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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  xe - 2002 Nissan Frontier
  By cawiles - April 8 - 10:00 am

  I have had excellent service from this truck and would have no qualms about purchasing another. Thus far I have encountered only one defect which related to emissions controlat around 9,000 miles. It did not affect the performance of the vehicle. The problem was identified and repaired quickly. The truck is slow at takeoff unless I put my foot down heavily. This truck has an excellent turning radius, which comes in very handy in tight parking situations. which I forget about. The interior of the truck is laid out very well for my tastes, with plenty of space and easy ingress and egress.

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  Its just okay - 2010 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Hman - April 8 - 1:46 am

  We bought the V6 pathfinder, it handles pretty well. My wife loves the seats, however I am not convinced they are that comfortable. One thing that really bothers me is a vibration that occurs when the car is in gear but not moving. It starts from the engine and moves back through the vehicle. The dealer said this is normal and its part of the exhaust. At times I wish I did a longer test drive before we purchased the vehicle.

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  2017 Nissan Maxima - 2016 Nissan Maxima
  By Maxima Leaser - April 6 - 12:13 am

  Great looking car with eye catching design. A feel of quality inside and out. A little to be desired in the sensing features if you have been used to them from another vehicle. You will get a kick out of the acceleration in sport mode.

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  Nice car, but not very fuel efficent - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By jason - April 5 - 3:16 pm

  I bought my 2002 Nissan Sentra SE-R mainly because of Nissans reputation for building reliable vehicles, but Ive been very dissapointed in the fuel ecomony. I was expecteting something close to what was adverstised on the sticker (25-28 city).. but Ive never gotten better than 21... not a huge difference.. but dissapointing.

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  Poor user replaceable items. - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By Davewave - April 5 - 5:43 am

  It is very well made, economical vehicle. However, if you are used to doing your own basic maintenance, like replacing rear stop lights or topping off brake fluid, it is a nightmare. Nissan does not supply an instruction manual on how to replace a tail light, and they are so deeply recessed into the plastic that it is very difficult to get at. Same for brake fluid. Nissans solution? Bring it in for a very expensive light bulb change. Same for brake fluid. These kind of items should easily be driver replaceable items. They are not, and I am NOT happy about this.

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  Would buy again - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Tom Thorn - April 4 - 11:43 pm

  Have put 5,000 miles on my Altima, no problems to date. Love the keyless ignition, comfortable, excellent performance for a 4 cylinder, mileage on highway has been in the 30 to 32 mpg range and looks great inside and out. Only complaint small trunk opening.

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  good, solid truck - 2000 Nissan Pathfinder
  By chuckfromlongisland - April 2 - 6:40 pm

  Have my 2000 LE for three years now. Only repairs were recent, warped front rotors, one oxygen sensor, and an exhaust system from the catalytic converters back. Current mileage is 66,000

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  Fun to drive, not to own - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By Not Worth trouble - April 2 - 2:30 pm

  Im usually a Honda consumer, but due to their expensive prices I tried to experiment a little and bought this car because it was recommended to me by a family member. However, I have to tell you guys that this thing has been a pain to own. It is fun to drive, but it has had recalls on catalytic converter, ecu and crank angle sensor. The dealer has also given me a hard time about these recalls. This car also makes the most annoying ticking sound after turning it off. I ended up trading it In for a Honda civic Si. Do it right the first time and stay away from Nissan.

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  Nice car, ergonomic and electronic issue - 2006 Nissan Murano
  By mmagliaro - April 2 - 4:36 am

  Cant update my other review. Need to add more here. First, I meant ergonOMic issues in the other review. Second: Beware the CD player. It crapped out and luckily I have a warranty or it would cost over $600 to get it replaced. These are apparently a notorious weak point in many Nissans. In fact, it appears to be so widespread that I think they owe customers a free replacement, but good luck with that.

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  Good, Bad, & Ugly - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By ths - April 2 - 2:00 am

  The Good: - great handling - gutsy engine - great exterior design - fantastic engine note - supportive seats - what a bargain! - can steer with the GO pedal:) The Bad: - creaks and rattles with only 12000 miles - notchy shifter that needs a lesson or two from Honda - choppy ride - orange dash lighting screams "Pontiac" - chintzy interior plastics - rear visibility - touchy brakes The Ugly: - the absolute WORST stereo Ive heard outside of an AM radio; Nissan/Bose should be ashamed