maneuverable, and yet powerful enough to get turn heads when you pull away from a stoplight really fast.