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 my Army... - 2005 Nissan Armada
  By Ayespye - July 10 - 8:10 pm

  Ive only had this beast for 2 months but its perhaps the best ride Ive ever owned. I got rid of my Volvo S80 in favor of the Armada...and the difference is astounding. The ride in my Armada is soooo much smoother, I was surprised. The room in the back seat is PHENOMENAL! The raw power at any speed over 15mph is a fun kick in the rear. Ive had it over 90 a couple of times and have never noticed the before mentioned "shake" in the steering wheel. Im not looking forward to replacing the tires when the day comes either.

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  Collision result - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By rcdc - July 9 - 4:33 pm

  We hit a deer at 70MPH with our 2009 Murano. Both airbags went off. If I would not have had my foot on the dash (bad habit of mine) we would not have had any injuries. However the airbag broke my ankle in two places, leg and toe. We feel safe in our Murano - will never put feet on dash again. We love all our features, nav system, heated seats, Bose radio, etc but when it comes right down to the basics - buy this car for the safety rating. We are glad we did.

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  Heinous Ride - 2007 Nissan Murano
  By chasr - July 8 - 12:13 pm

  Very distinctive styling led me to the Murano. Great gas mileage due to the CVT. Horrible ride for a vehicle in this class. Noisy and VERY harsh on even the slightest bumps.

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  my sentra - 1999 Nissan Sentra
  By JenB - July 8 - 10:00 am

  Its a good car for what it is. It was fairly inexpensive, reliable and gets good gas milage.

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  mostly a great car - 1999 Nissan Maxima
  By topper30 - July 8 - 10:00 am

  I bought this because I got a good deal on it. It has been a great car overall. I have had only a few problems that seem to be common for this car. I had the Oxygen sensor go out at 40,000 mi., tires prematurely needing replaced at 25,000 mi., and my cd player is dead. Not bad compared to most cars. I just got spoiled with my Toyota that I had previously.

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  junk 95 Maxima - 1995 Nissan Maxima
  By kris36 - July 5 - 11:26 pm

  After only 2 months owning this car, Ive never been so disappointed. With only 139,000 miles (not even broken in for a Maxima- or so I thought) and already internal motor work needed??!!!!! Youve GOT to be kidding, Nissan!! Its running on 5 cylinders and a very uncomfortable ride. Has bad valves! Still does have power left, but at idle, its rough. Stumbling and bucking upon slow acceleration and slow braking. Im VERY leery about purchasing another. ANY year. Im told the engines are smooth as silk from 95- 2001. With a used one, $3000. New/rebuilt-$5000. This problem is unacceptable! Now Im starting to doubt the build quality of Nissans. Get with the program, Nissan!

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  Delivered Broken - 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
  By smain - July 5 - 1:20 am

  Front air bag system not working 5 days in shop waiting for parts Rear seat heaters not working- missed during PDI Process Not a good start.

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  Good Value car - 2006 Nissan 350Z
  By Vick - July 4 - 2:30 am

  i get my Z two days ago. the performance is good. the interesting thing is, u will feel the true power when u shift to second gear. However, the interior shows a little disappointment and the luggage room is soooo small....i dont think U can pick up someone in airport with this car if the luggage is big. the shift gear seems little bit hard for me and the clutch seems too loose, it is unusual for performance. overall, its performance and appearance can cover most of the cons. the price is also reasonable for this car

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  What new car - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By Notsohappy - July 3 - 10:00 am

  I was back in for service 5 days after having the vehicle delivered. I have made 6 trips to the service department to either have the car evaluated, service performed or part not available. This is 6 trips inside the first 3,000 miles. I still have strings hanging in the rear seat and parts of the buckles are covered in plastic that was not properly removed at the dealership. I dont believe that I would buy the Maxima again.

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  2008 Nissan Xterra - 2008 Nissan Xterra
  By Xtrapol8 - July 2 - 7:16 am

  I am completely satisfied. I can happily go canoeing virtually anywhere. X and I can return afterward to my wife and 2 small children and life is still great and still fully enabled. Make yourself a mat for the back (<$20). The Xterras solid build quality, go-anywhere capability, versatile nature, and aggressive looks make it a must-drive if youre in the market. This vehicle is what it purports to be - a means to an end... any end I choose.