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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  xterra rating - 2001 Nissan Xterra
  By williav - August 7 - 10:00 am

  I like the vehicle very much, Easy to handle and drive, just as good as other mid-size suvs

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  THIS CAR NEEDS HELP - 2009 Nissan Maxima
  By RAG - August 5 - 3:00 pm

  the car looks great, perhaps the reason I went for it, but it handles like crap. it consistently pulls (drifts to the right) and the dealer has tried, but has been able to do nothing to fix it. I must fight the car to stay straight and I am calling an attorney to do my best to get out of this car. The dealer is very receptive, but will not make any concessions. for a $35k car, it is NOT worth it!

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  Buy this SUV - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By Pat - August 4 - 9:33 pm

  This is my 2nd Xterra. First one was 2wheel drive, this one is 4 wheel drive. Looks like major changes to exterior of the 2005 models. I dont know about them, but I have been very happy with my 2003 and 2004. Its supposed to be marketed to kids but Im 50 and lovin it. Dont be afraid to buy this SUV. Its just as sexy as a Toyota and more dependable than a Chevy, and $5000 less than either one. Shop at the last of the month and add factory incentives, you could bring one of these 4X4s home for around $21000. I did.

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  My Favorite Car So Far! - 2001 Nissan Altima
  By TechPete - August 2 - 2:00 am

  Bought my 2001 Altima GXE Ltd Ed 12/01 w/ 2122 miles. Saw it on internet, test drove it, and instantly loved it. Car has good excel from stop and in traffic. Handles well except for sharp corners. Normal braking good. Hard braking and wet weather conditions rear swings out. Fuel economy is to spec. Road noise is min with windows up, loud with windows down (>45mph). Car handles fine at speed <95mph. Noticeable aero lift >110mph. Engine loud under hard excel. At 511" no trouble using radio. People <53" may have difficulty. Visibility is good. Only problems with power windows. Recall recently issued in hot weather climates.

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  Puts the "Sport" back in SUV - 2001 Nissan Pathfinder
  By spyderman4774 - August 2 - 2:00 am

  I traded in a Spyder GS-T in for the Pathfinder in hopes of getting something more practical. The Pathfinder definately is more practical and the performance is outstanding! I dont have OEM tires, but the ones that the Pathy came with grip pretty good in high-speed cornering. Also there isnt too much lean in turns. A great truck for those wanting more than just something to haul with.

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  OK - 2004 Nissan Frontier
  By parangaricutirimicua - August 2 - 2:00 am

  No too bad for me because no one knows when I cannot write because no one know a word in Dutch

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  My First Nissan - 2016 Nissan Sentra
  By Gabriel Welch - July 31 - 10:03 am

  My boyfriend and I decided to lease a 2016 Nissan Sentra SL after our Volvo left us stranded a couple of times. The price was right at $210/month with a 36,000 mile lease. The car has a sporty look to it and is definitely an eye catcher. It stands out from other compact sedans in its class in my opinion. The cars performance is pretty great too. The acceleration could be a little better but I guess thats the sacrifice you make to get 30+ miles per gallon. The handling and braking are phenomenal. Speaking of braking, did I mention the car stops itself? The safety features on this thing are insane! The intelligent cruise control and frontal collision detection have saved me from an accident on more than one occasion. The back up camera and blind spot monitors are also quite helpful. The Sentras audio system is amazing. Ours came standard with Bose speakers and bluetooth. I think our Sentra has a better quality audio system than my relatives brand new BMW! We have already put 3,000 miles on our Sentra and have experienced absolutely no problems. This car is unstoppable! And that is a hard thing to say about a car when you live in a place like Vermont where the harsh winters are enough to stop a 4WD SUV. We might even buy it out at the end of our lease.

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  Great choice - 2002 Nissan Xterra
  By XterraOwner - July 31 - 10:00 am

  I bought this vehicule several months ago and have been extremely happy with it so far. Before the purchase I spent about 3 months doing some pretty extensive shopping around. In the end, I bought it for several reasons: A high reliability rating by consumers and magazines alike, its ability to tow heavy loads, its flexibility in use (large cargo area and seating area, and because I found it to be one of the nicer looking mini SUVs on the market.) I get constant positive feedback on its looks, ride (despite it is based on a truck platform) and flexibility of use.

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  Great, Fun, Compact truck. - 2004 Nissan Frontier
  By bqd - July 30 - 2:20 am

  I have the basic 4-cylinder king cab XE. Its fun to drive and the creature comforts are pretty decent. Although the interior design and material have a cheap plastic feel to them, espcecially the knobs for the AC/Heater. Great truck for the price. The four cyclinder version is a little weak and takes awhile to get to highway speeds.

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  reliable family vehicle - 2001 Nissan Quest
  By Tallahasse Family - July 29 - 2:06 pm

  Very reliable, only problem was VCR & it was under warranty. Very comfortable on long trips, video and lots of power outlets for kids stuff is great. 19 mpg in town.