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:

• 

  GREAT CAR - 2004 Nissan Altima
  By Tim - March 20 - 2:50 pm

  I bought my 2004 Nissan 2.5Sl new, and have loved driving this car. Only issues Ive EVER had are typical brakes, tires, battery, etc. I now have 105,000, and it still runs like new.

• 

  TOUGH Little Car.. - 2013 Nissan Versa
  By ibervilleroyal - March 20 - 2:08 pm

  The day I received a $3500 estimate to fix my 6 year old Prius was the day I TRADED IN that 6 year old Prius & Got my BRAN NEW Versa ... Even Up, No Regrets :) A year later I now have 45,000 miles on my Versa. Ive delivered pizza with it in the ice & snow storms of Northern Wisconsin to the heat indexes & humidity of South Mississippi. I get 36mpg Delivering in town with the air ON and 44mpg on freeways. I only use a full synthetic 0w-20 motor oil and keep the car serviced. Ive Driven this car Long, & Very, Very, Hard - and it has never faltered me or slowed me down. It never ceases to Amaze me how much power and room I can have under 15 Grand all-the-while averaging 40 mpg.

• 

  Never Going Back to Gas - 2015 Nissan Leaf
  By Brian Roach - March 20 - 12:28 pm

  Im extremely happy with the Leaf. While I appreciate the cars low environmental impact, I mainly bought it because it was a financial no-brainer. While the MSRP was around $33k (for the SL), I negotiated a price of $25k. Deduct the federal tax credit and a $2,500 rebate in MA, and the final cost was only $15k. So its just about the cheapest new car you can buy. Im fortunate enough to have access to free charging, so all my driving is now free. And theres virtually no regular maintenance or repairs to worry about. Of course the main limitation of the car is its relatively short range. I find I can get 100 miles in warmer weather, more like 70-75 in colder weather, with mostly suburban driving. For commuting, errands, and other short trips, the Leaf is just about perfect. We have a gas car as well, but hardly ever use it. I would say the Leaf makes a perfect second car, but you may find that it quickly becomes your first car. Driving the Leaf you really do feel like you are driving the future, and all gas cars seem both rather primitive and overly complex. EVs are simply better vehicles - quiet, smooth and quick acceleration, low maintenance, reliable, and better for the environment. I hope to never own another vehicle that uses gas. Im also smitten with the heated steering wheel, making winter driving much more pleasant. Whats the downside, besides the limited range? Well, the exterior design might not suit everyone. The steering wheel doesnt telescope - a strange omission. The armrest could be larger and adjustable. It could include a spare tire. But really thats about it. The Leaf is easily my best vehicle purchase, and I highly recommend it.

• 

  Excellent Choice - 2006 Nissan Frontier
  By tmlhump - March 19 - 10:23 pm

  Always had some type of pick up truck and needed more passenger room. Was able to easily find a Frontier with just the right options for me at a good price. The ride is smooth, small bumps do not exist, but you do feel the large ones. 4-wheel disc brakes stop you quickly. Very powerful & quick, especially for its class. Roomy for four people. The bed extender gives you close to 6 working space. Overall very pleased with my Frontier LE CC.

• 

  Nisson IS #1 - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Linda Pardue - March 19 - 10:06 am

  This vehicle is WONDERFUL. The new transmission with no shifting makes it "fly" down the road. I traded my Nisson Quest (which I loved dearly) for better fuel economy. The interrior is not much smaller. The drivers seat sits high giving you plenty of view to see a couple cars ahead of you.

• 

  2017 Altima SR - 2017 Nissan Altima
  By Greg Mims - March 19 - 8:39 am

  Added a remote start at purchase. Changed stock radio to a Kenwood navigation. The SR looks the best of the trims. The 18 inch wheels make the car look larger. The interior can be upgraded to leather, heated, air conditioned etc. if thats what you want. But the stock interior is very comfortable. We purchased from Dick Smith Nissan in SC. Got a great deal.

• 

  2017 Altima SR - 2017 Nissan Altima
  By Greg Mims - March 19 - 8:39 am

  Added a remote start at purchase. Changed stock radio to a Kenwood navigation. The SR looks the best of the trims. The 18 inch wheels make the car look larger. The interior can be upgraded to leather, heated, air conditioned etc. if thats what you want. But the stock interior is very comfortable. We purchased from Dick Smith Nissan in SC. Got a great deal.

• 

  So far so good - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Snoopy62 - March 18 - 12:10 pm

  I have owned this car new since August, 2003 and there have been minor problems all except for the radiator tank cracking and having to be replaced. Minor problems like the hood support rod, whe I put it up to check the oil and snapped the rod into the holder under the hood, the hook part snapped off. Luckily the dealer had them in stock. This was int he cold weather so maybe it was the plastic got too rigiid otherwise I would have to hold up the hood by hand. Computer had to be reprogrammed twice after a recall. The original Continental tires stink and I finally got michelins after the second set of continentals. They only lasted 23k each set. 32 mpg on the highway using Cruise control!

• 

  disappointing - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By aus26tex - March 18 - 11:13 am

  Had the car for 1yr 5 months and have had ongoing issues with my drivers side seat sliding from side to side. Nissan has been a pain to deal with and even after I recently filed for lemon law they have yet to be in touch and have exceeded the 30 day time frame. Aside from seat moving side to side I have moisture in my right rear tail-light, unreliable brake pressure(they can be VERY touchy depending on which way the wind blows), blown speaker, rattles, and a hesitation when accelerating. Not sure how it has won "Highest Ranked in Initial Quality" from J.D. Power. Also has very uncomfortable seats, and poor handling. On the bright side good MPG, peppy and quiet.

• 

  Great SUV! - 2004 Nissan Pathfinder
  By mcarey - March 18 - 10:00 am

  This is a great SUV and I am so happy with the Pathfinder. The only detracting feature is the gas mileage. Other than that, I would say that the Pathfinder is top notch! We got a heck of deal on the Pathfinder, considering that it was going for about 27,000 at invoice we paid about 3,000 below that. The ride runs well and sitting up high is really nice as well. If you are in the market for a midsize SUV, then this is the one to get.