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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  Noisy, greedy and lazy - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By timeau - March 22 - 10:00 am

  Something awful! 20 mpg in city/highway, metal knock in case of turning stearing wheel, in two dealerships got an answer "Your car is OK. We can not repeat your problems". Dont know what to do. Never, never, never buy Sentra!

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  NISSAN SENTRA GXE. TOTAL SATISFACTION - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By CRAIG ADAMS - March 22 - 10:00 am

  CARS TESTED: TOYOTA COROLLA, HONDA CIVIC, NISSAN SENTRA.RESULT: THE SENTRA PROVED TO BE THE BEST BUY. REASONS:BEST ENGINE PERFORMANCE,BEST FIT & FINISH, BEST SHIFTING, AND BEST CONTENT.

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  Not Having Fun Anymore! - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By Dfunkymonkey - March 22 - 10:00 am

  The cars engine performance is superb and very responsive even with the A/C on. Lots of cheap plastic. Gear shift console broke in the first week (it was held together by DUCT TAPE inside) and the dealership still does not have the replacement part. Shifting gears is a bit harsh. Wind noise is very loud esp. from the sunroof. Some other items are also defective. I expect to be going back and forth to the delearship at least four more times before everything gets fixed.If my Honda Accord had this cars engine I would not have thought of trading it in for this one. The car is fun to drive, but thats just about it.

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  Very disappointed! !!! - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By kiki - March 22 - 6:28 am

  My first car. Its a shame that I am not too happy. Two days every other week I have to call out of work. Because it will blank out in the middle of traffic the same distance everytime. Now a few months later. Its getting kinda cold. When I start it in the morning. When I press the gas the car goes no where. I Will Then Have To Turn Off The Ignition Then Turn It Back On Five Minutes later. I hate it. My biggest turn off.

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  Underrated Sentra - 2017 Nissan Sentra
  By Kathy - March 22 - 1:20 am

  I was going to replace my older Altima with a new one, but ended up buying a Sentra instead. The handling is great (better than my Altima) and actually feels sporty. Vehicle is so quiet in the cabin you cant tell its running. Trunk space is good too for its class. Only thing I miss with the Altima is the large gas tank which can get about 600 miles on one tank and the wider interior. I bought a manual (I prefer to drive stick) so cant comment on the acceleration with the CVT. For a compact car, Im very happy with this purchase, and think the low ratings from car critics arent that accurate.

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  Ole Miss Update - 2003 Nissan Frontier
  By olemiss - March 21 - 11:44 pm

  I just wanted to update my post of my Frontier Crew Cab long bed with 3.3 engine. I had to replace the A/C compressor around 75,000 miles, replaced a headlight last week, and a battery at the seven year point. I chose to put new shocks all around and replace the brake pads at 85,000 miles. I will have new hoses and belts put on when I have the timing belt replaced at 100,000 miles. Not bad for a ten year old truck with 90,000 miles. I take very good care of this truck and I plan to drive it daily for a few more years.

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  Oh, My Murano... - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By Melissa - March 21 - 2:56 pm

  I absolutely love my Murano. Im kind of bummed at the moment though, because apparently my timing chain needs to be replaced, and the shop I got it priced at is wanting to charge me a whopping $2,100... (And of course this happened a convenient 900 miles AFTER the warranty expired). Great car, but horrible fixing costs.. And of course every Nissan dealership Ive ever been to has the most money-hungry people Ive ever met.

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  Love this car! - 2001 Nissan Xterra
  By jmedavis - March 21 - 2:06 am

  I have a 2001 SE 4x4. Bought it in 2005 with 64,000 miles. 5 years later and now over 175,000 miles on it, weve had no engine or transmission issues with it. I did have to replace an electrical component in the a/c this summer for about $250 but otherwise its just been routine maintenance. Its a fun truck to drive and very reliable. Not the best backseat for carseats but it is manageable. Were in the process of selling it only because our 3rd child is on the way and we cant fit the family in this car anymore. But that is the only reason were selling! Its been a great car.

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  My Rouge 1 - 2017 Nissan Rogue
  By E. Wheeler - March 21 - 1:43 am

  I was looking for a SUV with good gas mileage. Found it here. Im getting 28 mixed and 33 plus highway. The AWD works fine in Colorado. If I had to complain, it would be that it has no clothes hanger in the back to put my dry cleaning. Other than that the Rouge is nice for the price.

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  Lot of Bang for the Buck - 2009 Nissan Altima
  By kinarow1 - March 21 - 12:46 am

  Why spend $10K more for a BMW, Audi, or Acura? This has most of the amenities of the high end luxury brands at a huge savings. Surprisingly quiet, good enough power, reasonably nice stereo. Sharp looking car.