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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  Drift Issues - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By Strick - November 6 - 10:30 am

  Ive written one review already after owning the car for a couple days. Its now been 2 months. I have to say overall not a bad car but having driven it 2000 miles now I am concerned about drift. Even with no winds the car tends to drift especially at higher speeds (65 plus). And the drift is sudden left or sudden right. Sometimes it can be quiet alarming. Ive never owned another car that did this. Could be just mine. Going to the dealer next week to get suspension and steering looked at but be careful and pay attention to the test drive before buying and if you already bought like me then pay attention and get it looked at if needed

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  07 Versa - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By DNClark - November 4 - 10:06 pm

  Only 2 complaints. Car has no pickup when using the AC, and the shift from 1st to 2nd feels like a manual tranny even though its an automatic. Other than that its a great car.

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  Very Good Van W/few problems - 1999 Nissan Quest
  By Quest owner - November 4 - 9:16 am

  This has been a very good van for our family for the past seven years. It has been very reliable and a pleasure to drive. The fuel injection system does require cleaning every 30K miles or the pedal will "stick". The interior features have much to be desired, the cupholders, TV/VCR,and seat handles, side vent window latches, are not of good quality. The display of the radio has faded out for a couple of years now, the radio still works however. We are beginning to experience some electrical problems with the power vent windows, turn signal, and window/door lock controls. Overall we have been very pleased with the van and with 84K miles some repairs are to be expected.

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  Loved it! - 1997 Nissan Pathfinder
  By prodigy1 - November 4 - 6:40 am

  I bought my pathfinder used for $3500 and it had 160k miles on it. It was the base model with a/c and a Manuel trans. It was rough around the edges but the interior had held up amazingly. Everything on the inside looked in mint condition. The a/c still worked great. The 4wd was amazing and functioned perfectly. I was rough on this truck but it never gave me any issues. Fitted a snorkel to it and hurricane season was no problem for me. It would go through anything! Overall a great truck. It was reliable and durable. I handed it down to my sister and she killed it by way of not changing the oil. It had 221k miles.

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  Fun to Drive!!! - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Paul499 - November 3 - 2:03 pm

  I bought this car after doing tons of research for 3 months. I found a great deal and I have not been disappointed. This car is so fun to drive. The 6 spd manual is quick and sharp, and the power is endless. Mash the gas at 60 mph and watch the world turn blurry. Interior is spacious and comfortable, and the exterior styling turns heads, especially mine. Im very happy with my purchase, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants the size of a sedan, the speed and handling of a sports car, and the technology of a BMW.

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  Super comfortable! - 1998 Nissan Maxima
  By jwhizzz - November 2 - 3:58 am

  Ive had a lot of cars, and this was by far the most comfortable vehicle Ive ever had. I was the third owner and at 136K miles, it was totaled after being t-boned but still drives great (wow!). I had a problem with my airbag light flashing, but didnt worry about it. Smoothest ride EVER - great for road trips, and fine in my old neighborhood with street dips. No little annoyances like in so many other vehicles. Keep up with maintenance, and youll be so happy with this car. Highly recommend.

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  Nifty car with many luxury features one weakness - 2009 Nissan Versa
  By Randolph Selig - November 1 - 3:39 pm

  If the fuel pump has not already been replaced, it may have to be. Its an expensive job. This is a known vice in this model yet Nissan has not issued a TSB. Another frequent repair is the muffler or precisely the muffler flange. It will rust, requiring a new muffler be installed. That aside, this is a great small car: well designed with plenty of interior space, comfortable back seat, good brakes (though there is no abs) and steering, smooth shifting 4-speed automatic trans, adequate power and pickup though the smooth idling engine gets noisy under hard acceleration. It runs just fine on regular unleaded fuel. The ride is about average for a shortish wheelbase car. Unfortunately there are only warning lights for engine temperature and amps. The sharply sloping hood is hard to see the end of nor can a driver of average height see where the car ends in the rear, both of which can complicate parking. It always appears you are closer to the car in front than you actually are. The model I purchased has power windows and door locks and a keyless entry though to start the car the coded key is needed.

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  great drive/poor gas mileage - 1999 Nissan Pathfinder
  By smartymarty - November 1 - 2:00 am

  suv is solid,tight after 150k miles.drives as new.mileage is 16 no matter how fast or where I go. It pulls my 20 cobia boat adaquately. It needs more horsepower.

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  a good compromise - 1999 Nissan Maxima
  By skippys - November 1 - 2:00 am

  Good compromises: its spirited yet soft and peppy yet docile. Backseat and trunk more useable than some of its competitors. Engine pulls hard and sounds good throughout most of its range although top end thrust is lacking. Auto has a hard 1-2 shift when cold. I found the steering wheel more comfortable/responsive than others. Interior looks great although there are a couple of rattles/squeaks (easily fixable, but still). Overall Im pleased and wouldnt be considerably happier (for what I was willing to spend) without two different cars. It can either comfortably haul around four people or I can play.

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  Best Bang For The Buck..And Then Some! - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By Josh Smith - November 1 - 2:00 am

  I just bought this car about a week ago, and all I have to say is "Where have you been all my life". I have owned many sports cars from 300zxs to Mustangs. This by far is the most fun to drive car I have ever driven! I would recommend this vehicle to anyone looking for heart stopping fun from idle to redline....and beyond.