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:

• 

  Been a great one for me - 2000 Nissan Quest
  By kad - June 13 - 10:00 am

  This mini van has been excellant for us. Bought brand spanking new in 2000 and have about 55K on it now. It is fully loaded and everything still works. Have only done regular maintenance. Gas mileage might could be better. I have had a blast driving it. Ultimate "MOM" mobile. Removable middle seat captain chairs with a rear seat that can be moved right up in front to haul lots of stuff.

• 

  Original Owner - 2001 Nissan Frontier
  By LM - June 12 - 6:10 pm

  I bought this truck new and I still really love it. I do NOT like the gas mileage, but it is not a daily driver anymore. I have some problems now and Im getting ready to fix them: Fuel pump recall, cracked exhaust manifold, either tie rod or some other part has gone bad to cause the front end to shake. I do enjoy driving it - it is fun! I know you can get a newer truck with better mileage and more modern features but - I like the body style and I do not see too many SCs around. Its irritating to have to use 93 octane - at $4 a gallon!! I will do some mods to get a little more power out this summer.

• 

  review of 1996 nissan maxima - 1996 Nissan Maxima
  By sputnik - June 10 - 10:00 am

  excellent car in town; lacks comfort on long drive; is a complicated auto; still dont know how security system work!! embarassing when horn starts blowing! is quick to start; low gear ratio, very good; gas mileage so so; about 20 mpg.

• 

  This Car Will Always Be Golden - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By SuperMax - June 10 - 10:00 am

  This car has never been better. Nice quiet ride with very aggressive and responsive pulls at hard acceleration. Its a 2005 so it doesnt have too many bugs, but thats yet to be witnessed. An overall good value.

• 

  The Titan is the new King - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By Miguel - June 10 - 1:00 am

  Excellant truck! Since this was my first pick-up truck purchase I drove several before driving the Nissan. I drove the Silverado and it was nice. It was all that I had expected of a truck. I also drove the Ford and Toyota. Of those three the Toyota drove the nicest but it didnt have the size for my growing family or the power of the other trucks. I drove the Nissan Titan last not really expecting much more then the others. I was shocked! The Titan not only drove wonderfully but it had so much power! Not to put the other trucks down but the Nissan was definitely the truck to own and to drive.

• 

  Fantastic little thing. - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By Carolina - June 9 - 9:53 am

  I was in need of a car and didnt put much thought into what I wanted. But what a good choice I made. I do mostly highway driving and get about 400 miles to the tank. I like the shifter being elevated. It is not a family car nor made for tall people. I am neither. The exterior is sharp. I work for a highline dealership and all my techs suggested this model. Its only been a few months but with Nissans reputation I do not expect any major issues.

• 

  ceiling pannel to noisy/unstable - 2005 Nissan Armada
  By nth2004 - June 8 - 4:26 pm

  Its awesome to drive this new vehicle but it drives the whole family crazy of the noise from the ceiling pannel.Service Dept. tried to fix for many times/days for them to hold our truck to staighten the problem but made it worsth.Its a nightmare to be in the service allthe time.I feel like an employee or technician in this dealership till this time.

• 

  Engine Noise - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By segundo1 - June 8 - 4:03 pm

  When I purchased my 2013 Altima in October 2013 it had 149 miles. During my short test drive I did not notice any engine noise. However, as I continued to drive the vehicle I noticed a high pitched whine coming from the engine. This noise is continuing to increase in volume. I rented a 2013 Altima 2.5 in November from Alamo that had 20000 miles and this same noise problem with a much higher volume. I took my car back to the dealer and they wrote on the service request that they could not duplicate the noise. I am going to take it back again and see what their response is.

• 

  Broken Drivers Seat - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Neveragain - June 8 - 1:30 am

  Wow! I thought I had bought a fantastic, classy SUV. Always loved the styling. First Nissan. 6 months after I bought the vehicle the driver seat breaks a mount. The seat is flapping in the breeze. I join in a recall campaign with the NHSTA that closes without resolution because not enough people were killed or maimed. Nissan offers some assistance, but almost acts like we should expect failures like this as consumers. Last Nissan!

• 

  Good, reliable, and dependable - 2001 Nissan Frontier
  By Reliable as heck - June 7 - 3:03 am

  I bought this truck 2 years ago. So far Ive only replaced one 25 dollar AC blower motor, the tires, and the oil (occasionally). The thing has over 115,000 miles and runs like a champ. I have never, ever, ever had a single problem with it that prevented me from doing what I wanted to do with it. I use it for bikes, canoes, hauling wood, driving around town, and Ive never had any performance difficulties with my manual transmission. Plastic bumpers have a tendency to fade after awhile.