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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  awsome truck - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By al - March 5 - 3:16 am

  Ive had this truck for almost a year. the ride is great. awsome power, great sound from exhaust. best looking truck. Already been in the dealer for new window switches, front brake dicks raplaced. Heat shield retightened, and nasty rattles coming from dash, driver and passenger doors, head rest,(which dealer has tried to fix with poor succes) Tail gate slides to right or left when opened.

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  Just Great - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By Franks - March 3 - 1:20 am

  This is a great car. A lot of interior room with great handling. I have problems with the heater blower. It makes a whistling sound and have not been able to get it replaced due to shortage in parts. Otherwise ZI love to drive it and take the car everywhere. Better fuel economy on the highway then in the city. Premium gas is a pain but is worth the extra dollars for the performance.

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  1st month Versa S 5 speed - 2012 Nissan Versa
  By sbcar - March 2 - 7:09 pm

  We have had the car for a month, no problems. So far a great value. My wife is getting 41mpg driving to work each day at 2 lane highway speeds. 60+ mph. The car is quite large for a sub compact. Bought a center arm rest on EBAY and 2 vanity mirrors at Auto Zone, now we are set.

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  dfc review - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By dfc - March 2 - 10:00 am

  Good value for someone wanting a sportier ride with some luxury. The V6 is torquey and feels like a small V8. The brakes and steering are also good. If you are a spirited driver, the suspension will leave you disappointed. The body rolls heavily and the springs/struts are are tuned for comfort rather than performance. The 6speed gears are spaced well but the throw seems extra long and the feel is very notchy - like working a big screw driver in bowl full of marbles! Nissan could take some lessons from Honda. Dispite the shortcomings, the V6 does make up for them and is perhaps the best sport sedan available for under $28K.

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  Loving it to death - 1995 Nissan Pathfinder
  By SS - March 2 - 6:16 am

  I love it. It is the most reliable and go everywhere vehicle. Ive now got 247,000 miles and it gives no indication of quitting anytime soon. Regular maintenance and love make it happy. Ive driven it in the desert, mountains, snow, wind, you name it. It performs like a champion.

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  Decent Choice for the Price (Maxima GLE) - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By Shahriar - March 2 - 5:23 am

  Ive had this car for almost 5 years and have driven it to my hearts content. The car has 115k miles, still smooth, strong and a pleasure to drive. The stereo is temperamental and skips once in a while. But when in good mood, the Bose makes you feel like youre in a concert hall. Terrific power and smooth transmission. Good marriage between the engine and the transmission. No problem in the snow. Had problem with brakes, stereo and exhaust systems. Engine light comes out often (gas cap issue). Handling not comparable to German counter parts but good enough to throw around in the corners and have some fun. Suspension is soft, but serene in good road surface. Bumpy on bad surface.

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  Love it - 2005 Nissan Sentra
  By Shirley Brown - March 1 - 4:23 am

  This is my second new Sentra. Bought the first, a 1999 in December of 1998. I had no problems with it. Bought this one, a 2005 in December of 2004. The back seat leg room is best for smaller people. It drives and rides great! I dont think you can beat the looks or ride for the money.

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  bad transmission - 2013 Nissan Sentra
  By Kimberly Wakefield - February 28 - 9:20 am

  we bought are 2013 Nissan brand new. before we even replaced the brakes the tranny went. my husband was driving home from work (270 miles from our house) when the car stopped accelerating. the check eng. light came on and would only go 10 mph. he pulled into the nearest dealership only for them to give him the bad news. the tranny needed to be replaced and our warranty had expired.

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  Love my New Car - 2005 Nissan Sentra
  By Randi - February 25 - 4:43 pm

  I just bought my 2005 Sentra the day after Memorial Day. So far I love it. I have the 1.8s Special Edition. The stereo is great and the ride is very nice. However, I do have two children and would not recommend it for long trips. The space in the back is very cramped. My only other complaint would be the placement of the cup holders in the front of the car. Other than that I am impressed by everything else.

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  Great MPG, Comfort and Performance - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By Hooboggled - February 23 - 11:43 pm

  Everyone complains about the MPG but driving 70 miles RT in Los Angeles traffic I have never averaged less than 30 MPG and that is with traffic. Without traffic Ive been getting 35 MPG. I couldnt be happier with its performance. In 16 months I have driven 28000 miles. I have a boat in Long Beach at sea level and a cabin in Big Bear Lake at 7500 feet above sea level. The Versa climbs the multiple 8000 plus foot peaks with ease and the manual transmission is great for going down the mountains. Ive had chains on it and almost slid through an intersection on some black ice. That was scary. Ive also taken it off road on dirt mountain roads and have had no problems.