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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  A 350Z for non-Acrobats - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By Gregg D - December 9 - 2:00 am

  Love this Murano. It has style, power, handling, and versatility. Being 64" tall, I can drive this vehicle for hours on end and not feel exhausted (like I did in the Sequoia I traded for it). Easy ingress/egress. Seats are very comfortable. Controls just happen to be where your hands fall. Tunes are superb. The CVT works very well. No downshifts at passing - just the power when you need it. And it comes very fast - no discernable lag. Fairly economical (19 in town, 24-25 on highway).

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  An SUV with Personality! - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By xxxdimension - December 9 - 2:00 am

  Finally an SUV that drives like a performance car! Cornering and overall handling are great. Plenty of power, expecially from a roll. Could be a little better fron a dead stop but its a tradeoff for the CVT transmission which is a great feature. Gas mileage is great for a 245 Hp engine (Im averaging 20.5 MPG) This is the best SUV Ive driven.

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  nissan - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By osia - December 9 - 2:00 am

  this car drives very smoothly and nissans are usually built to last

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  Not your standard SUV - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By Trudyl - December 9 - 2:00 am

  I bought a black SEL at the end of September. I was turning in a leased Jeep Larado and there is no comparison. I wanted another SUV, I like being highter than most cars and I didnt want a vehicle that looked like a station wagon. I had no need for a third row seat and enjoy the roomy interior of my Murano. I havent notice any issues with the transmission and my son who lives to drive fast cars thought it handles very well. I wanted a navigation system and there wasnt a lot of choices in this price range.

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  Wow! - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By CD Smith - December 9 - 2:00 am

  I love my car!Tons of interior room, great amenities, and just gobs of fun to drive. On top of it all, I can find it in the parking lot at all the kiddy activities we attend.(Love the distinctive styling!) Drove this car to KC MO from WNC-took about 2 tanks of gas, (almost 1000 mile trek!). Caveats: crystal blue is WAY brighter than it appears on the web. More like electric blue. I love the color, and I dont get lost in the mall parking lot! Not for everyone, though. Also, use premium gas. Even the 4 cyl laughed at me with mid grade!

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  Nice But Disapointing - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By NissanGuy652 - December 9 - 2:00 am

  Overall- nice design and packaged well with some creature comforts and decent audio system.Vert disapointed in the way the car drives and handles. Does not track the road straight and shimmies all over from right to left at highway speeds. Replaced oem tires for goodyear- had wheel alignment and still doesnt drive any better. Takes the enjoyment out of owning this car.

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  not so smooth.... - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By vamshi - December 9 - 1:26 am

  I had this car for almost 3 years...37K miles on it. the tires that came with the car were very cheap...cant blame the car. My only complaint is the ride doesnt feel smooth anymore....I can hear the road noise through the cabin....It is not supposed to be that way. Dealer says everything ok but not sure. Like the car for all its features but still have my doubts about its reliability.

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  Bad Experiences - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By ORD - December 8 - 10:03 pm

  Ive had in the shop so many times with the following problems: - 3 times in shop on "Service Engine Soon" light came up - two or 3 times in shop with steering problems - three times in shop for intermittent power window locking up problem - one time with SRS (Air- bag) lamp on - Door rattles even after the Nissan Recall Initiative - 2 times Interior Dome lights problems - Heater outlet behind first row seats can only be control from front and no heat comes out of ceiling vent - Computer Tire monitor keeps telling flat tire during cold weather - etc. Nissan wont accept responsibility or replace vehicle. Will involve BBB, next News media, and then lawyers. Trip to Disneyworld had 4 problems.

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  Squealing/chirping noise - 2000 Nissan Sentra
  By joe t. - December 8 - 10:00 am

  The car has been back to the dealer for 3 different recalls. Also, have had a squealing/chirping noise coming from under the hood. Dealership has replaced the belts, the pulleys that hold the belts, and the alternator. Noise is still there. Seven times to the dealership in a year and a half. Has anyone else had a similar problem to the squealing/chirping noise? Any help would be appreciated.

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  Bad paint - 2001 Nissan Maxima
  By Bob Plucinski - December 8 - 10:00 am

  I have enjoyed this vehicle and do feel it is a good vehicle for the money. However, I am very upset about the paint job. I have had too many paint chips to count. I expected more out of Nissan.