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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  Good car, could be better - 2013 Nissan Maxima
  By cdub4 - August 11 - 7:42 am

  Purchased in April. Now have 10,000 miles on it. Overall very happy, something I wouldnt have said two weeks after purchasing, but time and service departments can heal all wounds. Within a week of purchase the steering wheel controls all died. It was thought that it was a fuse but needed a new cable system. Since replacement it has worked fine. Two weeks after taking possession when shutting the car off it went into On mode and drained the battery. Another 25 mile trip to the dealer only to be lectured on how to turn the car on/off properly. This is our 3rd Nissan, we know how to turn it off. It has shot into the On mode since but we are careful to watch for it.

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  Good vehicle, a few disappointing SL features - 2014 Nissan Rogue
  By edub007 - August 10 - 9:13 pm

  The Rogue is a good vehicle, just a few disappointments in expensive features. It has comfortable leather seats and roomy interior. Rear seat has dedicated vents, slides forward/back, and reclines; comfortable for adults. In general, the CVT offers a smooth, comfortable ride. Unfortunately, The Lane departure warning generally doesnÂ’t work and Frontal collision warning will go off when driving curvy roads. The Blind Spot Monitor sees ghost cars. I havenÂ’t gotten better than 23mpg (40% highway) but was told it takes 3K miles before the engine reaches peak performance. The engine is noticeably loud and bothers me more than I thought it would but hopefully that will get better.

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  New Rogue Owner - 2011 Nissan Rogue
  By rogueman41 - August 8 - 4:09 pm

  At the 500 mile mark, Im happy to report Im enjoying it so far. Comfortable ride for the most part....may be harsh for some. You do hear most imperfections in the roads and its kind of noisy on wet pavement. Decent acceleration. Sharp handling with speed sensitive steering. Easy to maneuver and move in and out of traffic. CVT is cool, but takes some getting used to. SL Package added a lot of great features, although the Nav system data is way out of date. Intelligent key is cool, but beware if Nissan installs an aftermarket remote car starter for you. The engine will shut off if you open the doors after starting with remote starter.

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  Z has a rumble of its own - 2006 Nissan 350Z
  By dinola - August 8 - 6:43 am

  What a car. The car turns heads. The convertible top is well hidden when down. The rumble of this car is very distinct. Its a fun car to drive and its styling is all its own. The 2006 model has improved the suspension and the interior. Because of its low profile you need to be careful on roads with potholes.

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  Great Little Compact - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By Erin in Indy - August 7 - 8:13 pm

  I bought this car new in 2004. I was downgrading quite a bit, so it took some time to get used to it. But other than my snobbishness to it originally, its been a great little car. I have over 100K miles on it, have driven it from IN to TX and to FL a couple times, plus a 60 mile commute for work everyday. Ive had very little trouble with it mechanically. Had an engine issue a couple yrs after I bought it, but that was covered under my warranty. Otherwise only normal things like new tires and brakes. Its been comfortable on long road trips. I wouldnt want to sit in the back for very long but then I again, I dont have to. :)

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  Awesome Van - 2006 Nissan Quest
  By mrsv - August 7 - 3:03 pm

  Sold my 05 Altima and bought the 06 Quest at a BARGAIN and love it. My family is growing and we needed more room and comfort, and thats exactly what we got. My husband had the front windows and windshield tinted and that really made a difference on the interior "glare" that I have heard some complain about. The center mounted gauges take some getting used to but overall no complaints. Dual sliding doors and power lift gate are wonderful. DVD player is excellent and fun to have. I have read many unfavorable reviews but I have had no problems and I LOVE IT.

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  Id do it again! - 2001 Nissan Frontier
  By critch - August 6 - 10:00 am

  The truck has run without issue for 3 years. No maintenance other than wear and tear. Nissan has been great covering any recall issues and has gone above and beyond by replacing a window motor ($400) free with the window regulator recall. Kudos to Nissan. Ive 4 wheeled in snow, mud, and sand, and its performed very well. Ive gained a high level of confidence in the 4 wheel drive capabilities of this vehicle. SuperCharger makes it fun to drive but the downside is fuel consumption. Getting expensive these days.

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  quadcamperformance - 2001 Nissan Maxima
  By eriktucker - August 6 - 10:00 am

  I have a Nissan Maxima 2001 SE 5 speed black on black, with a few up grades such as stillen intake, crank pullies, stillen exhaust, progess springs, akebono brakes, stillen strut bars, and advanced timming. I had it up to 152mph at 6100 rpms and it wanted more. I had before this car an Acura Legend 5 speed. I also had a 1990 BMW 525 I automatic. I like the Nissan Maxima by far.

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  Cup holders? - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By mikek - August 6 - 10:00 am

  I bought the car from my dad, who purchased it new. Its got a nice ride, but a bit light feeling in rain. I did have to replace the "cam sensor" 2 weeks after taking it home. It simply stalled on the way to dinner. A tow, and $198.00 later it was running fine. I really enjoy the exterior the most. The interior is a bit cheap.. but its not a $30K pricetag.

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  Dont Believe Gas Mileage Ratings - 2006 Nissan Murano
  By Ginger - August 6 - 4:13 am

  When we purchased the our 2006 Nissan Murano, one of our major considerations was gas mileage. We were impressed with the manufacturers ratings of 19 city and 24 highway. Well, we have driven our Murano for 5000 miles, changed the oil at 3000 and the best mileage we have gotten on a trip (using cruise control whenever possible) was 17. Around town we are only getting 13-14! I took it back to the dealership today and they told me there is nothing wrong with it-that cars can vary, the ratings are just an estimate, and everyone doesnt get that mileage. I dont feel I drive excessively fast and dont do quick starts or stops, so I just dont understand. Dont trust the mileage Nissan claims!