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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  Great car - 2010 Nissan Versa
  By HippieVictorian - September 21 - 12:50 pm

  I have owned this car for a week with the premium package. I had a Saturn Vue prior and have not noticed a decrease in comfort or the quality of driving. I test drove a Honda Fit and this car and the Fit could not match the comfort of this car. My two year old daughter loves it. I still feel like I am setting in my SUV instead of a small car, but I can maneuver so much better. Great car!

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  good - 1996 Nissan 300ZX
  By jamal - September 21 - 10:00 am

  this car is a very nice car andit is very very fast

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  Good and Bad - 2002 Nissan Xterra
  By Brian in NY - September 21 - 10:00 am

  I love the truck, but I am disappointed with what I have. The design of the interior and the exterior are great, very distinct. But the quality of the Nissan is disappointing. There are so many little things that have gone wrong that you wouldnt expect in todays market. The gas mileage is aweful, but the ride is comfortable on the parkway.

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  nissan murano - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By isabell grasser - September 21 - 10:00 am

  This is a roomy midsize suv with lots of space in the back, legroom , headroom.No third seat row( which I did not want (Sorry I am not the darn chaffeur for the neighbor kids. The cargo area is easy to access and can be easy extended by lifting a couple slings in the back, the back seat folds down flat and you could easy transport larger items. This car has a great design and it is modern, what I like best. I have driven in many cars from Mercedes, VW and BMW( not to mention the ugly Explorer)And this one is my very favorite. The ride is a thrill and the price is fair.

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  Great Urban SUV! - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By La Tanya - September 21 - 10:00 am

  I just purchased my Murano 4 days ago and I am quite pleased with it. I had a Toyota Tacoma which was a great truck, but now I feel like Im riding in luxury. This vehicle is very classy & sporty. Ive gotten dozens of compliments. I also had great service at Baker-Jackson Nissan in Houston. I made a great choice!

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  a world of excellent for families - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By dominguez - September 21 - 10:00 am

  This mini van is the best in its class. It was made to make all ages in your family happy and very comfortable. It drives like a car, instead of a mini van. The Quest performance is behond words.

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  MyNewAltima - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By NoMoreCelicaGTS - September 21 - 10:00 am

  One word to describe the Altima, value!! You get tons of room and a wide assort of features for a good price. I purchased the 2.5S (auto) with the side air bags and ABS, microfilter, floor mats, and splash guards for $19,383. As far as the interior quality, if youre worried about that, spend more money and get the leather. As far as performance, Im not going to win too many drag races with the 2.5S, but the car cruises really well at 80 mph on the highway. There is some road noise, but keep in mind you paid less than 20K and you are driving a Nissan, not an Infiniti.

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  No Holes NISSSAN - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By DREw2004 - September 21 - 10:00 am

  Have had the Maxima for approx 3 weeks and am awed by the comfort and power of this vehicle. Handles well on turns, good acceleration , gas mileage has been decent(booklet says 87 and above can be used). Told the dealer to add in the service manual for free.. which are 4 books in all worth 400 clams in total, and he would have a deal.Car was bought at 29K. Leather interior is great, Bose sound is outstanding,noise reduction is soothing.Safety features rival the benz and volvo s. Braking distance was a worry with the older model however the newer model does quite adequately with the abs system.

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  Lots of miles but fun to drive. - 2000 Nissan Altima
  By Ken Voss - September 21 - 9:54 am

  Was great once, could be again. "Experts" say it has a fuel delivery problem, left me stranded twice recently. If I could fix that and give it some TLC it would still be my daily driver. Love this car but having a slight issue of trust. Drive it at least once a week. Still smooth/fun at 100+ mph as it is at 50. Washes up and looks beautiful but does have lots of miles/years so it needs a little love. You wont sorry if you buy it and give it a little time and effort. Still driving it, still love it, but cant give it the tlc it deserves. Will give to charity f or auction to raise funds to help others.

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  True pocket rocket - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By drey05 - September 20 - 9:00 pm

  I tested the Civic Si, and Jetta GLI. I went to the Nissan dealership to look at the 07 Nissan coupe. Was attracted by the looks of the Spec V. I traded in a Jetta Turbo. The spec v is a lot faster, and rides better. I get an average of 25mpg and Im not a light footed driver. Ive gotten as high as 45 mpg with this. My X has a 07 GTI, and this is faster (we raced) and still is a larger car. Its almost like a stock sleeper. Plus you have to love the 6 spd manual, performance clutch, sport tires, big brakes, and gas shocks. Go take a look at one.