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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  Bad News Xterras - 2007 Nissan Xterra
  By Daury - November 30 - 5:36 pm

  I just purchased my Xterra. Within the first 3000 miles the car has been serviced twice for a water leak from the AC in the cabin. The dealership tells me that my problem is very common and that "technically, the warranty does not cover leaks" but that they "fixed it out of courtesy." I did take it offroad and it performed like a champ. Great ground clearance and power to spare. About the car: if I drive like grandma I get 17 mpg highway, if I drive normal, I get about 14 mpg. The car looks huge from the outside but it is a tiny cabin inside. I have to move up the driver seat to squeeze anyone in the back seat. Do yourself a favor, dont buy it.

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  Too new for problems - 2015 Nissan Altima
  By lorit52 - November 29 - 5:38 pm

  I have 4,700 miles on my 2015 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL. Its been great up until now. My first problem was a grinding sound on my right rear brake. Took it in immediately and found there was a caliper problem causing brake pad to have worn down to the rotor. Needed entire new hub, pad, rotor and caliper. As soon as I got it out of shop, I heard a squeak in my steering that wasnt there when I put it in the shop. Took it in next day & found out the entire power steering rack needed replacing! Hoping to get the car out today but I am not very confident in this vehicle now. Maybe its a fluke, but this is not a good start with my first brand new Nissan. Anyone else with these issues?

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  Rattles - 2011 Nissan Maxima
  By nissan_maxim - November 28 - 10:22 pm

  Love everything about the car except the rattles. I hear one above the steering column. There is one on the plastic piece that has all the temperature and radio buttons. I hear one over by the passenger side where the seat belt is located. Of course these rattles come and go. I took it to the dealer who appearently fixed a rattle but I couldnt tell. Also said that the rattle where the radio butttons were couldnt be fixed yet they somehow made the rattle louder. You also can actually see my passenger seat vibrate as Im driving although the wife doesnt mind it:)

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  The Nissan Won - 2009 Nissan Pathfinder
  By D.P. Williams - November 26 - 4:46 am

  I tried out the Honda, Toyota, GMC,Hyundai and more but none of them measured up to the Pathfinder. The ride is a bit stiff but very comfortable and with very little road noise. The seats are very comfortable on extended trips especially with the ability to change the position at the touch of a button. Fuel mileage is better than rated but my biggest complaint on fuel is that it uses premium fuel. With all the technology Nissan has I am sure they build a V-6 engine that runs equally as well on regular grade fuel. We love the room the Pathfinder offers both for passengers and hauling our gardening items.

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  Altima is Good not Ultimate - 2001 Nissan Altima
  By dcurbelo - November 26 - 3:16 am

  The Nissan Altima is a good car. It doesnt do anything bad but it doesnt do anything great eithier.

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  Xterra - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By cogmeyer - November 23 - 10:00 am

  Our Xterra new in 03 had major mech issues right away. Dealer would not admit the engine knock until 20K when it got really severe. Horrible experience dealing with dealer and Nissan USA to get new engine approved, they held the vehicle for weeks before starting work even though parts were at the local distro hub. This turned me off from Nissan forever. Also had bearing in rear diff fail at 8k miles, replaced under warranty no prob, but weird to have this many issues. Since, the Xterra has been quite reliable to current 90k miles. Several leaks (oil pan, valve cover) which are due to the eng replacement at 20ku, but nothing severe. Looks and runs great now

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  Dont buy brand new - 2004 Nissan Frontier
  By ths916m3 - November 23 - 7:23 am

  This truck is overall a great compromise of practicality and fun. The S/C is good, and pulls very well when needed, could easily burn the rear tires if you wanted. Gets attention around town with its aggressive appearance and good looks, even though its mainly cosmetic. Long bed is just what it is, but on a crew cab its that much better. Space is tight for 4 6+ footers, but if you want space buy a Titan. Performance, fuel economy, and comfort can be remedied with some aftermarket items. In conclusion, if you want a great truck to go off roading with the wife and 3 kids with your motorcycle in the bed, this is the truck for you.

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  I am torn on this review...am I one of the lucky ones? - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By andybisnut - November 22 - 9:15 pm

  I love this truck but I am torn on the review. I had the issue where the transmission cooling lines failed, causing coolant to get into the transmission. The car would "rumble" when the torque converter engaged. Installed new radiator and flushed the heck out of the transmission. 30,000 miles later, fingers crossed, the tranny is still OK. I havent had to replace it. Otherwise, the Patfhfinder has been virtually bullet-proof. Its been our go-to road trip car and its survived many brutal MN winters. Great truck. If the tranny issue didnt exist it would get a perfect score. Seriously powerful engine with lots of sound and fury. :) MPG isnt great...maybe 17-18 MPG on average.

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  7,000 miles in, I would buy another - 2012 Nissan Leaf
  By skoorbmax - November 20 - 8:48 pm

  Prior to this vehicle I had a 3rd gen Prius. I much prefer the drive of this. The power train is more responsive, and at low speeds the car is much quicker (though no quicker at higher speeds). I am in NY state and have taken this through a winter now. Including winter my average miles/kWh are in the low 3s. 3.9 miles/kWh that EPA claims are quite optimistic. The heat destroys range, as does highway driving. Nonetheless, at 3.2 miles/kWh and at 75% charge efficiency (120V charging) and $.11 kWh I am still about 87 miles per $4.00 in electricity.

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  Somewhat disappointed - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Daniel in Florida - November 20 - 5:03 pm

  Ive driven this car for 2 years. Plenty of power, very pretty car to look at from outside, feels pretty plush inside. Corners well. But unfortunately I have had a spat of maintenance problems. Ive had to go to the service 4 times in the last 6 months, for a total of $2500, for various things the car computer reports. Had to replace the A/C compressor at 80K and 4 years of age, but that seems too soon. I was faithful to Nissan having had a new Sentra for 10 years, a used Maxima for 7, both performed well and required minor maintenance. But this last one has left sour taste, and I will now try another brand. I think the 3.5 motor in Altima frame is part of problem.