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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  Reliable Car - 1999 Nissan Altima
  By scaito - May 22 - 10:00 am

  This has been a very reliable car. I have had this car for almost three years and only had to change the oil every three thousand miles. Ive never had any problems with it.

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  Old Blue - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By Old Blue - May 21 - 11:46 pm

  Bought it for a company car. Needed solid dependability and great gas mileage. Every one who drives it, loves it. Big enough to carry full size adult American males comfortably and go along with the traffic flow. Keyless entry and Bluetooth add to business ease of use. Owned it first month and put on 3,000 Florida highway miles with no additional problems other then fuel door release cable hangs down and was never properly installed.

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  Satisfied for what it is - 1998 Nissan Pathfinder
  By John Doe - May 21 - 1:43 pm

  Ive owned the SUV for almost 4 yrs and put in 30K+ miles. Serves my purpose well as a daily driver and offers alot of utility. Taken it for skiing as well as runs to Home Depot and such. Cargo capacity is good w/seats folded. Biggest complaint is mpg as I only manage 14mpg, but within estimated range. Handling at highway speed not the best, but thats a given since its based on an outdated truck platform. Wet/snow performance is good so long as tires are up to task. The Bose stereo is a major PITA to replace as modification to the OEM Bose speakers are necessary. Would recommend to anyone looking for a cheaper 4WD vehicle that offers good reliability and adequate driving characteristics.

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  A Nice First Car - 2008 Nissan Versa
  By Oscar - May 19 - 4:03 am

  This was the first car I test-drove after getting my license and so far, I do not regret my decision. I wanted a no-frills, simple car, and the Versa was that plus a bit more. I was also looking for something to carry around people comfortably, and the Versa does just the trick; I even find myself wanting to sit in the back seat to indulge in all the room. The interior layout and controls are nice, everything I need while driving is within easy reach. Performance-wise, the Versa meets my needs. I have to keep reminding myself its not a sports car, but with some consideration on my part, it does what I need it to do. Street and highway driving are a breeze. Fuel economy is decent.

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  Perfect Starter Car - 1996 Nissan Sentra
  By Marchy - May 19 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car used with 34,000 miles already on it. It now has a WOOPING 101,000 miles and I am still using this car on a daily basis to commute in the Northern VA/DC area. The only major problems I have had were the brakes. My car is wonderful, runs well still (I am still make it with the fast cars on in the interstate), still is very quiet, and gets great gas milage. I am in the process of purchasing again, and it well be a Nissan for sure!

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  Turn off the lights - 2000 Nissan Xterra
  By Phenobarb - May 19 - 2:00 am

  I have really enjoyed my Xterra with a few exceptions. Am I the only one who leaves the lights on an repeatedly drains the battery. I would expect the lights to go off automatically to prevent this. The fact it doesnt happen is a huge design flaw in my opinion. I have been stuck on numerous occassions because I forgot to turn my lights off. And the battery loses its juice quickly--in 1-2 hours. My front tires are always dirty. I was told it is dust from the brakes. Who knows. I find the Xterra to be comfortable and dont understand other criticism on this point.

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  2002 Nissan Frontier - 2002 Nissan Frontier
  By umco20 - May 19 - 2:00 am

  Good truck, nice interior, comfortable. Poor power, not really fun to drive.

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  wish i got 4 wheel drive - 2002 Nissan Xterra
  By cool SUV - May 19 - 2:00 am

  cool, except hasnt stopped snowing since i bought it.

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  Titan Family, truck replaces minivan - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By Sunne - May 18 - 2:16 am

  Fun to drive, plenty of power and manueverabilty. Good backseat room, split front power bench makes 6 passengers possible. Rattle in front wheel plastic panels next to engine. Big power window in rear allows for passthrough easily. The rear warning system is a big help with backing up and hooking up trailers. This feature has prevented many potential collisions.

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  Long-time Datsun/Nissan owner - 1998 Nissan Sentra
  By Bill in PA - May 18 - 1:53 am

  I bought this Sentra new in 1998 and now have 75,000 miles on it. In the seven years I have had it, it has been extremely reliable. It is good basic transportation, and gets excellent mileage. It has cost very little to maintain. I chose it over the Toyota Corolla because it was $2000 cheaper due to a rebate that Nissan had at the time. Over the years, I have had six Datsun/Nissan cars; a 1972 510 wagon, a 1979 210, a 1981 510 wagon, a 1986 Sentra, and a 1991 King Cab pickup. All went to over 100,000 miles. The older ones ran forever, but rusted beyond repair after around 100,000 miles. Japanese manufacturers seem to have solved this problem; I see very few rustmobiles" anymore.