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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  Favorite Car Yet... - 2006 Nissan Pathfinder
  By mwc115 - May 25 - 10:43 pm

  Ive had all kinds of Nissan cars and truck and this one is my favorite to date. I personally dont view Armada/Tahoe type trucks as practical, so I was pleased to find a nice looking reasonably sized vehicle that has seating for 7. It feels big inside and is a very comfortable ride. The extended rear is nice for when family/friends are visiting and we can fit more than 2 adults and 2 car seats. The extra storage is nice too when you are stuffing groceries and strollers in the back. All the options and buttons to press work well and are conveniently located. Also, I went on vacation 1 week after this purchase and had a Ford Explorer rental... it was 1/2 the truck the Pathfinder is...

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  Driving a Silver Bullet - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By silverbullet99 - May 25 - 9:33 am

  My truck is a beast. It makes right at 300 horses and will blister just about anything. The truck rides like a dream, ages ahead of the old F-150 I had. The only thing is it gets 17 miles to a gallon.

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  No Compromises - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By Helen - May 25 - 2:40 am

  I traded in my 2003 Murano. I absolutely love the 2009 Murano. I looked at the Toyota Highlander and the Lexus 350LX. The Murano blew the doors off of the Lexus. All the standard features on the Murano LE were optional features on the Lexus and Toyota. The fit and finish is much better on the Murano than any other SUV on the market. Nissan really got it right. The little details are what make me so happy. Like the back up camera, the keyless ignition, the heated seats, the laptop ports, the automatic liftgate, the 20" wheels, the large console display, and of course the stereo system. The styling is really fresh too.

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  Awesome SUV! - 2004 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Peter - May 25 - 2:30 am

  My 2004 Pathfinder does everything right. The acceleration is exceptional with 240 horses and I would choose it over a Honda Pilot any day. The features are plenty and I love the one touch front windows and moonroof. Everything is there when you need it. Go buy one! It is very reliable! I have had no problems even after 28k miles!!!

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  Fun car, few complaints. - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By John - May 24 - 12:13 pm

  The Maxima is overall a great car. It has quick acceleration for a car of its size, and provides a nice ride. It has so many great features like memory and heated seats, satellite radio, and everything else needed to make a car feel like home. The exterior looks amazing, especially with my optional "amazing" package, with great looking bright chrome rims and grille. I have gotten so many compliments on an awesome looking car. The paint does chip easily though, and I have spent a lot on detail work. Inside, everything feels fairly nice, although some parts are a bit cheesy. The controls are overly-complicated, but manageable. The Bose stereo sounds good.

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  Very Nice Car - 2010 Nissan Maxima
  By Ty - May 24 - 1:30 am

  Purchased 2010 fully loaded. Love the interior. Has all the high end tech features of a G37, or Lexus 330 but at a significant cost reduction. I am tall, just over 64" and feel very safe and comfortable. You wont be disappointed with this car.

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  Wonderful but Noisy - 2008 Nissan Maxima
  By Maxed out - May 23 - 8:50 am

  This is the 4th Maxima Ive owned and they just keep getting better except for one thing... the interior is noisy. If Honda could build (my second car is a 2005 Honda) a super quiet ride, why cant Nissan?

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  I Love my 1999 Nissan Pathfinder - 1999 Nissan Pathfinder
  By nissan_lover1 - May 23 - 7:19 am

  My 1999 Path Finder is the second SUV I owned I had a 1995 Jeep Cherokee and the transmission died on me after 6 months of owning that Jeep with only 80,000 miles on it. I absolutely love my Pathfinder I purchased it with 157,000 miles on it already and it still runs strong and starts up realiably every morning and has not failed me yet like that Jeep has.

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  Great car, everything I need. - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By sirbikesalot - May 22 - 5:50 pm

  This is my fourth Nissan after having owned a Stanza, Maxima, and Xterra. I traded in my 2000 XTerra and bought the Rogue after test driving it. It handles great, very comfortable (I am 6-2"), and quiet inside. I got the AWD in wicked black with no other options. It meets all my needs, except for one that I need to wait for - a Class 3 tow hitch with the 2" receiver for my hitch-mounted bike rack. Its a little smaller than the Xterra but I wont miss it and I certainly wont miss the poor gas mileage of the Xterra. All my Nissans have been super reliable and I expect no less from this car.

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  Great riding car - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By A very nice ride - May 22 - 12:36 am

  My wife and I just purchased the car today. I just wanted to say I didnt know what to expect with this car. Well, to my surprise so far on the first day it drives extremely quiet and has pretty good power for a 4 cylinder. The CVT works great. Just takes a little while to get used to. Overall, we both love the car and are impressed with all the features of the SL model. Its also very roomy inside and Im over 60" and have plenty of leg and head room. We were going to buy a Civic but Im glad we went with the Sentra. I would recommend test driving this car. You will like it.