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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  PURPLE - 1995 Nissan 200SX
  By FRANKIE - March 28 - 10:00 am

  Its a good, dependable. I like the body its still made out of metal, that makes stronger than fiberglass.

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  Max Rocks - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By madaboutmax - March 28 - 10:00 am

  I test drove Passats, Accords, Camreys, Legacys and domestic sedans before choosing the Maxima. The combination of power, built quality, design, resale, and reliability was just not matched by any of the others. Its simply the best car Ive ever owned and the best car Ive ever ridden in thats affordable.

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  Its Ok, better than american made - 1999 Nissan Quest
  By Stones - March 28 - 10:00 am

  My wife loves this mini-van. It is Kid friendly with TV/VCR. Excellent for long trips, but only if you are carrying a few things. Handles well, but not in hills. If you are taller than 57" you are likely to have problems getting your feet stretched in the driver seat.

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  2002 Maxima SE 6-speed - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By 2k2maxMD - March 28 - 10:00 am

  Had this car for two months now (2000 miles). Replaced a 1998 Honda Accord EX- V6 Coupe with this car. I am very satisfied with the ride even though is is not as smooth as the Accord Coupe was at high speeds (+70MPH). The clutch motion and engine are extremely smooth. The 6-disc sound system is par at best. The rear deck subwoofer sounds muddy and can only handle half the power without distorting. Wind noise at moderate speeds is noticable but bearable. In short, the Maxima has the ergonomics and all of the comforts that an average commuter is looking for; not exactly a Lexus, but the performance and lower price make this car a great buy.

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  Family sedan/ Sports car - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By Jet - March 28 - 10:00 am

  I am very happy with my Maxima. This car had really high ratings in consumer reports and has a very smooth ride. Exceptionally quiet on the high-way. I know several people that have owned maximas and not one is unhappy.

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  WORTH IT - BUY IT - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By K&B - March 28 - 10:00 am

  We looked at several full size cars, such as the Chevy Impala. While they were priced under the Maxima they did not come close to the craftmanship, design and performance of the Maxima. The car handles very well. It has a smooth ride and yet it drives like a performance car. The 3.5L engine can really accelerate the car well. It is pure fun to drive.

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  Best bang for the buck - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By MaximaJohn - March 28 - 10:00 am

  I went to town to buy either an Accord or Camry, but ended up coming home with a Nissan Maxima SE. Ive had a 97 & 99 Accord, so I know theyre good cars. I took a 02 Camry SE for a 10 mile test drive and liked the ride, but wanted to try the Maxima too. Its a great car, lots of power, and very comfortable. The things I dont like are the taillight design and not having the steering wheel controls (cruise, stereo, etc) illuminated at night. I really like the intense headlights and the stereo system. The moonroof and rear spoiler are nice too. For all I got on the Maxima SE, I would have only gotten a 4-cylinder Honda or Toyota.

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  Old reliable - 1996 Nissan Sentra
  By Chris - March 28 - 6:23 am

  Bought this car new, and as of 2007 its still going. I got it when money was tight, and have never regretted it. Its not fast, but it can be fun to drive. At 183,000 miles, its not perfect. I replaced the ECU (computer) early on, and its needed 2 alternators for some reason. I got a clutch at 150,000. I replaced the shocks around 120,000. Other than that its just oil changes and brake pads. The seats are worn, the bodys dinged, the paints worn off the wipers and a few other spots, the rear defrost turns itself off, the headlight lenses are dim, the radio display is spotty, and the buttons are sticky from the poorly-placed cup holder, but it starts every morning and off we go!

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  More good than bad but bumpy. - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By lira10315 - March 28 - 3:16 am

  The biggest disappointment has been in the ride. Worst car of comfort ride ever. Also the visor covers half of the rear view mirror when down for sun protection. Love the features, stereo, steering column buttons and the placement of the shift selector. So far mileage is looking good, avg 29 mph. Dont know how long I will keep this because of the bumpy ride.

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  Travelin in Comfort - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By T Rahm - March 27 - 12:10 pm

  This Murano is my first Nissan. Ive had many SUVs in the past dozen or so years. This crossover was the answer to my needs. The Murano has been a very comfortable and enjoyable vehicle. I recently moved from Idaho to Washington and it pulled a 3,000 lb load trailer like a dream. It easily made it through the mountain climbs and averaged about 15 MPG with the heavy load. On another trip with no trailer, it averaged about 24 MPG. Im very pleased with the performance and ride. It is surprisingly quick when punched and handles well. I especially like all the bells and whistles it comes with. The voice commands and bluetooth work very well. Overall - Im very pleased with this Murano.