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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  Excitng at every turn - 2002 Nissan Xterra
  By DougR - April 27 - 2:00 am

  Recently purchased my 2002 Xterra and cant be more pleased. The non-turbo charged 3.3L 6cyl has enough power when needed. The ride is very comfortable and you feel like youre on top of the world when youre in the drivers seat. Love the exterior look which was the buying point over all other SUVs.

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  Amazing machine - 2007 Nissan Armada
  By bljjh1 - April 27 - 12:26 am

  Just purchased this vehicle last weekend. It is absolutely amazing. So powerful and fun to drive. Enormous interior that is well laid out. I could not believe how quiet it was compared to my 05 Pathfinder. This red SUV turns heads everywhere I go.

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  Nissan Family - 2008 Nissan Quest
  By c_howe - April 26 - 6:46 pm

  We used to drive a 1993 Nissan Quest, and just over a year ago we finally sold it. We replaced it with a 2000 Dodge Caravan. Probably my most regrettable choice ever. We just purchased a new Quest 3.5 S and couldnt be more thrilled. I wouldnt even look at another brand of minivan, and will replace this one in many years with another Quest. The interior design is so comfortable for my family of 6. The exterior is very stylish. We love it!

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  Dont listen to the experts - 2006 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Jason - April 26 - 3:50 pm

  Major manufacturers pay to have their name on the front cover of any magazine as "the truck of the year". You will not be disappointed with this vehicle. Totally refined inside and out, lots of power and will eat for breakfast a 4runner and a hummer will only see dust in their windshield. The only advice is to try one out for yourself and compare to others. Do not listen to the so-called expert.

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  Does its Job... - 2009 Nissan Versa
  By sigmaman99 - April 26 - 5:30 am

  Got this as a 2nd car for my 70 mile daily commute. Very basic car with no frills or excitement. For such a small car with a small engine I expected better gas mileage. Driving about 75 mph on the highway gets me about 27 mpg. Upgraded the stereo to a Pioneer DEH-6400BT because I needed hands-free bluetooth and iphone connectivity. Install on this car was very easy. Very impressed with the legroom. Overall this car does its job which is get me to work and back.

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  2 year update - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By bstern92 - April 26 - 2:49 am

  I now have 98,000 miles on my versa and its still going fine. I do have a couple complaints. The steering started to peel and once it starts, it just keeps getting worse. The steering wheel position is my biggest complaint. At its lowest setting it still sits up too high. My hands are only comfy holding the bottom of the wheel. I also had my outside door handle break off. It gets great gas mileage and the hatchback is so versatile. If you insist on only buying new and are on a tight budget, then this car is for you, otherwise there are much better used options. Since this time around I can afford to spend a little more, I am looking at buying a new 2015 honda fit ex for $18,000.

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  The first fouor months.... - 2009 Nissan Maxima
  By ideszamarch - April 26 - 2:13 am

  The New Maxima is performing as well as any vehicle at this point. The biggest flaw at this time is the MPGs. After taking the car on a several hundred mile trip, the mpg only reached 21.6( highway) This was at an average speed of about 70 mph and very little use of the brake. The sticker touts a 26 mpg rating.(highway) 21.6 represents about 17% less then promised return. OK we are in a recession and everybody is lying about something but I leased this vehicle for the fuel aspect and commuting purposes. I guess even Nissan is involved in their own type of fraud, that being posting unobtainable gas mileage. It still beats the hell out of the 12 mpg I was getting with the Jeep Commander.

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  Fun car for the young - 2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet
  By pesci - April 26 - 2:13 am

  This car isnt for older drivers. The backseat is very difficult to get into for passengers and the doors are heavy and of course, it sits high. You will also get some top and cowl rattle If you can get passed the above, then this is the car for you. Its fun It looks nice It rides very nice. Life is good with the top down in this car. I have had mine for several thousand miles and love it! It rides great and the leather feels even better. It hasnt leaked a drop even in heavy rain. Its a lot of fun and the luxurious interior is a step up for me having come from Honda. The GPS isnt all that great but nice to have with the large touch screen

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  10 years old and still going strong - 1999 Nissan Sentra
  By CdnTeacher - April 25 - 9:46 pm

  I am selling my Sentra after driving it since 2002 (bought off a lease). Overall, its been a super car: great gas mileage, no major repairs. Not the sportiest looking and very bare bones inside, but its taken me many miles and been very reliable. A/C stopped working last summer (not fixed), trunk no longer openable by key, some rust on body. Had to fix clutch, A/C once before in 2002, brakes but other than that, no major problems.

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  Amazing value in a mid-level sedan - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By Louis P. - April 25 - 7:54 pm

  I purchased a used 2013 from a Nissan dealer with 14K miles on it in October 2014 and now have 28k miles on it. I rarely buy new cars and research extensively before buying a used one. To explain my reasons for purchase, heres a little background. Im 59 and retired with a spouse, no kids and no mortgage. Ive been accused of being a tightwad, which is not altogether true, I am generous when I give my money away, but not when I spend it. I own a 10 year old Toyota Tundra (probably the best vehicle Ive ever owned). I also had a 1988 Alfa Romero Quadrifoglio for around town driving that I spent more time under than in it. When the Tundra turned 100k miles, I decided I had to let the Alfa go and get something more reliable for road trips and save some miles on the truck (and gas $). I set my limit at $20k for a late model used car with low miles and started looking. And since this was going to be my road-trip car, I wanted great MPG. I quickly found out the premium models (Lexus, Acura, etc.) didnt meet my criteria. I test drove Sonatas, Accords & Civics (2 & 4 door), an Optima, Mazda 3 & 6, Ford Fusion, Volkswagen CC, and several Altimas. After our last buying experience at my local Honda dealer, I swore I would never buy another Honda or go back in there. But after driving a 2014 Accord coupe at another dealer, I was kicking myself- it was definitely my favorite but a little out of my set price range ($4k). The money really wasnt the issue, its just that its not worth the extra money I would end up spending, which would end up being a difference of $7k. The same was true of the Altima coupes but not as great a difference in price, but still more than the sedan- and the selection wasnt as good. The Optima was nice, but after a weekend test drive, the MPG was not what I expected. As luck would have it, I sold my Alfa the day I listed it and found a great deal on an internet ad in Charleston for a 2013 Altima the same day. I drove up the next day, test drove it, paid for it, and they delivered it (125 miles) the next day. The review: I was apprehensive before my purchase. Consumer Reports had the 2013 Altima on their used car Do Not Purchase list and a lot of reviews had me leery of the CVT. While reviews are helpful, negative feedback tends to surface faster and more frequently, and I understand why- there is not a manufacturer that hasnt produced lemons. I look for constructive consumer reviewers that are not pi$$ed when they write them. The professional reviews are not much better, they tend to favor instant gratification like performance and excitement over longevity or real-life, day-to-day ownership, thats their job. But I doubt they ever had to stick out their thumb and bum a ride when that Jaguar broke down on the test track! I hate to inform them, but the ho-hum cars they knock around define the bell curve of all purchases. But even Edmunds rates this car a C, what was I thinking? Fast forward about 18 months and I cant say enough good things about this car. I have the SL package and it has more options than cars costing $5k more. The MPG is excellent, although the computer variation can be up to 2 mpg off my calculations when I fill up. Regardless, I average 33-35 mpg around town (where I average about 25-35 mph). I have exceeded 40 mpg on the highway but over 70 mph its around 38 mpg. The car is quiet, the ride very smooth, and I dont have a problem with the CVT or the way it doesnt shift! It may bog down and whine for others, but apparently this baby was built for my snail-like reflexes and acceleration. Which may explain my mpg this last 14k miles. The entertainment system works flawlessly, normally the first thing I do is yank out the factory radio and replace it along with the speakers. It lacks a bit on the bass but sounds good enough where I didnt feel the need to replace it. And it sounds even better using a thumb-drive plugged into the USB port. The Bluetooth links quickly, works great on calls and streaming, and I love the text access via voice command. I only have one complaint here, it would be nice if you could send a voice-to-text message instead of just the pre-programmed text messages. The info screen between the gauges is handy but can distracting. At least Nissan got it right by putting the actual psi for each tire on the display, and its accurate. I wish Honda would take note of this. The headlights are spectacular, much brighter than the Silverstar Ultras in my truck. The interior is comfortable, plenty of back-seat space. The drivers seat is comfortable enough around town but fatigues you on long drives. My only real gripe is the piano-gloss finish on dash/console. It scratches easily and shows smudges. The trunk is huge but I needed to add a LED panel in place of the bulb. And the plastic bag hangers that flip out are useless, too low. Apparently space is limited here so Ill end with- overall, Im highly satisfied and havent had one problem.