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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  Altima Review - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By Joe Mama - December 8 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car.

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  Great vehicle, Best value in class - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By RedStripe - December 8 - 12:06 am

  I needed an economical compact sedan that is reliable and safe and was very impressed with how much interior space and passenger room the Sentra has. Also very impressive was how smooth, refined and responsive the CVT and engine were, particularly its power and acceleration for a car of this class when carrying 4 full-sized adults and a trunk loaded with stuff. The Sentra has the most incentives at this time by at least $500, and you can get bluetooth and keyless remote entry for not much more. I saved at least $2,000 by purchasing this vehicle over a comparatively equipped Honda Civic LX in the current market. The Sentra is a very versatile, capable, and fuel efficient daily commuter car.

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  Hot Car, took forever to get - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By STUD - December 7 - 11:00 pm

  I just got my Nissan Versa, black of course, and it is the best car i have ever had the pleasure to drive. The quality and performance of the car should have raised the price, but Nissan is selling it for around 14K. The only problem i have with this car is the time it took to get. I waited, but Nissan delivered; however, I am still waiting for my floor mats. Whatever ... this is the most sporty and fuel efficient car i have ever driven

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  Rogue over CRV and RAV4 - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By Lynn C. - December 7 - 3:23 pm

  I reviewed the CRV, RAV4 and Rogue. I owned a Honda for 10 yrs, my husband likes Toyota.I talked to people with Nissans and got good feedback. I LOVE my Rogue! I get 24.6 mpg. I love the heated seats. It is easy to maneuver in parking spaces and has great pick up on the highway. I tend to drive fast (75-80) and it doesnt shake or hesitate at that speed, runs smooth and relatively quiet. The Bose sound system is awesome. The only negative I have about the Rogue is the rear visibility. Its hard to see when backing up. The slant on the rear window, plus its small size makes it hard to see behind you. Im getting used to using the side mirrors. I recommend the Rogue!

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  What a great car. - 1997 Nissan Maxima
  By steveo - December 7 - 2:00 am

  If you are looking for a new 4 door sedan look no further than the Nissan Maxima. This is my third one and they really do not have any problems. Time will be the only thing that slows one down. Mileage, power, comfort, etc. its all there. I never get in my maxima and wonder if it is going to start.

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  nissan sentra - 2000 Nissan Sentra
  By Peter Kahora - December 7 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle served its purpose, it proveded transportation. The interior noise was quite high at highway speed. The seats were very hard and uncomfortable. The motor provided plenty of pickup and the transmission shifted smoothly. The car is gone now after being hit head on by a DUI driver. The car provided much protection to the driver. Significant front end damage with little interior distortion.

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  Sweeeet...however... - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By BrianP - December 7 - 2:00 am

  Very pleased over all, however, a few things left me a bit disapointed: 1) no standard fog lights on 2.5 ("fully loaded") SL model. 2) steering wheel mounted "convienience" controls are NOT illuminated 3) no spare change small storage compartment. My coins rattle all over the bigger compartments, and I have to use the map light to see the mounted controls.

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  Ive had the same problems - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By amber13131313 - December 6 - 11:40 pm

  The performance of the car is right up there is definitely fun to drive for sure. All in all I like my car if it come with all the fixing Ive had to do to it.I never had problems with it until it was crashed except for a battery dieing on my first day of work. after the insurance company paid $15,000 to fix yes that amount is right. about 4 months later I started having problems with it they never should have fixed it they should have totaled it out. It broke down at a light i got it started a few times to make it to the gas station across the street before it died again. I had it towed to nissan. i will continue on please read next review to find out more.

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  1998 Pathfinder - 1998 Nissan Pathfinder
  By rckuhlman - December 6 - 2:03 pm

  Excellent vehicle all around. This vehicle has been very reliable for my wife and I can see it lasting for many years to come. We did lose the rear differential ($800). Great in the snow. A very quiet ride. This truck seems new with over 100K on it.

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  Realistic expectaiton still to much to meet for this car - 2012 Nissan Versa
  By manycars1 - December 6 - 2:03 pm

  Just hit 68k and the CVT is shot. First thing to give me problems were the breaks at about 12k. From there is was heat shields on the exhaust to door seals. I bought this car to get back and forth to work (150mile round trip). All I expected was a affordable car to get me to and from work at the most reasonable cost. I purchased the Nissan after comparing it to my normally purchased vehicles and it was a better value, it actually exceeded in over all space in a real world comparison to Chevy and Ford. MPG avg is 37.1 but the 10.9 tank.....10 gal usable, keeps me at the gas station every 2 to 3 days. As of now it is dead in my driveway, will not move.