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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  ZZZ - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By MLB11 - June 9 - 2:00 am

  The most fun Ive had in a car. I have had some other very nice cars but the looks on this one take the cake and girls!

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  OK Car - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Anna - June 7 - 12:53 pm

  Car is a bit noisy. Fun car to drive on the highway, but in town visibility doesnt seem to be that great because the car sits so low. Interior parts are very cheaply made. Lots of back seat space & trunk space. Rattling noises in places cant be detected. Dashboard is sensitive to the sun and is actually deforming/melting up above the steering wheel. Always problems w/the door locks. Car likes to just lock by itself at times. Decent on gas. Front seats dont seem to be too comfortable on long rides. They sit too low as well. Tires seem to wear quickly and seems tire noise is loud no matter what. Biggest beef is the cheap interior parts.

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  Better with 2001 - 2000 Nissan Pathfinder
  By MattM - June 7 - 10:00 am

  I bought it new as it seemed like the best value compared to domestics or the Toyota. As it is heavy, the back end can slip on corners (especially on ice). It consumes a lot of gas and is underpowered. On the up side it is very reliable and quite comfortable. I think they improved it in 2001.

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  Gotta love this truck - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By nemoret - June 7 - 10:00 am

  This is my first SUV and I absolutely love it. The ride is smoother than any car Ive ever owned. The fit and finish is beyond reproach. Ive had the truck for 4 weeks now and cannot find a single defect, not a squeak, rattle or non-functional anything. Incredibly quiet. Id buy another today if I could.

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  Pretty Nice truck - 2008 Nissan Xterra
  By kev2011 - June 6 - 12:39 pm

  Ive been a maxima owner for the last 10 yrs and this is quite a switch. im starting a biz this spring and need the towing. i hope it is up to the task. the car rides nice for a truck but is uncomfortable for long drives which i do every day. the armrest makes me twist my body to use it. the seats are ok. the roof rattles over bumps. the stereo is not even close to the BOSE in a maxima. adjusting to much less creature comforts has taken some time, but i do like the truck. snow is no match for it. i pulled my 20ft boat with it this summer and hardly noticed i was towing anything. i hope its half as good as my maxima.

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  Poor manufacturing - 2006 Nissan Sentra
  By SpaceCoastFL - June 2 - 7:53 am

  This vehicle overall is reliable, but there are some major issues that have convinced me to never purchase a Nissan again. 1. Computer failure at under 1000 miles 2. Wheel bearing failure of both rear wheel bearings at under 30000 miles (Dealership tried to get out of warranty repair until I showed them that the wheel bearings were specifically covered under drivetrain warranty) 3. Technical bulletin on the fuel pump that causes a hard start. This fuel pump problem of course failed just past the warranty limitation and costs dearly to replace. I recommend replacing this yourself as I fear Nissan may just replace the fuel pump assembly with another OEM "broken" assembly

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  A good, safe, fun family sedan - 1999 Nissan Maxima
  By Nij - June 2 - 5:56 am

  Purchased mine when it had 45,000 miles. Have driven it 15,000 miles in less than 10 months and i love the car! Feels steady on the road. Has good power and acceleration. Heated seats are a comfort in the winter. Ive taken this for many long trips and so far this has been my favorite car. Ive owned Honda and Mitsubishi earlier and nothing beats the Nissan Maxima! Overall, a great car for a decent price.

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  Pathfinder - 1998 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Firmin - June 2 - 2:00 am

  Very reliable, no warranty claims in nearly six years of ownership. Good paint.

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  V6 Crew Cab 4x4 5sp - 2000 Nissan Frontier
  By gforce - June 2 - 2:00 am

  Overall a pretty good truck. Way better quality than my 98 Dodge, but nothing compared to my 95 Audi. Both exhaust manifolds cracked, bumper rusted, driveshaft carrier bearing failed, O2 sensor caused CEL to come on. Fortunately, original owner purchased extended warranty! Post warranty, tailgate decal peeled ($140+!!) and exhaust is rotting. I commute 120mi/day and only get 17mpg on the highway. Great on cross country trips, but could use more rear leg room.

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  Better than average but not great - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By Motorguy - June 2 - 2:00 am

  I used to drive a more powerful midsize Honda Accord sedan, so comparing that with the Nissan Sentra 1.8s may be "comparing apples to oranges." But I like the Sentras classy exterior design and comfy seats. And the interior storage spaces like the roof-mounted sunglasses holder and built-in dashboard storage are great touches. Its a good value for the money...but if you can afford a better trim, something larger, or a car with more "oomph" underneath the hood, you maybe should look elsewhere....