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 Truck! - 2010 Nissan Titan
  By glueking - September 11 - 4:32 am

  This truck just turned 100,000 miles. It remains tight & holds the road as well as the day I drove it off the lot. Its never been in the shop for any repairs - only routine maintenance. Quiet, smooth, and outstanding reliability & performance of any truck Ive owned (2009 GMC Sierra, 2002 Chevy Silverado). If youre in the market for a pre-owned truck, consider the 2010 Titan.

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  A good one - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By mds - September 11 - 3:46 am

  Very sporty looking car. Get a lot of looks. Lots of interior room. Easy to get baby into car seat in rear. Like the security of side curtain air bags. Fun to drive. Need to have lighted controls on wheel. Need to get a better tire on the car. Goodyear SRAs are terrible for reliability and wear. 18" design means costly replacement. Easy to pass with all the power. Wish the car would ride softer in bumpy roads.

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  Love it! - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Jennifer - September 10 - 4:36 pm

  I have had my van for 6 years and have never had any major problems. There have been a few nuisance issues, but nothing serious. Since it was a new car, I knew before buying it that there would be a few bugs. Out of curiosity, Ive been reading reviews of the 2004 Quest lately and, I have been shocked at all the reported problems people have been having. I have never had any major issues with my van just the usual wear and tear. I have yet to see a minivan as stylish and at this point wouldnt dream of replacing it.

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  Rogue can compete with RAV and CRV - 2009 Nissan Rogue
  By ejo1 - September 10 - 4:17 pm

  As said above this car can easily compete with a RAV-4 or CRV. I drove my 09 Rogue SL AWD for 85,000 miles without a problem. As with everycar I own.owned I only use Mobil 1 for oil changes at longer intervals than book recommends for the car. Dealer did all my oil changes and maintenance and cost was overall less than expected. Just changed brakes and rotors all the way around with high quality as they old ones started to "wobble" at 83K miles. I averaged 24mpg with mixed driving. I had long highway drives (72 mph) at 29 mpg but also ones at 23 mpg. City driving is less than stated mpg, but overall a great comfy ride. This car is a great all around CUV that will grow on you.

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  Great Car but....... - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By BC Driver - September 9 - 6:46 pm

  The Maxima is my first Nissan and I was impressed by the performance and list of standard features. Not unlike some of the others reviewers, however, I have also replaced two oxygen sensors, the coils which were disengaging the no slip drive and the brakes also chatter when slowing down from higher speeds and need the rotors turned. For a medium size car the turning circle is also poor and for larger people the back seat has insufficient headroom. On the positive side the car handling is good, the finish was excellent and the gas mileage for longer trips is exceptional. I would certainly consider another Maxima, but am leaning towards the Murano as it has the extra headroom.

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  Fun Car - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By Marcos - September 9 - 1:53 pm

  I love my Altima. its a fun car to drive and very sporty looking. Even though its a 2.5 liter engine, its still has some heat. The gas mileage is great. I get compliments on the look of the car all the time. Its very well priced and it feels very luxurious.

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  And the winner is ....the Nissan Armada! - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By shadowman - September 9 - 2:00 am

  This is one great vehicle with great value for your money. My friend came along just for the ride and now he is buying one too. Nissan really did its homework on this SUV and although the compitition might match it in any one or two catagories, the Armada beats them all as an overall package.

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  2004 Alitma - 2004 Nissan Altima
  By richcon - September 9 - 2:00 am

  The car is easy to drive.I had a 2000 Altima the 2004 is much roomy in the front and the back.The 2004 has more get up go than the 2000.Ilove the car even in the short time i have had it.Also i payed less for the 2004 as compared to the 2000 gxe.I got a 2004 2.5 s Altima.

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  Dont miss out on this experience!!! - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By Grahamcracker - September 9 - 2:00 am

  My fiance purchaced this car and has become a true driving enthusiast solely based on her experience with this car. I drive it and must admit that it is hard to stay under the speed limit. The styling inside and outside are eye-catching (the exterior is really only appreciated when the car is in motion.) As a college student, this car will stick in both our memories as a wonderful car, reminiscent of the muscle cars our parents drove.

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  Great vehicle. Poor auto sliding doors. - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By minivan dad - September 9 - 2:00 am

  Before purchasing the Nissan, we drove the other two logical choices (Toyota, Honda). We found the ride, & handling of the Nissan to be superior. However,we live in the Northeast U.S and discovered that the automatic sliding rear doors do not close when the temperature dips below 30 degrees. Weve been back to the dealer umpteen times for repairs. They still have not corrected the problem. So, unless youre living in Sub-Saharan Africa, do not purchase this vehicle with power sliding doors.