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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  The truth about the "legend" - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By Ed - February 26 - 1:16 pm

  It has pros and cons, but the pros are mostly qualities that you cant use in normal daily driving:nimble handling and quick acceleration. I fell in "love" with this car strictly for its eye appeal...I think its a work of art. However, the Eclipse GT that I traded in served me better on a daily basis, in terms of comfort, handling, and luggage/personal space. The highly touted Bose sound system performs best when turned to a high volume. Normal speech on the radio is hard to here..there is a distinct lack of mid frequency response that doesnt lend itself to "talk" radio.

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  Powerful..Safe...Roomy...Family fun ship - 2005 Nissan Armada
  By BAILEYS GANG - February 26 - 8:30 am

  I have been the owner of a ford expedition, jeep cherokees, hummer h2, and dodge durangos...And by far my nissan armada is the most overall family friendly suv ive owned while still making the driver excited about getting behind the wheel of this enormously powerful machine with unmatched unique styling.

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  The armada le rocks - 2006 Nissan Armada
  By armaurerbaby - February 25 - 10:36 pm

  I love driving the armada...Youll be going 80 and have no idea! I feel safe and I always catch people looking at me in it. We have the LE version with many bells and whistles and they work great. We thankfully havent been in the shop much at all. The brakes wear out too quickly even though they fixed the 2005 model issue..my husband says Im hard on the brakes. 1 thing major went wrong & it took 3 different shops to figure it out FUEL SENSOR was off & I kept running out of gas even though gauge said it wasnt empty, thankfully under warranty.

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  Great SUV - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Tony - February 24 - 7:26 pm

  Love this SUV! As mentioned in other reviews, 2nd row seating a little tight. Other than that, it handles well and is well designed.

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  Proud Owner - 2011 Nissan Altima
  By hakkincac - February 24 - 5:10 pm

  I love my new 2011 Nissan 2.5s Sedan. The only thing Im upset about is the engine makes somewhat of an ugly noise, however, it goes away once the CTV engine warms up. I dont get 23 MPG, I get about 20 city, still havent put it on a highway yet. Having said that, it really is a clean looking, nice car for the money. More importantly, I think the look will last, while other models will look odd in years to come, like the Sonata. I did test drive other cars, including Camry and Accord. Neither of them were as nice to drive as the Altima. Furthermore, neither had the handling and sporty look and feel of the Altima. All in all, the Altima is a great choice and a good car.

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  Two Winners - 2009 Nissan Altima
  By Joe - February 24 - 7:50 am

  My 2009 Altima replaced my 2002 Altima 2.5S, which logged 165,000 without any problems. I just figured that time would catch up with the 02, so I traded when the promotional financing made sense. I put lots of highway miles on my cars, and often drive deep into Mexico, e.g., Acapulco, so comfort, fuel economy, and RELIABILITY are top concerns of mine. Luckily, the Altima offers all that along with a beautiful body.

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  Long Haul Tow Vehicle - 2008 Nissan Titan
  By countryroads - February 24 - 6:20 am

  I bought this truck to tow a 4500 lb, 26 travel trailer on long trips. It is perfectly matched with this trailer. It is very comfortable for two adults. Absolutely nothing has gone wrong since purchase. Fit, finish and quality are evident everywhere on this LE 4x4 truck.

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  Check Consumer Reports before Buying! - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By Disappointed - February 23 - 8:41 am

  I purchase a "certified used" 2013 Altima ten months ago, without a warranty. Being a little old school teacher, Ive only driven it 6,000 miles in that time. It has been in the shop five separate times for repairs: Alternator replacement, serpentine belt replacement, radiator replaced, A/C condensor just went out, and two vehicle recalls. Being the former owner of a 2008 Altima, which did not have a single problem, I placed my faith in the reliability of the product without checking Consumer Reports for the 2013 version. Check the report; the 2013-newer Altimas consumer rating are inferior to older versions. I absolutely love the style and comfort of this car, but it looks like Nissan has lost me as a customer with its poor dependability and expensive repairs.

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  Great dependable car - 2006 Nissan Maxima
  By Jack - February 23 - 5:13 am

  We purchased our Maxima in March 2006. I commute 100 miles each day, so we have put a lot of miles on this car; currently just over 100,000. The only thing I have had done is replace the tires two times, oil change, and replaced both headlight bulbs. Unfortunately, most people will need to have the dealer replace the headlight bulb. My wife and I both love driving this car!

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  Excellent SUV. - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By JP - February 23 - 4:13 am

  I evaluated all of the midsized SUVs and found that the Pathfinder was the best vehicle for the money. I love the ride, comfort, and feel of the truck. The controls are ergonomically correct for me. The handling is solid, and fit and finish is impeccable. Was treated well by the dealership. The tailorability of the seat and foot controls was one of the most important features of the vehicle for me. This truck is smooth, powerful, and stylish. I would recommend the Pathfinder to anyone.