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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  Great Truck - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By Jason - August 17 - 6:58 am

  I am the second owner for my 2005 Titan. I have owned the ruck for almost 7 years and have put the majority of the miles on it. To understand my perspective, I do all of my own maintenance and repairs on my vehicles, I perform all maintenance on schedule, for the most part, and do not have a lead foot when driving. Throughout my ownership I have only had to replace the front and rear brakes once each, However I am a fairly easy driver that does minimal towing so I do not stress my brakes. I have had no major mechanical issues or major repair expenses. Here is a list of what I have replaced or repaired over the course of 100,000 miles of ownership: -ECM Relay due to recall -EVAP Canister Purge valve at 150000 mile due to check engine light for P0455 code -Front and rear brakes once each due to wear -Starter to due issues where I had to turn the key a few times to get it to start. Starter is under intake manifold so it is a pain, but it only took me a few hours one evening to replace -Replaced tailgate latch due to broken clips -Replaced rear axle breather because they can become an issue and blow axle seals if clogged. Mine was rusty. -Regular maintenance items (spark plugs, filters, PCV valve, fluids) Rear parking brake shoes - One side started to delaminate and I heard a crunching sound in the rotor where the parking brake is. I am going to replace front shocks/struts due to one seeping fluid. So after 10 years and 157000 miles that is all that has gone wrong with my truck and it still drives as well as I can remember. The truck has plenty of power and drives smooth on the highway. I am really fond of the interior space, especially in the back seat. The ride can be a bit harsh and there are small rattles in the cab and body here an there, but it is a truck not a Cadillac. Overall I am very pleased with my purchase and plan on keeping this truck until it literally falls apart. In an effort to see what other trucks are like and if they are any better I have test driven and rented Chevys, Fords, and Dodges and I honestly cannot justify "upgrading" or changing trucks for what amount to a few mpg gas mileage increase and an upgrade in creature comforts (driver info, bluetooth, etc). $40,000 buys a lot of gas and repairs on my 10 year old truck. Overall I am very pleased with this truck. As with any car or truck, you get out of it what you put into it. If you take care of it it will last as long as you want it to.

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  Nissan Altima Review--an okay car - 2010 Nissan Altima
  By tmagman1 - August 17 - 6:33 am

  I really didnt have nor did I want to spend a great deal of money on a car. I test drove the Mazda 3 and the Hyundai Elantra. The Hyundia actually did pretty well. I decided to give the Altima a shot. It wasnt a bad ride, and a decent value for what you get. My biggest complaint is the horsepower. I believe 175 hp is low for a car this size. The new Hyundia Sonata offers a 198 hp engine and will give the Altima a run for its money. In my opinion the engine is relatively loud during acceleration. While cruising the engine is quiet, but during take off this engine is very loud.

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  A Satisfying Purchase - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By smlly - August 17 - 2:06 am

  At first, the CVT is weird. But after a while, I got used to it and start to have fun. Semi-auto is responsive. I used to have a Prelude. The only different btw these 2 is one has V6, the other 4 cylinder V-tech, take your pick. Rear-view camara is very useful (at least for my wife). Plenty of power. 3 inches more head room than Accord & Camry given that I have a "longer" torso and its more comfy in this than in those 2 cars. I chose this over IS 250 because of the big interior.

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  Bought it as a commuter. Exactly what it is. - 2014 Nissan Versa Note
  By Chesty Puller - August 16 - 4:52 pm

  So I bought this car as a commuter. Currently have 45,000 brutal miles on her. I drive 100 mile round trip to work over Donner Summit in the Sierra Nevadas of Northern California. (Ever heard of the Donner Party) Its a 5,000 foot elevation gain from my house to work. The car, during the very steep sections, noticeably struggles. About 4k rpms during the steep sections. Fuel economy suffers also while driving up the summit. But, lets be realistic. I spent $13,500 out the door for this car. For the price, I am more than happy with its performance. I hate it when people compare a $13k car to some other $30k+ car. Fuel economy. I average 35mpg average. I also drive 75-80mph up a 40 mile, 5,000 foot elevation gain. So gas mileage gets murdered on the way (20mpg) up but averages like 60mpg on the way back. This car has some space. I am amazed, when I lay down the seats, how much money I can blow at Home Depot and fit all the goodies in the woman car that I drive. Realiability. I change the oil every 4,000 miles. That it literally all I have done besides some fresh new tires. Never had a single problem. Ever. Snow: I chain up when there is mandatory chain control, but if I dont have to, the car gets around great with the continental true contact tires I bought. I have owned a couple Nissans before and they have always been reliable. I have been impressed with this car as it has a tough daily drive and has not given me a single problem.

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  Overall Good SUV - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By razzz00 - August 15 - 10:00 am

  Overall my initial impression of this vehicle is very good. I looked at the Toyota Highlander and Chevy TrailBlazer. As a past Super Chevy sportster it was hard not to go with the Chevy but the reliability concerned me. The highlander was a minivan dressed to look like a SUV. The Pathfinder was a true truck buy didnt ride or handle like one. I only have two issues at this point. First, there appears to be excessive play in the drive train. Second, the Bose stereo is underpowered and has disappointing sound quality. I am not a radio blaster but you need to hear the radio when your on the road with the windows down. The in dash 6 CD changer is nice.

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  Great choice for a fun family car! - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By sampson - August 15 - 10:00 am

  Although our experience is brief, (car purchased 8-31-02) we cant say enough about this car! The ride is so smooth, the interior very accomodating, and the extras are wonderful. Great trunk space for a stroller and the child safety options are great and up to date. The radio/cd player is more than adequate-we didnt opt for the Bose-and love the extra large cup holders.

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  Nissan Pathfinder - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By James - August 15 - 2:13 am

  This is a really nice vehicle. Style, gas milage, inside room. Too bad its directional stability (wandering) affects the driving of rhe vehicle. Violent shaking when hitting bumps and the rear suspension bottoms out. Ive had the rear leaf springs replaced by Nissan, but it did not improve the suspension. Nissan NA and their "lead" mechanics acknowledge that the wandering and shaking happen, but they say that is the characteristic of the vehicle. It is a safety concern that they are not addressing. Fix the steering and suspension and this is a delight vehicle to own.

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  New Owner - 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By Ralph - August 13 - 4:36 pm

  Very good driving experience so far;1800 miles, with one 600 mile road trip. Car has convenience package with electric driver seat, cloth interior (preferred over leather). Smooth, quiet ride, with easy and responsive handling. Size of car is comfortable for family of four on a short to medium trip, so far. MPG so far; low 29, high 34 mpg.

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  ALTERNATOR - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By bogey7 - August 12 - 10:00 am

  The alternator on our Murano was replaced by the dealer. The car had 10000 miles. I dont think ours was the 1st car to have this trouble. Sounds like a design problem with the alternators on the Muranos. Pretty scarey on a new car in this day and age.

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  04 Maxima - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By jackconly - August 12 - 10:00 am

  Weve owned a lot of cars over the years but, except for a clssic 1963 Lincoln Continental, weve never had a vehicle that turned so many heads. Strangers come up to us on the street and say, "What a beautiful car." Really amazing. The engine is quick and smooth, seating comfortable for long trips -- we take it down to Mexico in the winter -- the only drawbacks are the control center screen is a dust magnet, and theres some torque when you kick the acceleration. Wed definitely buy another when the next generation comes out. Ours is black with grey leather.