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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  So far So good! - 2016 Nissan Rogue
  By Martha Kutik - December 1 - 2:29 pm

  I previously owned a Nissan Altima and since then have been impressed with the intuitive interior design of Nissan cars. Purchased the Rogue after looking at Subaru, Lexis and Toyota as well. I was interested in a hybrid with good gas mileage and all wheel drive capability, and the Rogue felt like the right size and was a comfortable ride! Have not owned the car long enough to know about maintenance costs or repair frequency, but if its like my Altima, itll be an easy car to maintain.

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  Great car - 1999 Nissan Altima
  By Compaq888 - December 1 - 9:16 am

  Bought it from an owner that didnt know anything about cars. Had a maintenance done at the dealer and the car is problem free.

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  Great value - horrible turning radius - 2011 Nissan Frontier
  By liberator1 - December 1 - 3:42 am

  As with everyone else, I was shopping the Tacoma while shopping the Frontier. I can say I will never buy a Toyota simply because they dont want to negotiate their vehicles. The Tacoma did not offer many of the ammenities of the Frontier such as leather, auto seats, etc. The Frontier offers much more bang for the buck. The only thing I dont like is the horrible turning radius of the vehicle. You cant even make a u-turn on a 4 lane road without having to make a 3 point turn. An F-150 turns sharper than this smaller truck. Other than that, it rocks!

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  Rental Manage Chooses Altima - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By Happy Buyer - November 30 - 7:36 pm

  I am a former Rental car manager. I had a different car everyday. I have driven everything from a Camry to Infiniti G35. My last car was a Honda Accord 04 Was totaled 3 weeks ago on the freeway because of three things. Black ice, Bad factory tires, no traction controlled. I am actually excited when I get in this car because you pay $24k for a car that is worth $38K. The CVT has constant power. Getting on a freeway 0-80 mph with no shifting in the trans is amazing. It handles like it is on rails. (cornering is good). The last model altimas I drove had a lot of torque steer. Nissan fixed that problem on this model.

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  Satisfied Owner - 2008 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Nissan Owner - November 30 - 2:06 pm

  I have had the Pathfinder for about 8 months and have driven 6500 miles on it including a recent 3000 mile trip. Therefore I have had ample opportunities to evaluate it and am on the whole satisfied with this SUV. Being a previous Toyota sedan owner, I was choosing between the 4runner and Pathfinder. I feel completely comfortable with the choice I made as the 4runner did not feel luxurious enough from inside and had horrible 3rd row seating option. Now to more details on my experience with the pathfinder - the driving experience is great, interiors have a plush feel, rear view is awesome, sound system is good and overall car experience has been great.

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  2005 Nissan Pathfinder Rocks! - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Roger - November 29 - 7:40 pm

  EDGY looks, FUN to drive, POWERFUL V6. Love the looks and 17 inch wheels. The ride is very comfortable. The LE has most of the bells and whistles I wanted for a competitive price. Didnt need the 4X4 cuz I stay on paved roads and dont like to waste $ on gas. I do appreciate the option of using unleaded 87 octane. The only complaints I have are: No cargo cover, no power side view mirrors (the Maxima has power mirrors...what gives?), and no indicator on your instrument panel when your headlights are on. Outside of these small issues this SUV gives you the most bang for the buck! I could easily have bought the RX330 or MDX, but know I made the right choice with the 2005 Pathfinder.

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  great perfomer with one annoying problem - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By D. A. Parry - November 29 - 4:06 am

  The Maxima is well designed, fun to drive and overall it performs well. It has some giddyap, looks great and gets good mileage. The biggest problem is the turning radius. Its a complete joke. I cant believe that Nissan engineers could not have corrected this problem. Youll find tractor trailers that have a better turning radius. Also, beware if you get the vehicle in black - the low to the ground Maxima attracts road gravel, stones, etc., that mar up the front grill finish - very noticeable. The dealer quoted me $800 to repaint. Get the bra. Also, the location of the charger outlet is in an awkward position and the cheap plastic cover breaks easily.

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  I just put the first 1000 miles on it today - 2017 Nissan Frontier
  By Allen W - November 27 - 7:49 pm

  The steering and parking are better than my old Dakota. The lights are brighter and the mirrors show more than my last truck. The cruise stays constant - my other truck would slow down on hills and speed up after the climb or descending a hill.

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  New improved Sentra - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By Jessie Ramsey - November 27 - 12:03 pm

  This is our 3rd sentra, and by far, the best. We had 2 of the 2001 SE models, 1 with 5 speed, and 1 with automatic. I was leery of the CVT, but it feels great now. I think it will last a long time, especially the way that my wife drives it. Shell baby it. Already the mileage is better than the old cars got at their best. The engine is more fuel efficient, while being bigger by 500 cc. We expect high 30 mpg once broken it. The SE-R has anti-lock 4 wheel disc brakes and stiffer suspension than the car with 2.0 engine. It handles so much better. The car is quiet and road noise is filtered out so well. The stereo system is better as is the AC. So much colder. We love it

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  Youre crazy if you dont buy a maxima - 2006 Nissan Maxima
  By felix183333 - November 26 - 4:20 pm

  Im a long time Nissan buyer and this 2006 maxima is one of my best buys from Nissan. I love the power and the handling. Most vehicles with this power and options are very costly. Nissan, as always has found away to put the best of all cars in a Maxima. If you dont understand, test drive a Maxima and other cars in its class and Your heart will tell you to buy Nissan.