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:

• 

  Reliable, no-frills truck - 1998 Nissan Frontier
  By RingusMaximus - January 21 - 2:00 am

  Good, reliable no-frills truck. My only complaint is the black paint has faded a bit and lost its shine. Other than that a good truck. I have actually used this as a truck, not a pimped-out ghetto cruizer. Ive hauled heavy loads, towed a 1500+ pound wood-chipper with the bumper hitch, driven a ton of miles, and never any problems. Previously I had a new 1998 Dodge Dakota xtra cab 4x4, and that was the biggest lemon Ive ever owned. In my opinion, you cant go wrong with any imported truck.

• 

  great truck - 2001 Nissan Frontier
  By david stark - January 21 - 2:00 am

  it has been a very good truck , great dealer service iat mossy nissan el cojon, 4 wheel drive has worked great in the snow witer times would buy again.

• 

  THE BEST CAR - 2000 Nissan Altima
  By f29princess - January 21 - 2:00 am

  This car is awesome to drive, and doesnt waste gas...performs well under the Miami crazy drivers!!!! and as far as repairs go, I have never had to repair anything. Just keep up the maintenance on the car, and you will be cruisin! I love my car!

• 

  A great truck for the buck! - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By TMartin - January 21 - 2:00 am

  Well built. Solid construction and ride. Not a wussy SUV that started out as a car platform.

• 

  Trendy! - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By ctyger - January 21 - 2:00 am

  I LOVE my little Xterra! I bought it because I needed towing capacity but didnt want a huge SUV or a pick-up. My camper weighs approx. 3500 pounds fully loaded and it tows my camper like a dream. It uses far too much gas however. The first time my teenage granddaughters saw it they said, "Wow, Grandma - thats so trendy!" I feel like the coolest person on the road when I am driving it!

• 

  I LOVE IT - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By knotything - January 21 - 2:00 am

  It handles as well as my BMW did. I tried the X5 and the Pacifica.They were overrated(BMW and underpowered (Pacifica). My Blue Murano has 24 ct. plating on the the outside chrome (front and rear) I saw it in the showroom and it was love at 1st sight. Today(12/06/03), in a bad snow storm, I passed alot of struggling cars(BMWs, Jeeps and other lessor Urban SUVs) in a show of superiority. This car is awesome to drive and turns heads. Nissan should have put the Infinity label on the Murano, because the style is superior. People still ask me what it is. One of my employees was upset because her new Lexus SUV was " not as pretty".

• 

  test drive - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By bigrich - January 21 - 2:00 am

  all in all a nice car...terrible in snow, even with awd. takes much to long to get up to speed, even at full trottle

• 

  Poor Fuel Economy - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By Look4Lin - January 21 - 2:00 am

  We absolutely love the look, the ride, and the comfort of this vehicle. It handles very well, but regardless of city or highway miles, the miles per gallon are not as stated on the dealer invoice. One other small design flaw is the headlight switch placement. This is the only thing we truly do not like about the vehicle. The switch can be manually used, or put in the automatic position.(Which we use.) However, the switch is placed on the blinker arm, and at times when you use the directional, you unknowingly move the position of the headlight setting. If they can improve MPGs and the headlight inconvenience, I would own Murano after Murano for life!

• 

  Eye Pleasing Murano - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By FRID7 - January 21 - 2:00 am

  The Murano is a beautifully designed vehicle, inside and out. I get compliments on the design and color very often. After owning a Grand Cherokee with some disappointments, I am truly impressed with the Muranos handling, comfort and style. Im very happy I purchased the SE model and am equally happy I didnt get suckered for the expensive options. I got a great crossover vehicle for a great value.

• 

  A truck with a cabin and a V6stick shift - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By daemonspeeding - January 21 - 2:00 am

  The tow rating is marked down 1500lbs in the manual, becuase people just dont know how to drive it. Excelleration is excellent, top end isnt bad...but its high. But, its also a truck, not a car on stilts. Dont buy this truck if you want luxury, or are just going to stay on- road. Its plainly ugly, but it does go every where and anywhere. I love the practicality and ruggedness of this truck.