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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  Almost perfect - 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By roperj - October 27 - 11:30 pm

  I picked up my 2007 Altima Hybrid exactly 1 week ago. I had to wait almost 2 months for one to be located up here in the northeast. Finally one was located with full options including moonroof and nav package with leather. Extremely happy so far. Still on first tank of gas after driving 355 miles of both mixed, some city and rural driving (30% city and 70% rural) and averaging 38 mpg. I have been able to drive distances of over 2.5 miles in EV mode only as long as the speed is kept at or below 40 mph. Interior is nice but could be set up a bit more sophisticated. Had a couple of workmanship issues.

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  Slipped into This Like a Glove - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By DAYOH - October 27 - 11:20 pm

  The variable transmission takes getting used to, but the SUV rides amoothly. It handles well and if its like the 10 yr. old Maxima I traded in, it will do just fine.

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  Great Compact Truck - 2010 Nissan Frontier
  By Tzarita88 - October 27 - 4:13 pm

  I traded in my Jeep Compass for this new Frontier and I love it. It handles, snow, ice, mud, steep, rocky mountains roads as well as town driving. My biggest impression was with the sturdiness of this truck. It feels very durable. Despite gas mileage estimates, I get 25/21 mpg, even in 4X4.

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  Excellent car - 2008 Nissan Maxima
  By Joe - October 27 - 3:13 pm

  Got a great deal on this car and am glad I purchased. The only thing I didnt like is the small storage compartments are hard to get at. Everything else is great and very quick. It will get away from you if not careful. Overall I rate a 9.5

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  Amazing Truck - 2007 Nissan Titan
  By Kevin Zamora - October 27 - 1:20 pm

  I test drove every make and model for every company before I decided on this one. I am 65 and one of my main concerns was room. I have plenty of leg room and there is still plenty of room in the back for other people. It has plenty of power and the drive is as smooth as any other truck I drove. Hands down the best truck out there.

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  my second murano - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By william - October 27 - 7:10 am

  I like this car so much that I had to get another one,,, even after having a 04 model with transmission trouble and front wheel bearing trouble, I understood that that was just the new model problem. Even though my 04 was a good car, this one is even better,,,

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  Awesome! - 2009 Nissan 370Z
  By pakrat - October 26 - 3:33 pm

  I bought this car March 24th and still cant believe I own it. I had a 280Z 20 years ago and wanted to get another one for the fun factor. I wasnt prepared for the amount of fun it is driving this machine. They really out did themselves with the 2009 model and what a deal I got! Best value for machine versus money.

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  Great Car for the Money - 2005 Nissan Sentra
  By Frontier4x4 - October 25 - 9:43 pm

  Purchased new in 05, 1.8s with the Special Edition package (a must!). Rides great, awesome stereo, great on trips, but performance with the A/T leaves a little to be desired. If you need more get up and go, get the 5 spd or drop the coin on one of the SE-Rs. Original tire size is an odd ball but you can step up a width and there are more options. This model Sentra (B15) is know for two issues, the Vapor Canister Purge Valve- easy to change in the driveway but cost $100 and the fuel pump has some valve that stops working and causes hard starting... just turn the key to on for a few seconds- once the pump primes it starts fine.

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  Great car and better value - 2010 Nissan Altima
  By V6Altima - October 25 - 7:26 am

  Purchased the Altima 3.5 SR after comparing to the Mazda 6 GT and Nissan Maxima. In my opinion, the quality, feature set, and performance rival the Maxima, but at a significantly lower price point. The CVT has been flawless, as well as the overall functioning of the vehicle. The V6 is quite refined, and a pleasure to accelerate on the freeway. Smooth ride and quiet cabin, even with the sport-tuned suspension on the SR. Regular (87) gas is a welcomed upgrade from the 09 V6. Fit and finish were above average in my opinion, with a very attractive, yet mature interior cabin. Navigation is by far the best I have used, and the new for 10 iPod interface is leaps and bounds ahead of the competition.

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  My 1st SUV - 1999 Nissan Pathfinder
  By PJKT01 - October 25 - 2:00 am

  This is my first SUV, I have been married for 4 years and we have 2 children ages 3 & 2. I had a 99 ZX2 which I loved but it was getting too small. So we decided to go look for SUVs, I first drove a 2002 KIA, and I didnt like it at all. So he said for arouns the same price we have this Pathfinder, I was amazed at all the features it had and the way it rode compared to the BRAND NEW KIA. It was a leased car it was low on miles 52000, Have to get used to spending 25 dollars on gas instead of 15 and getting the same amount of mileage. ALL IN ALL ITS GREAT FOR MY FIRST SUV, I would never get another car again....