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:

• 

  A good car - 1999 Nissan Altima
  By Nathan Alford - January 25 - 2:00 am

  I like my car a lot. Its fast enough, though I wont be winning many races. A very nice looking car on the outside, and average looking on the inside. I drove a 2002 Camry mostly though high school, and the Altima cant campete with its roomy interior with leather. Of course the Camry has been around much longer, and is more equal to the Maxima. So if you need something bigger and better than a Sentra and you cant/wont get a Maxima, then the Altima is a very good choice.

• 

  i survived it! - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By crashed the car - January 25 - 2:00 am

  I had the 2002 xterra, and at 30k miles I totalled it in an incident with black ice...hit a concrete guardrail, bounced of the back side and plowed across three lanes of traffic into the center railing....didnt hit anyone, didnt flip...and walked away. Great car, I feel very safe in it. I bought a new one from the dealer a week later.

• 

  Durable Van - 2002 Nissan Quest
  By corsicachevy - January 24 - 4:06 pm

  I have enjoyed a trouble free first year of ownership. What attracted me to the Quest is the vehicles reputation for long-term durability and low up-front cost. Admittedly, this vehicle is no longer on the cutting edge. The engine is old and a little weak, but it does have decent low end torque. The body does groan and moan a bit - I suspect this van was designed before the push for super-rigid body structures. I love the interior, handling and over-all appearance of the vehicle.

• 

  Reliable and Quick - 1999 Nissan Altima
  By el CAPiTAN! - January 24 - 10:00 am

  When you look at the Altima you never guess the amount of PEP thats inside of this car (my only regrets were that I didnt get a manual), I mean the acceleration is superb and the big 2.4L engine is great. So far its really reliable and nice. ITs a very fun car and I love burning little civics and celicas with it.

• 

  Love my Nissan - 2000 Nissan Altima
  By Gooser987 - January 24 - 10:00 am

  I bought my 2000 GXE brand new off the lot in 01 with no miles on it. Its got great pickup-155 HP (w/o the a/c on) and a fund car to drive. Gets great gas mileage for all the driving I do.

• 

  Fun 3.5SE - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By Great 3.5SE - January 24 - 10:00 am

  This has been a great car. Infinity performance and looks for a lot less. The V6 is incredibly smooth and powerful. Looks great, dual chrome exhaust, 17-inch wheels and sport suspension! Important to note, was T- boned and spun through an intersection 3-months after purchase (individual ran red-light), safety features, airbags performed admirably and walked away from accident. Great car!

• 

  The super engined SUV - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By AScot - January 22 - 12:03 am

  The best engine on the market. The CVT is smooth and responsive. Holds the road surprising well for a SUV. Not had it long enough to properly evaluate reliability, but it seems fine. Beautiful exterior styling, with 18" wheels. Love it or hate it interior styling (I love it). Good quality materials used in seats, dash, etc. All in all an excellent used car buy.

• 

  Mr. Bugs - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By cygnus - January 21 - 10:56 pm

  I purchased my SE-R 7 weeks ago and it has been in the shop 4 times, it makes a strange sound similar to hissing or a shaking a filament in a light bulb when the car travels over any street that is not newly paved. At this time the dealership as not been able to pinpoint the problem. They have replaced struts and strut mounts so far. My driver side door froze and would not open. The car is due back in the shop to replace a broken positive battery terminal connector that is on order. I love the engine power and styling but my car seems to have a lot of bugs and problems to be only a year old.

• 

  Absolutely awesome sports car - 2008 Nissan 350Z
  By Ryan - January 21 - 10:53 pm

  My last 3 cars have been sports cars, (Mustang GT, Subaru WRX, 350Z) and this trumps them all This car pulls beautifully, runs great, is super reliable, amazing performance. Just love it. I recommend it highly

• 

  Not what I had in mind - 2001 Nissan Sentra
  By TNLady - January 21 - 10:00 am

  I leased this vehicle and had it during my last two years of college. The not so good: It stalled in the middle of an intersection while running after I owned it for 2 or 3 months (that was fun), the side mirror fell off (not under warranty), driver and passenger window motors went out,and I bought 4 new tires bc the original were rather crappy. The interior is also very cheaply made and the engine makes it hard to keep up in traffic sometimes. Keep in mind this is a "compact" car and Nissan takes that literally with very little leg room to go around.