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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  Great SUV Crossover - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By dlbdaltx - April 19 - 7:13 pm

  Nissans done a great job with the Murano. I am very impressed and pleased with the great handling and ride. I looked at the Honda CRV and Lincoln MKX before the Murano. The Muranos ride and quality interior was far superior to either.

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  Best value for ride, safety and comfort - 2006 Nissan Murano
  By Werty - April 18 - 11:00 pm

  Great car.. sharp styling, very roomy and a very comfortable ride. If your looking for comfort, style, passenger safety, and performance with decent fuel ecomony, look no further... the Murano will not dissapoint you. The Murano is everything you expect from an SUV, with the ride, feel and appointments found in luxury sedans. This vehicle replaced a Subaru and afforded the size and upscale amenities sadly lacking on the Subaru.

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  2011 Nissan Xterra Pro-4x review - 2011 Nissan Xterra
  By nissanboy1 - April 18 - 7:39 pm

  I bought my Xterra strictly for its offroad capabilities and here is my opinion after 36k miles: I bought a manual tranny model cause I was unsure if Nissan fixed the automatic tranny problem. First gear on the 6 speed is pretty good ratio wise for crawling around technical rocky terrain, I live in NV where that is most of the terrain. The stock tires were terrible offroad and should not be used in hard wheeling conditions. My Xterra would climb like a billy goat, but performed terribly in snow and mud as it wouldnt allow wheel spin to get through such. I blew up the front axle when I pulled the fuse to allow me to actually get the front wheels spinning in snow. Towing is sketchy!!!

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  2013 Altima 3.5SV - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By oxman3 - April 17 - 11:13 pm

  I cannot understand all the criticism of the CVT tranny. I just purchased it on Jan 1, 2014 & it is as near perfect as you can get. I have driven it in a hard acceleration mode as well as normal driving & I cannot even tell when it shifts, & boy when I get on it, it really goes. No hesitations or quirky little hiccups. The paddle shift is neat, but I dont use it. We live in the mountains & the driving is up, down & all around & we are already getting 27 MPG on it. For a large V6, this is excellent mileage. I fully expect to get over 30 mpg on a trip. I do not know anything about the 2.5, but if you purchase this vehicle, I highly recommend the 3.5. This is a great car.

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  Great truck! - 2014 Nissan Frontier
  By Rich - April 17 - 9:46 pm

  I had a 2004 Frontier king cab. It was spartan and handled kind of rough, but the thing was a tank and I had very little problems with it. I traded it in at a 170k miles. Having kids I knew I needed more of an actual back seat, I got a used 2014 Frontiet sv trim line crew cab. So far I love it! The V6 engine has great "gitty-up" and power. Its handling/turning may not be its strong suit, but its a truck, not a sports car. Not sure this is most trucks strong suits. Overall I love the look of truck, sporty and brawny, while maintaining some refinement. Understand that this is a mid-size vehicle, so there are lots of bigger trucks with way more cargo and back seat space. But not wanting a school bus sized vehicle for a truck, this is a perfect size. Certainly if you do lots of hauling, especially heavy duty, look elsewhere. But for around town with some hauling, this truck fits the bill. Also some people knock the mpg, but again, its a truck!

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  So far so good! - 2010 Nissan Rogue
  By T&J - April 17 - 5:00 pm

  Weve had our new Rogue for 1 week, and already were in love. We were deciding between a crossover SUV (including the Honda CR-V) and a mid-size sedan (including the Altima). By far, the Rogue had the smoothest, most quiet ride and the most comfortable seats compared to any of the others we test drove. In the end, it came down to the Rogue and the Ford Fusion (great car by the way), but the Rogue has a higher fun factor. Ive always hated driving for long periods of time, but Im actually looking forward to a road trip this summer driving our new Rogue.

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  Good Rider - 1999 Nissan Sentra
  By vtrivedi - April 17 - 10:00 am

  I have 122000 Mile in 4 years, i have had no major mechanical problems, this car has given me good support for last 4 years. Runs Good even at such high milage.

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  2000 Nissan Xterra - 2000 Nissan Xterra
  By Ken K. - April 17 - 10:00 am

  Have owned an Xterra since October 2000. Has approx. 80000 miles and no major problems so far. It is a fun vehicle to drive. Has been great in the Iowa winters and provides a comfortable, secure ride. It has all of the creature comfort features you need without over doing it. Although there are features I would like to see incorporated in the vehicle, overall I have been very satisfied with its performance, dependability and looks.

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  Everything I expected and more - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By BBuracze - April 17 - 10:00 am

  This is my 2nd Maxima. My first, a 1996 GLE went 171,000, miles without a repair. I bought this 2003 a couple of weeks ago and it hasnt disappointed. The engine is quick and quiet. The cabin is roomy and well appointed. Quiet at highway speeds. The stereo is incredible! Handles well in fast corners. Brakes are smooth and even. Seats offer a solid feel and good support. The ride could be a little smoother but the Max is after all a sports sedan.

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  Definitely up to expectations - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By prshea3 - April 17 - 10:00 am

  I have nothing but good things to say about my Xterra. Ive owned it for 3 months now, and the only thing I could complain about is gas mileage -- but I knew that going into the deal. The 4WD is terrific -- 12"+ snow banks were no problem at all this winter. The various tie-down points and metal hooks around the cabin are great for securing anything. And the heavy-duty rubber floor mats are a must-have -- theyve kept the dirt, salt, and sand off of the carpeted floors.