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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  Its got it all - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By Tomp - April 3 - 10:00 am

  Really an amazing vehicle. Nissan gets it! The car has a great ride (love the CVT), every convenience built in, an awesome stereo, great styling, decent gas mileage for an SUV, very roomy, sunroof, AWD, better than average horsepower, and all at a reasonable price for what you get. Ive driven BMWs before this car. Why bother paying the extra $ unless status in your neighborhood means that much to you! The navigation system is pretty cool too.

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  Very Nice - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By B&L in Virginia - April 3 - 10:00 am

  Overall an outstanding mid-size car. 4 cylinder engine has excellent power. Handling is great - standard tires aweful. Upgrade and youll find a big benefit. Exterior is awesome. Interior provides excellent room(62"). A blast to drive and we drive the automatic!

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  2004 Nissan Maxima - Fun To Drive - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By ssdepetris - April 3 - 10:00 am

  The 2004 Maxima is an excellant compromise between fun-to-drive, performance, and usefulness. The Elite version has every possible feature I have ever wanted, from power folding side mirrors to an informative display screen that handles sound, climate and navigation issues. The 6-speed has excellent acceleration. And, finally, the 4-doors and large trunk means the car is still good for hauling people and things.

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  Inexpensive reliablility w/ personality - 2002 Nissan Xterra
  By DesignerX - April 2 - 3:50 pm

  I bought my 4x4 XE Xterra used in April 2002 w/13,000 miles on it, it had been a rental car. I now have over 90k miles and the truck is running solid, the engine and transmission feel tight and it still looks great. Ive hauled a 3500 lb trailer about 3k miles. I havent had a single problem with this truck. In my opinion the Xterra is the Civic of SUVs... its not the quickest or most swank but it holds its own especially for the price.

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  Pleased with the Titan - 2006 Nissan Titan
  By J CHASE - April 2 - 3:06 pm

  I did my background before buying. Im happy with the vehicle. Great power. I having better results with gas mileage that has been reported. Try synthetic oil, mobile1. I get 15.0 In town and 19.7 On the highway. This is with about 3600 miles on the truck. Quiet ride. I also have a fiber glass topper which helps with the mileage.

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  Good Value, Nice Features - 2006 Nissan Sentra
  By Steve - April 2 - 10:33 am

  Overall this is a great car. It was significantly cheaper than a Honda Civic and somewhat cheaper than the Toyota Corolla. Ive had it a while and it doesnt disappoint. My wife has a new Corolla, and although it gets better gas mileage than my Sentra, I dont think it has as much going for it. The car runs great, gets good gas mileage, and has a lot of nice features for a car that cost less than $14k. Only problems are some squeaks in the dash. Took it to the dealer twice who "never heard the squeak". Dealer experience purchasing it was good; service dept less than acceptable.

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  The Titan is the best! - 2007 Nissan Titan
  By yahmel - April 2 - 2:46 am

  I love the Titan, its is the most sylish, reliable, powerful truck (in its class)out there. The Ford F150, Dodge Ram, or Toyota Tundra do not have the presence of the Titan. It drives with ease, like a dream! I have to say the fuel economy is actually not as bad as I thought it was going to be. I would recommend this truck to anyone who is in the market for a full size truck.

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  Titan Rocks!!! - 2008 Nissan Titan
  By James - April 2 - 12:16 am

  Absolutely the best truck I have ever owned. I get a new one every few years and I have had all the other manufacturers. I have really enjoyed this truck. The only negative is that the gas mileage is not as good as the GM brands. Everything else is better by far.

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  AS PRACTICAL AS YOU CAN GET.... - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By weena09 - March 31 - 5:50 am

  We love the Rogue - very comfortable for longs drives, lots of leg room, large trunk space (great for pets, groceries and luggage). We definitely recommend a sunroof because it makes the interior feel more spacious. Great on gas, safe in snow/icey conditions, overall very reliable and practical crossover SUV! Cheaper to buy 1-2 years used then to lease new :)

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  Great car. Driving the future. - 2013 Nissan Leaf
  By dm3 - March 30 - 3:31 pm

  Comfortable, roomy all electric car. Amazing not using any gas. Havent used our other cars since we leased it. Overall pleasant car. Roomy, good visibility, handles pretty well, well built, generally well thought out. Compared to Volt, better visibility, seats 5 much better electric range, quick charge option to charge in 30 minutes. Good lease deals available. Factor in gas savings and the car is practically free.