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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  Darrins opine - 2007 Nissan Murano
  By Darrin - March 29 - 11:56 pm

  I traded an F150 crew cab 4x4 for the Murano as I needed city-type efficiency. It was great to get rid of the lumbering behemoth for a nimble little grocery getter. I am 6 feet 240 pounds and the comfort of the drivers seat practically sold me with all its electrical toys. I enjoy the Bose/MPS stereo and mileage has been a solid 20 MPG in town. Very comfortable for 4 adults. I consider it a very pragmatic vehicle thats fun.

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  4-banger Fronty - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By JW - March 26 - 8:03 am

  I recently bought a Frontier XE, mostly for light hauling and commuting. Really nice vehicle for the money. Basically got it for the same price as Colorado, but felt it outclassed the Chevy in ride and engine refinement. Even the base model looks good (unlike the Taco, which looks silly to me with the 4x2 base wheels). A lot of hard plastic inside, but this is PU truck - so what. Ive only had the truck for a few hundred miles so I guess you would expect reliabilty to be good.

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  Nismo quality - 2006 Nissan Frontier
  By captbanyan - March 26 - 5:20 am

  I drive my Nismo pick up every day and just returned from a 2200 mile road trip with my wife and a Pomeranian. No back pains or discomfort. The powerful V6 ran 70s and 80s in all the southern states with a load in the bed. No heating probelems in Atlanta traffic jams. I had always driven Dodge Dakotas but Im Nissan now!

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  Maxes the competition - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By nam - March 26 - 2:00 am

  A search driven by value, performance, and legacy led me to only one car - the Maxima SE. While not an overly aggressive driver, it is nice to know that this car can quietly spank just about any on the road. The features are ample without being overdone and the int/ext design are subtle and sophisticated. Though I tend to purchase a car driven solely by my own tastes, Ive never received so many compliments as this dark blue beauty. It is a blast to drive everyday without overexerting the pocketbook.

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  Stump Puller - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By rshe - March 26 - 2:00 am

  Have had mine about 2 weeks now and love to drive it, when I can get it away from the wife. So far we have had a squeak in the overhead console (intermittent), car came with the tires overinflated by about 10lbs each and finally I popped the hood for the first time and found the oil dipstick sticking out about 2 inches.. Mainly minor QC issues that should have either been picked uo at the plant or the dealer. All in all, you have to love the power and handling on this beast.

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  Nice cross over - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By D.L - March 26 - 2:00 am

  Spent months looking for a reliable, easy to own vehicle that is good in the snow. So far, Ive found the Murano to be a nice compromise between sedan and traditional SUV. Less truck like than many competitors. Roomier than it appears to be from the outside.

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  Great at first, became a cash-hog - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Erik713 - March 26 - 12:26 am

  I really enjoyed the amenities that I had never had in a car before. The stereo was awesome, seats were comfy and heated, adjustable everything. 2.5 years later routine maintenance is super-expensive and gas mileage is 19 with mostly highway driving. Dont get me wrong, I LOVE driving this car. It is still the most comfortable car Ive owned. The styling is great, and the interior is sleek and modern. If it wasnt for the continuing extreme kicks in the wallet Id run it into the ground!

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  Solid 4X4 - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By Mr. Dog - March 25 - 1:13 pm

  I bought my Xterra after carefully researching the vehicle, and scrutinizing the condition of the car itself. For the most part, I agree with most of the reviews. The ride is a bit stiff, which is good for a true SUV. The steering can be a bit squirrely, especially at lower speeds, but it is fine once you adjust to it. One point I wholly agree with is the underpowered engine. A truck like this should have a 4.0 as base, not an upgrade. The interior is comfortable, if a little sparse, save for the power windows and locks. Id also like more up front storage. So despite its few shortcomings, its a great truck. I really, really like it. After all, Dogs love trucks!

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  Great SUV - 2000 Nissan Xterra
  By Willith - March 25 - 10:00 am

  This SUV has been nothing but reliable for me over the past 2 years I have owned it. I havent had to take it in but one time for warrenty work, my CD player stopped working, but they replaced it after they got one in stock. It rides nice (truck like) and has very good visibility (especially from the back seats). The engine is a little underpowered though and some of the switches are placed in hard to reach places (cruise control on/off and rear wiper switch). All in all a great SUV for the price and with the superchargers on the newer 2002 models the power problem will be fixed.

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  Nissan Altima 01 - 2001 Nissan Altima
  By r - March 25 - 10:00 am

  Great Car for the price