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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  My 2 cents - 2000 Nissan Frontier
  By brindlefawn - January 16 - 10:00 am

  Great all around truck. I drive it to work, on vacation, and some times "off the beaten path." I have never not had enough "go" and for the money this is the best small 4x4 truck out there. It is thirsty, but I contricbute that to the way I drive in addition to the numerous short trips I make.

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  Big Disappointment - Safety Concerns - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By MVC - January 16 - 10:00 am

  What a lemon! Drivers seat is loose and rocks back and forth from first week. Williams Nissan in Boyertown, PA and Nissan report other customers have same complaint, but they have no fix! CD player makes clicking sound. Turn volume down and listen. Again no fix yet. Brakes squeel when applied in reverse, considered "normal" for this vehicle. Carpet held down with staples and velcro, typical of overall quality. The list goes on. Save yourself a big headache and wait until engineering catches up with design.

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  I love it! - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By music77057 - January 16 - 7:16 am

  So far Ive only had my new truck 4 days and I LOVE IT! I love the space, the ride and all the feature it has and more than I expected. I really recommend this vehicle if anyone is looking into buying one. So far the gas mileage is good, as I expected with a truck and not like a car but I still love it.

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  Great Car - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By JD - January 16 - 2:40 am

  Awesome car, drives great, no problems so far. Gas mileage 23.5 city 28.0 hwy with regular fuel, premium fuel doesnt do anything that I notice the mileage and the power are the same, all you do is give the oil companies more money.

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  Great Value & Performance - 2006 Nissan Frontier
  By ca24 - January 15 - 11:00 pm

  Had the truck for 2 weeks and absolutely love it so far. The powerful V6 265 HP engine is matched up nicely with the smoooth 5 spd automatic tranny. Interior noise is pretty low for a truck and the highway ride is about the best Ive experienced (for a truck). Overall pretty pleased and the dealer price was 2000 under invoice. Cant wait to take it offroad - right now Im conquering Baltimore city potholes with ease.. Tested the Toyota Tacoma and Ford Explorer Sport Trac. The Frontier easily bested the Ford. The Tacomas cheap bed liner, uncomfortable seats, and lack of power and comfort when compared to the Frontier made it a pretty easy choice (not to mention a $3000 price diff)

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  Big bang for the buck - 2007 Nissan 350Z
  By Z-WOW-Z - January 15 - 9:20 pm

  Im 56 years old and after raising 5 children I decided to get something for me. I looked at several other cars and for one year I did all my homework. I looked at the Miata, RX-8, and the BMW Z-4. The 350m is by far the most exhilarating car Ive ever driven. I bought the 6 speed and it will do about 35 mph per gear. You do the math! And the mileage, I get around 26 average. And the funnest thing I like to do is turn. Man this car will cut like nothing Ive ever driven. So my overall rating is "dont test drive one if you arent going to GET ONE!"

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  great first truck - 2014 Nissan Frontier
  By matt - January 15 - 11:51 am

  the leg room if a car or booster seat in back.is none for passenger.the radio is fair.only bluetooth streaming for ipods.aux port for android phones is ok.but expected better for year.other than my issues with frontier,its very nice truck.

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  Wise Choice! - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By ictgee - January 15 - 8:56 am

  After much research and test drives of the vehicles in this class, my wife and I decided on the new 2009 Nissan Murano. We traded in a 2006 Pontiac Torrent and this was a definite upgrade. We are both impressed with the quality of the Murano inside and out. The interior is very luxurious and well thought out. The seats are very comfortable, and every driver should be able to find a good driving position. We traveled 200 miles to a business meeting and did not want to get out of the car. We purchased the SL model FWD with everything but the navigation package. Driving in town or at highway speed, the car is extremely quiet and comfortable. We feel we made a wise choice.

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  Great Minivan for the price - 2005 Nissan Quest
  By Mastro calo - January 15 - 1:06 am

  I am very happy day by day to have mi new Nissan Quest 3.5S 2005, runs like a car, comfort inside,(seats, view, space, quietness) is excelent, for 23,500 plus taxes and Dealer charges($ 25,450 Total)is excelent. The radio-CD works great..good in gas 19mpg combine, with Regular gasoline. Ride is excellent..I love it!! Thanks Nissan.

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  Good Car/Good Value - 2005 Nissan Sentra
  By RnZnd - January 14 - 10:43 pm

  I bought my Nissan Sentra last year, and have not had any problems whatsoever. The car has a sporty look, good interior features, nice stereo, and gets excellent mileage. I am very happy with the overall value as well as the quality of the vehicle. I would recommend this car for anyone looking for a decent car at an affordable cost.