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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  Love My Maxima - 2001 Nissan Maxima
  By carolinagirl7 - December 1 - 6:20 am

  Bought my 2001 Nissan Maxima in Dec 2003 and it has been a great car! Love the way it handles. Its roomy and very comfortable. It now has 194k miles and still going strong. Only regular maintenance done over the 10 years Ive owned the car. When I sell this one, I hope to get another Maxima.

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  20th Anniversary Edition Maxima - 2001 Nissan Maxima
  By Brooklynborn - December 1 - 4:16 am

  This is my 4th Maxima and I absolutely love this car. Ive had it 4 and a half years now. The car rides smooth and quiet. It has a strong 227 Hp engine, the same one found in the 2001 Infinity I30. 4900 miles on it and still performs like new. No problems to report. All Ive done to this car is replaced the tires when needed. The reliability of this car is excellent. This is exactly why I buy Maximas and nothing else, its the best car for the money. Im about to buy a 2006 Maxima. Ive received many great offers on my car to sell.

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  05 Frontier CC SE 6spd V6 - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By rangermang - December 1 - 4:13 am

  I researched and researched this truck as well as others, and I will have to say it was an easy choice. Cheaper, and more unique than the other trucks out there, and a very smooth ride all around. Also, it is basically a sports car in a truck body. The gears catch very quickly, almost a short throw sometimes! And, averaging 16.5 mpg strictly town is not bad for the size of this thing. Best choice ive made yet!

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  My 175 HP Baby - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By Aaron - December 1 - 2:06 am

  So Far the only probs in having is finding aftermarket parts that really fit. got a b&m shifter and had to make some mods to get it to fit. Also got a piggy back computer from Stillen and could not get it to work right, but they helped me with everything and gave me a refund for the chip. the car has alot of power to spare. if you like to play on the streets then this car is for you.

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  Hate the car - 2007 Nissan Maxima
  By thezman - November 30 - 11:00 pm

  the new transmission is the worse. brakes will not stop safely. wind and road noise is horrible. very unstable on highway, sways as though the rear will meet the front never got more than 18 mpg if i owned 30 cars, which is low, i would rank this 28 as the best

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  Most enjoyable car Ive owned - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By Roberto - November 30 - 5:40 pm

  Great car and a great value! Sometimes on the weekend, Ill just take it out motoring with no particular destination. The only other car I do this with is my 1970 AMX.

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  Nissan Altima Sedan 2.5S - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By lezna - November 30 - 6:30 am

  This is the first Nissan I own. A great car. Handles excellent and is very good on gas, 4 cylinder model. The fit and finish is also excellent. The driver seat is good but could use some better support. Plenty of back seat room for the kids. Very fast acceleration. Could hardly believe that its a 4 cyl. Braking is very good as well.

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  AWSOME!! - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Mike & Jackie - November 30 - 3:30 am

  Got the SL package after checking out the others in the lot. No comparison. The acceleration is unbelievable, and the interior (though we werent looking at leather at the time) is nice and comfortable-the grab handles are a must w/ the 3.5! Lots of bang for the buck. 0-80 happens before you have a chance to say "whew!- did you see that?" Very,very nice. Had the rear spoiler added at the deal,so no extra charge, which adds to the appearance of the nice lines this car already had. Oh- 4 wheel disc (ABS) comes in handy with this second-in- line four door sports car (behind the Max,of course...)

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  Pro-X - 2011 Nissan Frontier
  By 604doc - November 29 - 10:30 pm

  I needed/wanted a smallish pickup, and had it narrowed down to this, and the Honda Ridgeline. After driving it, and considering the $3,000 rebate, I went with the Frontier. There seems to be plenty of power, and it rides very well, absorbing bumps quietly. The turning radius is a bit wide, but Im coming from a VW, so I think its just a matter of getting used to it. The seats are very comfortable, with the drivers seat having 8 way adjustment, and lumbar support. Mileage is a bit low, averaging 14.7 around town, but I expect it to improve as it breaks in.

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  Best Car Ive Owned - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By SoonToBeME - November 29 - 3:53 pm

  My car has 191,000 miles and shes still purring. Most reliable car Ive ever owned. I am astounded at the people on here who spent $600-$700 dollars on ignition coils. Yes, four of mine have been replaced, but its as simple as a couple screws and a plug. I got mine for $50/ea. and installed them myself. Im no mechanic. Ill drive this car till the engine dies, and honestly I dont see that happening for a long time. Great car, and if youre here youre thinking of buying one. My suggestion is absolutely do it... youll never regret it.