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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  Commuter - 2010 Nissan Altima
  By altimabb - March 11 - 12:56 am

  I have had my car since 6/24/11 and it had 100 miles on it at purchase. It now has aprox 23k due to the fact that Im a highway commuter of aprox 100 miles/day. I have found this car to be very comfortable & convenient for my long drive. I live in Missouri so, I experience all types of weather and I must say the car does great in the snow, ice, rain, cools & heats fast, etc. When we had a lot of snow and also when we had ice this past winter I went into a parking lot & attempted to just see what she could take. It handled very well & the traction control did an awesome job at correcting itself. The bumps can be a little rough sometimes but overall I love it.

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  Whats all the hype about? - 2009 Nissan Rogue
  By Sofie - March 10 - 2:36 pm

  I have read numerous reviews that are all so positive on the Rogue. I really feel like I am missing something. I have only had the car 1 week and I am sooo disappointed I REALLY WISH I could take it back! My main issue is the Huge design flaw (and I believe its also in the Murano (which really wasnt too much better, slightly bigger, way more $$) the rear windshield is too small! The back seat headrests block the sides of the rearview window!!! This "Crossover" drives like a cheapy made compact car. My other auto is a Sonata and that has a far more quieter, smooth ride. I did Not expect this auto to ride so rough,my 06 Pathfinder had a smoother ride! Rate this auto a 5 all around.

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  Fantastic Car! - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By mac444 - March 10 - 8:50 am

  This is a luxury car disguised as a subcompact. It drives and has most all of the features of a car that costs $10,000 more than this car. Its a steal!

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  Great Vehicle - 2010 Nissan Rogue
  By jennib31210 - March 10 - 8:25 am

  I actually owned 2 Rogues, and was happy with both. The only reason I got rid of the 1st one (08) was to trade for a new one (2010). I love the SUV feel combined with the great fuel economy of a midsized sedan. I always averaged 27+ MPG, and even got 30MPG on at least one occasion. The seats are comfortable and the interior is fairly roomy for it to be a small SUV/crossover. I had the 2010 for right at a year and put 15k miles on it, including a road trip from GA to OH and back, and never experienced any issues in the time I owned it. I traded it for a 2010 Altima because the Altima is my ultimate dream car :) but I was very pleased with my Rogues & recommend them to anyone!

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  The Best Car I Have Ever Owned!!! - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Tiffany - March 10 - 4:03 am

  Originally looked at the 2.5 Altima but needed more "pick-up" with acceleration. The salesman suggested the 3.5. I drove it and loved it! There was no looking back at the 2.5...I love the look of the car, the comfort AND room inside; the reliability cannot be more satisfying. I felt for the price that I was paying, I was getting a lot of car and more. My friends and family are jealous. They all want one now.

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  Great car! - 1997 Nissan Maxima
  By Derek - March 10 - 2:00 am

  Car is very fun to drive and my first 5spd.

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  9 month review - 2003 Nissan Pathfinder
  By HoopUte - March 10 - 2:00 am

  240 hp engine is very nice. Maybe a little small on rear storage space. A trip with 4 for a week would probably require a roof rack to hold everything. 4WD basic system serves my needs well. Did very well on winter roads in Colorado & Wyoming. City mileage about 16mpg but have gotten up to 24 mpg on highway. After 9 months Im extremely happy with this car.

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  Jackies review - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By Jackie - March 10 - 2:00 am

  This truck was my first car purchase. I have to say, I wanted to buy it for looks, but when I test drove it, I really fell in love. It drives wonderfully and doesnt have the "truck" feel that other SUVs tend to have. I absolutely love my truck and would recommend it to anyone who was looking for a reliable ride. The only bad thing I found about the truck is that how many times I must fill up the gas tank, though I would imagine any SUV or truck is this way. Overall: If I were to trade in my truck today, I would purchase another one, and I have had my truck for over one year.

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  Initial Report of Murano SL AWD - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By - March 10 - 2:00 am

  Fit and finish are exemplary, as are the engine and transmission. Acceleration is seemless, and its quiet at speed. Braking and steering give confidence. The suspension feels taut yet supple. The interior is laid out nicely. Fuel consumption is below expectations. The Bose stereo system is wonderful. Easy to find a comfortable driving position. The sunroof is quite noisy when open. An awful buffeting sound when rear windows are lowered. Using the digital display control panel seemed daunting at first, but after a few minutes I found it to be easy to use and understand. Overall, the Murano is well thought out and pleasant to drive.

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  Hard to Walkaway after Test Driving it. - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By Phil B - March 10 - 2:00 am

  All we wanted to do on New Years Eve was see the Murano up close and see what it had to offer. The dealer drove one out from the back lot, Pewter with a loud "orange" interior. It looked like a concept car put into production. We looked at the Saturn Vue the day before, granted different price ranges, but the Murano was tough to walk away from. Drove it home that night!