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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  A Good Choice - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By LesMan - October 10 - 1:40 pm

  Ive owned the Rogue for over a month and and am very happy so far. My choice was down to the Rogue vs. the new Honda CRV. While its hard to find anything wrong with the CRV, I was able to get the fully-loaded AWD Rogue for several thousand cheaper than a similar CRV. Also with Honda you have to add things like fog lights, compass mirror and roof rack after purchase, which is a hassle. This SUV is fun to drive, has good power and lots of cool features that come with the SL AWD. It takes a while to get used to the CVT and the engine is a bit noisy accelerating up hills, but otherwise smooth. The Bose sound system is a must - one of the cleanest sounds Ive heard in a car.

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  Great SUV; bad radiator design - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By PathMan - October 10 - 1:10 pm

  Ive loved my PathFinder since I got it. However, Im very upset that just as my warranty has expired I am discovering the issue of the radiator putting coolant into the transmission. This should be a recall in my opinion. If you own one, take the car to the dealer while its still under warranty and have a transmission flush and check if it needs a new radiator.

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  Nissan Sentra 2003 GXE - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By epjohnso - October 8 - 10:00 am

  Ive put 9000 miles so far in the first 3 months(expected). I have one problem where the engine idled rough, and was hard to start, and the "Service Engine Soon" light came on. I scheduled an appoint to take to dealer, but the light went off by the time I did, and service dept. didnt find a problem - been fine since then. I bought this car for the fuel economy. The sticker had 29Cty and 35Hiwy, but only 31.5 to 32 MPG. However, it has increased steadily from 28 to now at 32.+. Maybe by 6 months I might hit the 34-35 mpg range? Overall, it appears to be a solid, well built little car.

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  New Pathfinder Owner - First Impressions - 2003 Nissan Pathfinder
  By NH William - October 8 - 10:00 am

  Since the deals are so good out there right now, I looked into buying a new SUV to replace my 1996 Ford Explorer. I test drove the Highlander, Explorer, Tribute, 4 Runner and Xterra before deciding on the 2003 Pathfinder. This vehicle isnt perfect, but its a very nice combination of reliability, price, styling, handling and features. It rode better than any vehicle except perhaps the Highlander, but I found it more comfortable (no captains chairs arms) and with many more small nice features such as lighted vanity mirrors, fog lights, compass and opening rear window. My model is loaded, mainly due to the Nissan packages required to get side airbags.

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  To the Max - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Lenny B - October 8 - 10:00 am

  After five years in a Volvo, its a true pleasure to be back in a Maxima. Everywhere I go someone is looking at and complementing this car. I continue to be suprised at the available performance when I need to use the accelerator. After driving the SE model and the Infinity G35 sedan I selected the SL for its quietluxurious ride and standard features. With the 320 w Bose audio system playing my favorite CD I become lost in the spacious cabin and the idea of "Road Rage" is a thing of the past. Several switches located on the dash and in the center console could be relocated to allow the operator to see them.

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  LUV MY VERSA - 2012 Nissan Versa
  By luvmyversa - October 8 - 5:58 am

  This car should be a "top ten pick" for an entry level car. My 2012 Versa Hatchback is a "bang for the buck" with CVT (smooth shifting), Bluetooth & Navigation, 16" wheels, ample trunk space w/fold down seats. Thus far, I recorded 28-29+ mph. I do a moderate amount of around town driving. It has ample pickup & power on freeway. Seat height makes getting in and out easy. Cons - rt knee patella can hit drver side dash (however, my 5 10" husband is fine w it) - passenger dash is lower decreasing vertical leg room. A happy ex-Murano owner (Nissan makes good cars) I have no regrets buying this car (almost bought an Outback Subaru). Bought 2010 Versa Sedan for my 86 yr old Auntie. She loves it!

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  Excellent car, great engine update - 2007 Nissan 350Z
  By ribeirod - October 7 - 12:20 am

  Motor a lot faster then my 2003, fun to drive, seat quality is a little poor but still a lot of fun on the twisties... great on the track and everyday driving.

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  Whipper Snapper of a car! - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By kpofsobos - October 6 - 9:37 pm

  I traded in my 2007 Rav4 Sport in early September for the Juke. I live in the city, and needed a smaller car to increase the likelihood of finding street parking. I chose this vehicle because it was a crossover, had AWD, and was small. Ive tried unleaded, mid, and now Im on premium gas. My consensus: the better the gas the better the MPG. Maybe its mental, but I feel like the car rides better/smoother with premium as well. Seats are comfortable, interior feels really spacious, and I dont feel as though the backseat is too tight or that head room is a problem. When I jump on the highway I just zoom along and when I look down a few seconds later- BOOM! Im going 80 mph. No armrest=bummer.

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  XE V6 crew cab - 2003 Nissan Frontier
  By jefpay - October 2 - 10:00 am

  My 2003 Crew Cab, XEV6 is my 6th Nissan truck since 1986. I have owned virtually all the body style and both the 4 cyl and 6 cyl engine..The mechanical reliabilty is unmatched. The only problems I have encounters are water pumps and AC failures. While it is underpowered it still remains at the top of my list!!!

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  Great car - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By cook - October 2 - 10:00 am

  I have had a Lexus 300 and ML 320,and I like this car very much. The CVT transmission is excellent. No up or down shifts when on mountain roads. Good leg room in the back seat. Plenty of power with good gas milage. 20 to 23 miles per. Good head lights. Smooth ride and nice style. So far I am quite happy with the car/suv