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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  Needs to be more sturdy - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By SgtBrownswife - May 9 - 10:33 pm

  I loved my Sentra when I first got it a couple years ago. We are military so we are constantly making long trips to see family on leave days and we got around 50 mpg. My husband had a wreck in the car last week and it totalled the Sentra but left the other vehicle hardly untouched.

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  My experiance... - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By Mark - May 9 - 8:40 am

  I have had lots of small things go wrong with my truck..Rattles in windows (3) and under the truck(2). Air leak in drivers side door, Bad Battery, drivers side wiper, Front brakes and key wont turn on somtimes unless you wiggle the steering wheel.

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  GREAT CAR HIGH MAINTANCE - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By cesar5150 - May 9 - 4:09 am

  so i was 19 this was my first car i asumed it would hav low cost labor and parts i bought a 2003 altima with 94,000 miles used it for comuting 50 miles roundtripp at 110,000 car wasted much gas and slow engine light on dealership told me it was the crankshaft and cam sensor so i paid 200.00 to fix and repair car ran way legit .thennn AT 120.000 miles THE HEADLIGHTS WIPERS TAILIGHTS HEATER AND A/C DIDNT WORK AGAIN TO NISSAN THEY TOLD ME IT WAS IPDM. INTELEGENT POWER DISTURBUTION MODULE COST ME 1,200 TO REPAIR THEN I WUD USE SYNTHETIC OIL AND PERFORMANCE SPARK PLUGS CAR RAN FAST NISSAN SHOULA GAVE IT 200 HP INSTEAD OF 175 THE RAIDIATOR ALSO NEEDED REPLACEMENT and pulley

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  The Z gets it right - 2006 Nissan 350Z
  By cooper1970 - May 8 - 6:33 am

  My GT finally arrived last week, and Ive been spending the past week driving it around town. Best car Ive ever driven, and for the money, the best deal. I love this car!!!

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  Loved the test drive... - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By scottpatrick - May 8 - 4:10 am

  ...if only the one I bought was problem-free. In the 5 weeks that Ive owned the car Ive had problem with a bad Airbag Clockspring (makes ticking noise in steering wheel), front brakes pulsating (rotors resurfaced), Corrosion on the chrome molding on grill/nissan emblem, and finally some strange foam insulation piece came up with the window today when I rolled it down and them back up. Nice huh??? Oh, and the parts arent yet available to fix these issues..nor are the body side moldings and fog lights that I purchased with the car. Be very careful with the car, as I have been told that all of the parts being made are going to the new cars and arent available yet for any other purchase.

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  Hard Seats - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By Woodrow - May 8 - 3:46 am

  Heater was defective and needed parts replaced. Leather seats are hard, stiff and terribly uncomfortable. CVT drive train and rack & pinion steering make the vehicle drive and handle very smooth, but gas mileage is somewhat disappointing (averaging only about 28 mpg in 2.5 four cylinder model). Audio has nice tone quality but the output is relatively low, unless you get the Bose system (which is pricey because it only comes in an electronics package with Satellite radio, Bluetooth, etc.).

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  Rogue Owner - 2009 Nissan Rogue
  By really own one - May 7 - 10:43 pm

  Seems a lot of reviews are from folks that got duped into buying the Honda CRV or the Toyota. The Rogue has everything and it all works. The rear window is small but unlike the Toyota there isnt a spare tire in the way or the Honda has three headrests. Any way if you want a perfect car keep looking as they will never exist unless you are a consumer reports fan and then go buy the boring car (CRV) and wish you hadnt but when you get upset grab your copy or CR and tell yourself its reliable !!

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  Moving along the Nissan food chain - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By TLC77014 - May 7 - 9:53 am

  Coming from a Nissan Sentra SE, I wanted something that was fun to drive, reliable, and technically advanced without paying for a BMW, Benz or Audi. I needed a gas saver yet something with more horses than my lawnmower. I test drove a V6 Altima then the 4. Honestly, I was amazed at how the 4 pulled out the lot and right onto a freeway on ramp. The only drawback to the 4 is the engine noise on take off however is quiets down after what used to be known as 3rd gear. I also looked at the Camry SE V6 and the Maxima.

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  Please Read Before Buying - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By paul_ss454 - May 7 - 9:04 am

  I purchased a 2013 Nissan Altima based on my experience with a 2005 Nissan Altima that I drove for the past 7 years. It was a 2.5 liter with a 5 speed manual transmission. It was extremely fun to drive, good on gas and proved to be very reliable. Unfortunately, it was totaled in an accident and I quickly needed to replace. It came as a surprise that AltimaÂ’s were now only offered with a CVT transmission. Against my better judgment, I went ahead and bought the car with the CVT because I really liked every other aspect of the vehicle. I now have deep regret about the purchase because of the driving characteristics of the CVT. It is a shame because the rest of the car is outstanding.

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  CVT Software Glitch Results In Drivetrains Replacement. . - 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
  By richard194 - May 7 - 5:44 am

  When I bought the 2013 Pathfinders, like any new owner I was thrilled. . Unfortunately there were a few things that I id not understand. So when my pathfinder began shuttering and shaking at 900 miles, I contacted customer service who referred me to the local dealership, who with all of there up-to-date computer diagnostic could not fit the problem. Fortunately, Nissan already understood the problem before I bought the car. "Faulty Software & the Service Campaign" Whereby the owner brings in the vehicle multiple times exhibiting the same problem, and nissan replaces the entire drivetrain. Thats right. . Faulty software that can not be changed, that ends up damaging the CVT on its own. .