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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  First Nissan Maxima - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By abbyaberlour - June 20 - 2:00 am

  I dont want to get out of it! I love almost everything about it! Previously owned a Toyota Celica. I think I will stay with Nissan. The Bose system is great. The power is amazing.

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  Good Car with some CONS. (Handling) - 2014 Nissan Altima
  By ibrahim_halawa - June 19 - 11:28 am

  I picked up base 2.5 altima 2014. Its a comfortable ride. I drove 5 hours straight and did not feel fatigue. However, the handling on it sucks. It is way too loose. Driving on the Highway/ Freeway with a bit of wind is a huge challenge and hard to steer. Almost got into a accident because of it. MUCH different from my 2008 model v6. I wish the handling was better, it would make it a better car. Otherwise, its fuel economy is pretty good. but Fill ups are 55-60 dollars. I also think that is a bit much. Car has good pick up, good braking and good design. When the warranty is up, I will lower it, and modify it to make it a better handling car just because I really like the way it looks.

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  Cons of the 2002 Frontier SE-V6 - 2002 Nissan Frontier
  By tjniemann - June 19 - 10:00 am

  Overall, this is a good vehicle, but I remember looking up reviews on Edmunds in April prior to purchasing my truck and one reviewer wrote in about the "clicking" noises in the front. I figured it was a fluke and wouldnt happen to me. Well, it did. I have "clicking" and occassional metallic "squeaking" noises in what seems to be the front suspension -- Primarily when im turning around a corner. Had it in twice and its still not fixed....

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  Great Car - 2001 Nissan Sentra
  By Kashif - June 17 - 9:06 am

  I bought this car at 70,000 miles and have had it for about a year now. So far it has not given me any problems at all. I get about 26 mpg, with a lot of city driving. The front brakes are starting to make a grinding noise now, and I am guessing that I will have to replace the rotors. It seems that this is a common problem with this car.

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  What a vehicle!!! - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By craig - June 16 - 1:13 am

  WOW!! We bought this for my wife to drive and this is our first SUV. She had a Bonneville with 225,000 miles on it so this was a change. We test drove everything and I mean EVERYTHING but decided on the Pathfinder. It was used but only had 2000 miles on it and we love it. Recently took it to Colorado for a ski trip and I was amazed at the power going up the mountains and we were loaded down with gear. It looks awesome and its a blast to drive. I might even get one for myself. One thing I absolutely DO NOT LIKE is the back cargo space. Its supposed to be "cleanable" but anything you put back there slides around. I have already had some things break cause they were sliding around.

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  A solid, reliable, used car. - 1997 Nissan Sentra
  By J.R. - June 15 - 12:43 pm

  Have had my 97 GXE for seven years, and it has been an excellent choice in a used car. Just under 100,000 miles on it, and it delivers a solid 27 MPG in mostly city traffic and needs very little maintenance. This is a commuter car, though, no doubt. The 1.6L engine and auto transmission are pretty well paired and give good power delivery. Seats in the 1997 models are lacking, particularly in lumbar support. Spirited driving is definitely not recommended, as youll quickly hit the limitations of a soft suspension and too-small brakes for the class. Still, if you can find a 95-99 with low miles that hasnt been flogged hard, its a good choice for a kids first car or a station car.

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  My pathfinder - 1998 Nissan Pathfinder
  By jacksonprinceis - June 15 - 10:00 am

  It been a fun car to drive and very stylish.

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  SE-REVS - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By Eightyateseven - June 15 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car used at 19000 miles and its at 24,000. I love the car, its fun to drive and it sets you apart from the civic crowd.

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  Sporty...lacks refinement for price - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By cedoman - June 15 - 10:00 am

  I love the car, the interior does contain a lot of plastic components, but truthfully what car doesnt. The pickup is indeed explosive. Gas milage: $30-35 to fill up the tank, (yeah pretty steep with the rising prices of gas) The "tin clank" of the trunk closing...this is where I have to come down on the car. The exterior shell of the car feels like a actual tin can. You can literally press down on the panels of the car and easily (really) dent it. This car can get banged up pretty well in such places such as parking lots and lite bumper bashes. That is where the paint comes in - chips very easily. Those two factors are my pet peeves of this car.

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  Very happy with my Purchase so far - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Pretty Happy! - June 14 - 10:26 am

  Im very happy with my purchase so far. I was looking for a car with luxury plus fuel economy. I have gotten that with my Altima 2.5SL. Surprisingly enough, the performance on the car is not bad and I hardly miss the Supercharged power of my GTP that I traded in.