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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  Not for the Average Joe. - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By op559 - May 15 - 7:28 am

  If you are one of those non car savvy folks with little to no mechanical skills, this is NOT the car for you. Well, unless you have loads of cash at your disposal for repairs. I have owned my SPEC V since 2004, and trust me, changing the oil and basic maintenance just does not cut it for these things. The 2 main issues on this particular model are the butterfly screws inside the intake manifold that NEED to be loctited and the stock exhaust manifold that NEEDS to be replaced with an aftermarket header ASAP after purchase, due to the poor factory design that can cause SERIOUS DAMAGE to your engine. If you enjoy modding, working on cars and learning about them, this car can be very rewarding.

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  This car sucks! - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By biggdaddy23 - May 15 - 7:23 am

  Bought the car in 2006 with only 31,000 miles. Kept getting a cylinder 2 misfire and tried everything to fix it, change coil pack, spark plugs etc. Car starts shaking and had a weird smell like someone posted earlier. Had to replace motor mounts, brakes and power steering pump. Every six months it seemed like the car had a problem that needed fixing. The catalytic converter needed replacing and the ac compressor also was going out on the car so I decided to trade it in for a hyundai elantra this week. i realized that i spent almost $4,000 dollars into repairing this car. I will never buy a Nissan ever again!

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  Sporty-Classy - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By NC_Altima - May 15 - 5:40 am

  In terms of looks, driving and performance for the 4-cylinder segment, this is a great car. Havent been able to compare to the new 2008 Accord yet, which looks to be nice but not as sporty as the Altima. This car is very responsive in acceleration, braking and steering. Really fun to drive. Controls are all easy to reach and understand. Good selection of features/packages. Nice redesign in both exterior and interior. I have an S Conv package, with added leather, sunroof, fogs, spoiler, ABS, alum kickplates, splash guards and floor mats. Couldnt be happier.

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  Z lover - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By G.F.Paolini - May 15 - 3:26 am

  You get a safe feeling when in the Z.It feels like your driving a much heavier vehicle.It hugs the road on tight turns and steers like a go-cart- that is very responsive!

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  Disappointing - 2001 Nissan Altima
  By Paul - May 14 - 8:40 pm

  I bought this 01 in 2005 with 75K. Its been pretty disappointing from the beginning. The handling is sloppy. I had to replace both motors at a cost of $300 each to the two front windows. That shouldnt have happened. The alternator also went out for another $600. New brake rotors on all four wheels cost another $900. I should have bought a used Camry or Accord (better quality), or a Ford Contour (cheaper, better handling). My parents had a 01 Camry and replaced nothing but the timing belt after 160K. No brakes, no window motors, no alternator. Nothing. The wheel caps are also extremely noisy. Poor quality over all. GM is probably better.

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  Best Midsize Truck - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By Steve - May 14 - 8:20 pm

  The Frontier rides better then our 2001 Buick Lasabre. Smooth quite ride, plenty of muscle in the 4.0 V-6. Comfortable seats. Does have a wide turn radius. Like the hidden storage under the back seats. Dislike the exterior key lock only on the drivers side.

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  Love My Truck - Great Truck - Wont let it go - 2003 Nissan Frontier
  By laurelguy - May 14 - 11:53 am

  Bought my 03 Frontier new in 1/03, havent had any complaints, now has 191k miles on it, having some issues but thats expected I guess. Speed sensors on both side needed replaced, now having to replace rear seal. Might be bandaging it but really dont want to let the truck go. Only complaint was local Nissan dealership for service or lack there of, but found local shop just as good and less expensive.

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  1.8 With Good CVT - Bang! - 2010 Nissan Cube
  By AEB - May 14 - 7:33 am

  Measuring the Toyota XB, Hundai Tuson, and Kia Soul for dollars and sense. The Cube came on top for me. If you are seeking 100% Japan made econo utility vehicle with functionality, the Cube is a home run. It s an excellent commuter and can comfortably travel long distances. The wind does become turbulent and feels light in the front end above 80 mph, but what other encono -vehicle doesnt. You drive any 15 to 20 K$ car and tell me it drives like BMW feel at 80 mph. I think people tend to get over critical on value vs. quality. Remember this car was made in Japan for 10 years before coming to the states. It is a small multi-purpose vehicle for 30 mpg on regular. This is a great car for the US

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  A lot of Car for the Money - 2009 Nissan Altima
  By tempexec - May 14 - 7:30 am

  We shopped this primarily against the Honda Accord Coupe and are very glad that we went with the Altima. After about 30 days of ownership, car is exceeding our expectations. Price paid is also a big plus since we were able to negotiate a total of almost $5k off the sticker price of $28.2k.

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  Good and Bad - 2005 Nissan Quest
  By JackInFla - May 13 - 4:10 pm

  Bad; Very thin exterior sheet metal. Brake pads and rotors only good for 15K. Atleast 3 recalls,leaks in passenger door, moon roof. Second row seats even w/ extra charge are NOT fold flat. Front seats are very uncomfortable, feels like plywood. Gas milage is 9 mpg worse than my 98 Vette. Hate the varible steering while parking. Should have indicator of what lights are on or off and lights should go on auto. when wipers are on. Good; Great space, am-fm above par with speed variable volume, separate a/c and heat in back great. Heated front seats good and motorized side and back doors are well worth it.