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 it! Now own 2! - 2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet
  By kix66radio - February 1 - 4:58 pm

  We bought our 2011 in July of 2012 and absolutely love it! We live in Anchorage Alaska where we normally have beautiful summers that are perfect for top down weather and cold winters. The convertible top on this car keeps out the cold weather in the winter plus the AWD is just what the doctor ordered for up here. A few times we would have the drivers window freeze and stick to the top if they had gotten wet. Other wise everthing else worked with no problems. We now own 2 of them, the 2011 is now mine and my wife has a new 2014 model!

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  The Best Car I have Owned! - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By carlos - February 1 - 10:30 am

  In Sept. 2004 I bought a 2005 Nissan Altima 3.5SE. Lthr SPrt Pkge, Satin White w/ Charcoal Lthr. 5-speed Manual. Really liked that car but could not handle a manual any longer. Traded it in with 7k miles in Feb 2005 for another 2005 3.5SE, this time however I got the Auto with Manual mode (wont be missing my 5spd) in Sheer Silver w/ Charcoal Lthr. I now also have a Navigation system (My White one didnt). I also added the chrome wheel exchange. I also got the side spoilers which make the car look much better. Ive owned a total of 4 Nissans: 01 Altima SE, 03 Maxima SE, 05 ALtima 3.5SE (Manual), 05 Altima 3.5SE (Auto). They have all been great cars with no problems. Highly Recommend Nissan!!

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  98 Pathfinder---What a find! - 1998 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Franko - February 1 - 10:00 am

  Bought this SUV from a dealer with 86k miles, but it looked like new and runs the same. A pleasure to drive, comfortable leather seats, and all the amenities on the SE are superb. Even my wife thinks this was a great buy, and she was against it at the beginning. I cant say enough about the quality of this vehicle and its bound to be around for several years!

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  MaxiMax - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By cotilla - February 1 - 10:00 am

  My second Maxima after my original 1981. This car gives me exactly what I need and expect, great performance, solid feel and superb reliability. I also own a popular German car and I would keep my Maxima if I had to make a choice. My wife would keep the Teuton, so everybodys happy. If I have it my way Ill be purchasing this car at the end of the lease; if not Ill be leaving a lot of money on the table.

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  This has been a very reliable car - 1997 Nissan Altima
  By Mark Edgbert - February 1 - 10:00 am

  I have had only minor problems through 100,000 miles. I have driven it, obviously many miles in the 4.5 years Ive owned it, and have had great success. It did have a few issues that were covered by the extended service contract I bought - something I highly recommend.

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  Im being realistic... - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By SgtBaxter - February 1 - 10:00 am

  I love this car, but the faults of it really annoy me. The engine is the best in the world, hands down. Im even getting around 27MPG, which is excellent. That said, the interior and build quality is really the weak point. For a $16,000 car, its right on the mark. For a $22,000+ car that the 3.5 SE is, its seriously lacking. I love the whole layout/style of the interior. Its just that the materials are cheap, and the fit and finish suck. The car is a BLAST to drive though. Great fun, and sexy as hell!

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  The Altimate Driving Machine - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By Altima3.5SE - February 1 - 7:20 am

  I have had my car for almost a week and i love driving it! It is a super sleek and sexy car with a transmission/engine/chassis design that no other car can match in its class! Very easy to drive and stable when the need for aggressive driving is needed. Very roomy and a nice sounding base sound system. This has to be the best bang for your buck in the mid size class category and it is better built than Camry and Accord.

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  It looks like a high performance car. - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By rambosky - February 1 - 5:10 am

  I was taken by the sporty looks of the coupe. I thought it looked better than the 350Z. I got the premium package which included leather seats, sun roof, alloy wheels and Bose sound system. It handles better than other sports cars Ive driven which cost $10K more. The shiftless CVT is awesome. Cant wait til I drive it again.

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  Superb Vehicle: Best on the market for the price. - 2014 Nissan Altima
  By Rosalind Arthur - February 1 - 5:06 am

  You will get your moneys worth. It has the best value of any car on the market in terms of price, features, reliability, comfort, etc. I vote it #1 in all categories.

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  tons of fun - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By 2005 nissan 350z - February 1 - 2:33 am

  I love the bright yellow color. Acceleration great. I like all the stainless steel accents. It is fun to drive. I enjoy the Navigation system. Bose sound system great!!! I wish it had a better console for drinks. It has 1 flimsy plastic holder. Overall I love the car!! The cost of insurance is high, but worth it. I am happy with my purchase.