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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  Movin Up in the World - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By Josh - January 28 - 2:23 pm

  Moving from a 1991 Nissan Sentra to this beauty is like winning the lottery: you knew it would be good, but youre still in shock about it. My 91 Sentra made it 160,000 miles without engine problems, a strong factor in my decision to buy Nissan again. The car performs exceptionally well for the price and the CVT works adeptly for someone whose main driving habits are mostly city commuting. The power is not overwhelming, but it is there at a moments notice when you need it.

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  My Second Pathfinder - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Mike - January 27 - 11:43 am

  Had a 1997 Pathfinder and bought another in 2005. The redesign was a hit and I went for every option except the navigation and DVD for which I had no use. The Bose system is, hands-down, the best system I have ever had in a car (and that includes a $1,000 aftermarket system I had in 1970s Mustang). No problems at all and Im past 65K miles on this. Still on the first set of tires which have been very reliable. I will replace before next winter (and I only rotated them twice so far.) Getting 18 mpg and I drive it hard - but no off-roading. The rear hatch rust around the license plate is a REAL problem. Nissan conveniently "lost" my first claim at 50K mi and will be resubmitting it!

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  Overall a Good SUV - 2003 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Rainman - January 27 - 10:00 am

  A lot of the traction problems are from sub-par tires. Changed the tires to Yokohama Geolanders and most of the traction problems went away. Rear cargo space may be a little small and the rear seats are a little difficult to put down, but overall a great value.

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  2003 Murano AWDSL - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By mwhurst - January 27 - 10:00 am

  Has been a very fun, useful, economical and reliable cross-over. I use it for long distance commuting in all weather in the NE and it has always dealt with all the conditions nature has thrown at it with total aplomb (I have the DVC which really does work). On weekends it does major household hauling duty for trash and shopping; then turns around and becomes a people and bag hauler for sports events for my children. A great and very versatile vehicle.

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  Still fun after 1-1/2 Years - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By robreb - January 27 - 10:00 am

  I have 18,000 miles on my Murano and I still smile when I drive it. I did have to have the alternator replaced recently when it failed. Nissan knows about this issue on some Muranos and paid for the tow and replacement. have a friend with a 500 Mercedes SUV who is amazed at the comfort and performance of my car - for a lot less $$. Back seat fits tall guys and interior can hold a ton of stuff. I changed oil to Mobile 1 at first change and mileage improved right away. In heavy traffic I get close to 20, on the highway as much as 25. I have a few minor issues with the car but cannot think of a single vehicle I would prefer to drive. Acceleration is smooth and quick.

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  Needs some work - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By avalsim - January 27 - 10:00 am

  Impresive engine and torque feeling., but needs some refinement on the chasis. Ive been driving this vehicle for 5 months and already feel like an old pick up.I just put on 22000 miles of unpaved and hard roads and let me tell you this.. my Moms Suburban feels like new and its a 2001 model and it have 60000 miles!!!!! And I dont even mentioned the OEM tires they are awful!! imagine.. 2 flats in 2 weeks that kind of tires are made for Moms going from a Scottdale neighborhood to a Walmart and thats it.

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  The Potent SE-R Spec V - 2005 Nissan Sentra
  By Sleepn Spec V - January 27 - 10:00 am

  I have been driving this car since the end of June and I enjoy every chance I have to drive the Sentra SE-R Spec V. The potent QR25DE motor, helical limited-slip differential, close-ratio 6-speed, Z-rated tires, and front strut tower bar keep this car glued down around every corner and lane change you need to make. Acceleration is a deffenite surprise for the 175hp and 180lbs.ft., pulling onto new roads is done with ease while experiencing the fun of a close-ratio 6-speed that features dual-synchros for hitting perfect 1-2 gear shifts.

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  steering - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Debbie LaPonsa - January 27 - 10:00 am

  I find the steering in my new Altima to be overly sensitive to the "crown" in the road. It pulls constantly to the left of the road although it is brand new and not out of alignment. I replaced ( under warranty) the two front tires as they were already showing signs of wear on the outside at 1500 miles! The tire co thought it was a radial pull causing the car to drift to the left but the replacement of tires changed nothing. I am at a loss as to what is wrong with this car.

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  steering - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Debbie LaPonsa - January 27 - 10:00 am

  I find the steering in my new Altima to be overly sensitive to the "crown" in the road. It pulls constantly to the left of the road although it is brand new and not out of alignment. I replaced ( under warranty) the two front tires as they were already showing signs of wear on the outside at 1500 miles! The tire co thought it was a radial pull causing the car to drift to the left but the replacement of tires changed nothing. I am at a loss as to what is wrong with this car.

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  I like my new Altima - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Guruno - January 27 - 9:30 am

  Have only owned a week, and came from owning a 97 Jeep Wrangler for the past 10 years, so my auto experience is rather limited. Needless to say, I love my new Altima. Very roomy - am 6 and have plenty of leg/head room. The back seats have comfortable space as well. The clutch is shorter than my old Wranglers and the response is worlds better. The 270 HP is nice on the highway. Steering feels good at high speeds. The fuel economy is OK, but wasnt expecting much with the engine size. I like the layout of the internal controls, very intuitive.