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 6th Nissan - Best Yet!! - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By ranhan - April 28 - 2:00 am

  My murano has the quality that I had gotten use to in Nissans and think they had gotten away from in the late 90s. Nice to see the quality back! You do have to get use to the transmission......Its different! Not a bad thing...Just Different!!

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  POINT N SHOOT - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By john Q. SMITH - April 28 - 2:00 am

  MY LAST 3 CARS IN MY DRIVEWAY WERE A VIPER ROADSTER, A CONVERTABLE CORVETTE AND A MERCEDES CLK. THE 350Z CONVERTIBLE IS MORE FUN THAN ANYTHING ELSE LISTED. THE 350Z IS VERY EASY TO DRIVE, AND REQUIRES NO DRIVING SCHOOLS. THE ELECTRIC TOP OPERATES WELL. THE STYLING IS BEAUTIFUL AND TURNS HEADS EVERYWHERE.

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  350ZOOM! - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By You Go Gurrl - April 28 - 2:00 am

  I love my 350! The style is HOT! It is indisputably the best looking car on the streets, and nothing pleases me more than being the first car at the stop light! WHEW! This car is a truly eye candy like its driver! The now discontinued BRICKYARD color makes us a rare and true sight to behold.

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  Great car - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By Nick T - April 28 - 12:13 am

  I just traded in my 05 Sernta for this car and it was the best decision I have made. I love this car. It is quick for a 4 cyl., the stereo is excellent, it is VERY comfortable. This car is real fun to drive and everyone who has driven with me raves on how smooth and how nice it is.

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  Love my Murano - 2010 Nissan Murano
  By Dawn - April 27 - 10:50 pm

  We really like this crossover.Got amazing deal on it. Almost got Equinox but could not deal with the 4 cyl engine and we got nice Murano for the same price. Beautiful leather interior is exquisite. Have 3000 miles and no complaints.

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  I like it - 2006 Nissan Murano
  By dcbruin - April 27 - 7:33 am

  Been very happy with my Nissan. Im a bigger guy and this cabin is very roomy. Lots of leg and head room for the front and the back which I found hard to find in SUVs. The fit and finish of the car is good. Gas mileage is better than my old Montero. I average about 18 to 19 miles in predominant city driving. On the highway it does great. The AWD is very nice in the midwest and provides a nice tight drive. The CVT is awkward. Im still getting use to the deceleration. The car is very responsive in acceleration and thats nice. There is a strange hiccup when slowing down. You must also learn to feather the gas in the snow/slush

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  What can I say, but Wow! - 2015 Nissan GT-R
  By hfzeus - April 27 - 6:28 am

  This is by a wide margin the best car I have ever had (or even been in). As an engineer, I am amazed at this car and what it can do. First, the downsides (which are far surpassed by its positive qualities. It does not like to go slow (neither do I). At speeds under 30 or so, the transmission makes strange noises and the steering is a little rough. The suspension, even in comfort mode, would not allow you to to surgery in the back seat. And if you ever can temporarily give up driving this car, you better watch out for curbs. The ground clearance would make a mouse do the limbo. But that is not what this car was engineered for. It is an absolute thrill to drive.

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  Best Yet - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By jshane - April 27 - 4:06 am

  Ive had Mustangs, Camaros, and Trans Ams, but have never had a sports car this good! Its acceleration, handling, build quality and fun to drive factor are miles ahead of the american rivals. Detroit could take a lesson from a car like this.

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  Rogue SL: It WILL Be Hot! - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By MHmidhudson - April 26 - 11:40 pm

  I picked it up on October 1. Today is Nov. 13, and its got 2450 miles on it already. Gets 23-24 mpg locally, hilly terrain in the Hudson valley; 29 mpg at a steady 60-65 mph on the road! Never have owned a vehicle that sticks to the road like this one does. What theyve already said about Bluetooth and Bose is echoed here: THEY ROCK. This is my next "best car Ive ever owned", a title that my 06 Frontier still holds.

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  My Pathfinder :D - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By AlexParamount - April 26 - 8:36 pm

  I inherited this 2005 pathfinder from my brother, so Ive driven it before. I used to borrow it all the time for roadtrips with my buddies because Ive always owned a smaller car - now its mine! Gas mileage is actually pretty good - equal to my old 1989 240sx. Ive achieved as high as 28 mpg on the freeway at 70 mph. City driving is about 15 mpg - so it averages out to about 20 mpg with my mix of hwy/city driving. This is a fast car. I do 0-60 in about 7 seconds. Im 61 and 240 lbs and my truck fits me great. On a roadtrip to Palm Springs my three my-sized buddies fit in the back with their cargo and we got about 23 mpg with AC on full blast. GREAT truck with excellent cargo space.