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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  Best SUV for my needs and Budget - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By autobuy - November 28 - 9:23 am

  I drove trucks and truck based SUVs for 16 yrs. because my business required towing trailers. I missed sporty car handling and mileage. I found a good handling, comfortable, efficent(for its size)utility wagon in the Murano. My 65" frame does not fit well in most cars but I am comfotable in the Murano with out a sunroof. The AWD works well in the sand when I launch my kayak from the beach. Handling on mountain roads is excellent. My wife and I love the room and comfort when traveling. We regulary take a 6 hr. trip with our 70 lb. dog and gear and the Murano is perfect for trips. On the road and seat comfort are tops. We actually fight about who gets to drive, That has never happened before.

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  A Real Good Truck - 2006 Nissan Titan
  By Brad - November 28 - 6:30 am

  After doing a lot of research on full size trucks, this is by far the best half ton out there. I am using this truck to pull a 7000 pound travel trailer and it does it with out a problem. The only problem i have had is the paint on the hood and roof have spot where the clear coat is cracked an nissan is going to repair them. I am getting about 17 mpg, and 12 mpg pulling.

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  Thanks for the warranty - 2006 Nissan Sentra
  By Ron - November 28 - 5:06 am

  Had car 2 months bought it used 24,700 mile now 29,634. Took it to the dealer, had trouble starting, they called head gasket, thanks for the warranty no cost, gets great mileage 35. Like the car, I hope it has no more problems, brake are noisy.

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  great car to own - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By Angel - November 28 - 12:26 am

  its the only car ive ever had that i get excited to drive to and from work every day.

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  Good Car - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By Harry.C.Sadler - November 27 - 10:20 pm

  Good car but Nissan has dropped the ball on their Quality control. Car had serious airbag defect upon delivery took almost 2 months to have it repaired. In the meantime, front end alignment was out. Dealer had to get specs from Nissan before they could repair. When it rains keep your windows closed while driving or youll getr a shower. Roof gutters allow rain to come in. And side vents arent available yet. TPMS seems to be the biggest problem with this vehicle. All else is good. Have been getting anywhere from 32-36 MPG driving w/9600+ miles on vehicle. Ride is good. Arm rest is too far to the rear and tiny. Just holds a small bag of peanuts.

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  16000 Miles So Far So Good - 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By Ed Foss - November 27 - 6:30 pm

  I commute 104 miles everyday, with lots of stop and go traffic. The Altima Hybrid has been a terrific commuter car, averaging 33 mpg for 16000 miles. The car is near luxury and near high performance. Not bad for a green hybrid! Some minor upgrades would make the car closer to a true luxury sedan, but the car wont ever be a high performance sedan. However, its still fun to drive, with very good steering and handling, with acceptable power.

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  Its a Little Bumpier than I had Hoped - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By BellmorePole - November 27 - 10:00 am

  The exterior of my 2003 Nissan Maxima GLE is an extremely sharp looking vehicle. All interior controls and dials are handy . The climate control fans are noisy until the internal cockpit reaches the set temperature. The front seating is roomy and the leather seats are very comfortable. The rear seats provide enough legroom for any passenger. Acceleration is excellent. It reaches 60 mph faster than promised. I did expect a ride that was smoother than I am experiencing to date from the GLE. The dealer felt that the tire pressure might be of fault but when checked for my 3 month checkup by Nissan it was determined to be the correct psi in all the tires.

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  Had to buy another GLE! - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By Jetguy - November 27 - 10:00 am

  Bought the car from a dealer about 1 hour away. Traded our 2000 GLE with 34k miles. This 03 did not disappoint. The ride was just as smooth as the 00. The added features, memory seats and 6 cd changer, were welcomed as standards. The extra 33HP make the car seem to relax more when accelerating.

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  SPEED, LUXURY, and all the goodies! - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By ATOice - November 27 - 10:00 am

  Youve got to be kidding me, LEXUS IS? Not even worth it. This bad boy would smoke all in its class. I looked at the Lexus IS 300, Maxima SE, and Acura 3.2 CL Type-S. Bang for the buck, Maxima is the way to go. I torched the tires in second gear going up an Hill at a 50 Degree angle and it ran as well as my Supercharged Integra. If it werent for love and kids, I would keep it, but instead, I am getting a sports car for me, and a family car for the family. Save yourself over 8 thousand dollars and get the Maxima, you will be doing yourself a favor. You will enjoy the interior (comfort), exterior (looks), and performance (Speed and handling).

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  A mix of beauty and a beast - 2003 Nissan Pathfinder
  By prabhat - November 27 - 10:00 am

  I bought this LE 4x4 sept 2002. It is a great suv. Everything is perfect, except the interior could have lil more spacious (just a little, not as bulky as Acura MDX. The leather seats are great (even the smell of it), sound system is superb, handling and driving is fun. The engine was quite quiet, but after 4weeks I noticed the it has become noisy and screams like a u-haul truck. Not sure if this is standard or I should take it to service...