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 bang for the buck - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By tellurian - March 13 - 10:53 am

  This is an excellent little car. For a modestly priced vehicle it has all the basic safety and handling features. Ive had it for a week, it is a solid and well built vehicle.

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  Outstanding vehicle for the price - 2006 Nissan Xterra
  By Heath - March 12 - 9:03 am

  Ive put 11,000 miles on my Xterra S model so far with no problems whatsoever. This car is absolutely amazing in almost every aspect. The look and stance of it is obviously rugged and powerful, and the inside lends itself to functionality and practicality quite well. If youve got a lot of stuff to take with you, this is the SUV for you. Fantastic perfomance on and off road - Ive taken it four-wheeling in some pretty intense mud multiple times and it doesnt come close to losing traction. Gas mileage is disappointing, with my very best so far 18 mpg on the highway. Plastic material can seem a bit on the cheap side, especially the insides of the doors and the dash. Overall, though, a great buy.

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  Problem-free - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By BWheel - March 10 - 6:56 pm

  Owned this vehicle (GXE w/ cruise control package) from 2001-2008 and through 180K miles only recently showed problems (oil leakage). Prior to that, only repairs needed were for leaking AC (2 times), blocked radiator and oil leak. None of these occurred within the first 100K miles. Car provided 30 mpg this year. For the price, great car.

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  Most reliable vehicle we have ever owned - 2001 Nissan Frontier
  By amd6577 - March 10 - 5:27 pm

  Bought this 2001 Frontier XE brand new in fall 2000. It has never been our primary vehicle, but has been driven almost daily since weve had it, and has made its fair share of several-hour trips. I cannot adequately describe how reliable and drama-free this truck has been. Our plan is to keep it forever!

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  Just got it - 2017 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Waxahachie Woman - March 10 - 5:13 am

  I dont think Ive had the car long enough to rate it on some of things asked above, but so far, I really like it. It is very comfortable and I do like the way it handles while driving....there are a few things I am getting used to such as the the back up camera. I was wanting a Ford Explorer but I think I came away with more for the money. I am hoping to get better MPG, but I think that has to do with getting to know the car.

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  Nissan Altima SV 2.5 - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By Michael - March 8 - 9:33 am

  The car started to shake when I parked or stopped at a light 3 days after I leased it . When I took it back to services the fixed the problem. Now it been 3 months and I just hit 30,408 miles. The car is comfortable and reliable. But the only problem I have is the car getting dirty quickly. I Pray for 5 years

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  Better then suggested - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By buckeye boy - March 8 - 2:00 am

  We looked at every mid-sized SUV on the market before deciding on the Xterra SE (loaded). My wife drives it daily (with two small children) and she could not be happier. Reviews said after the newness wore off people would not like it. WRONG!! We love the ride, the security, the quality, etc. We would recommend this to anyone looking for a practical SUV.

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  Reliable SUV - 2001 Nissan Pathfinder
  By spokes - March 7 - 8:33 am

  Ive had my Pathy for about three years now. So far I havent had any major problems. It still rides better then most cars. The gearbox moans when I put it in reverse sometimes. The Bose (Clarion actually) CD changer stopped working. Its a known problem that Nissan wont fix. I sent mine to Clairon for repair. The paint has held up well. I wish the springs were a little stiffer as they compress too easily and can bottom out when hauling adults and cargo. I put Yoko tires on and it eliminated some of the body roll, better ride too. Id still recommend the 2001 although I like the styling on the 2004 and newer better. Hopefully the gas mileage is improved.

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  Solid choice in this vehicle class - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By owiseone - March 7 - 6:26 am

  I have owned this car since purchasing it new in December, 2006. Based on my previous experience with a 1993 Nissan Altima which I sold with 160,000 miles on it, I expected this car to be solid and dependable. In this respect it has not disappointed me. Not one defect when it was new and so far after 57,000 miles not one repair other than normal maintenance. I still like the design of the car, and the interior does not look or feel cheap at all. Driving the car is rather comfortable (and I drive a lot of highway miles). The engine is definitely wanting for more power, and the CVT is not a favorite of mine with its "rubber band" feel. Only option on my car was ABS {strongly recommended).

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  New car review - 2006 Nissan Sentra
  By Nissan Guy in Dallas - March 7 - 6:23 am

  Called my leasing company and said get me the cheapest four door sedan (compact) you could find me. Drove up with this little baby. Got it for $15,300 with extras.... spoiler, leather wrapped steering wheel, FosGate Stereo, even a spoiler and 16 " wheels. Drove it home in a sleet storm. All my co workers watched me sign the papers and clapped. Drove it to Austin yesterday and got 26 mpg. Cost me all of $23 round trip. My old buick would have cost me $80. And boy oh boy will it take a turn, and when Im in a hurry to an appointment, it just rocks. Really lays down and goes.