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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  A little short of great - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By Dubs - December 27 - 1:26 am

  The car is good, and just comes up short on a couple things. I would have liked the Sentra to have the same push-button as the Altima. Also, it doesnt have daytime running lights, which is a standard feature in Canada. Hmm... anyway, the CVT is nice, but not for those who crave performance. The bluetooth works well, and I hate plastic rims, so the 16" aluminum-alloy option is a must. The Rockford system is nice, but my rear-plastic rattles a little, nothing a little dynamite wont fix though. Dont read too much into my complaints, overall Im happy with my new Sentra and I expect there to be some shortcomings in a value-priced car. Look at the SE-R for some more power.

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  The 2015 I just purhcased in May is my third Titan - 2015 Nissan Titan
  By Cheryl Vieau - December 26 - 6:58 am

  My first Titan was a 2008. I had that truck for 4 years. Never had any trouble with it, loved it. It was totaled when a larger truck ran a stop sign and T-boned my truck. I walked away, took the insurance money and purchased my 2012. This year, I traded, what I thought would be "up" to the 2015. The 2015 interior design on the doors had changed, and for the worse. Very upset. Calling the dealership again this morning, because the "new" door Assembly is separating worse than the original door they replaced. Poor design? Poor materials? Very disappointed. Curious how I will be received this morning when I once again call the Service Dept...

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  Fun and economical. - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By alienyzf - December 24 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car to get better gas mileage, but I didnt want a econobox I would get bored with. 6 speed manual and plenty of power.

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  Great SUV if gas prices were not so high - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By HornsManiac - December 24 - 10:00 am

  Unfortunately, you must burn super premium grade gas. I regularly spend $35 for a tank of gas that only gets me about 200 miles. The sun roof could have been designed better, because both the wind deflector and the basket really restrict its use. As far as the rest of the SUV goes I could not be more pleased. It has a very sporty look both inside and out. It also is very rugged looking and you can tell this SUV is much closer to being a truck than a car. Stadium style seating in the back is a plus. The Rockford Fosgate premium sound with the in dash CD changer is the best stock stereo system Ive heard.

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  Good - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By SRPatt - December 24 - 10:00 am

  We are really enjoying our new Xterra. We just took a small overnight trip about 800 miles roundtrip and was very comfortable. We drove a 1998 Chevy Tahoe before, and even my husband lover our Xterra!!! He has been amazed at all of them we pass on the roads, now that we have one. It is a great mid sized SUV.

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  Everything but the seats - 2016 Nissan 370Z
  By John Hall - December 22 - 6:27 pm

  2016 is late in the model life of the 370Z, and it appears Nissan has worked out all the bugs and the Z has become a very reliable vehicle. The Sport Tech model has all the bells and whistles a person could need. Handling is great with very brisk acceleration and steering. The 370Z is the perfect evolution of the famous Nissan Z line. After the first two weeks and 500 miles, I took the Z on a 2900 mile 4 day trip. Weither cruising the Interstate at 80MPH or winding through the mountains of North Carolina, the Z performs flawlessly. The tires are somewhat noisy but a throaty exhaust easily compensates. As much as I like this vehicle, I am extremely disappointed with the seats! A $40k vehicle and both front seats are crappy, mechanical ones expected in a vehicle a third the price. The seats are also so narrow and uncomfortable only a teenager could be comfortable in them. When I was shopping, I didnt even ask about power memory seats; I just assumed they were standard for the price. If my trade hadnt already been sold, this would have killed the deal. I was told power memory seats werent necessary in this type of sports car and by opting for manual seats they save space and weight. No, its a bean counters way to cut cost. Every valet, every car wash, every mechanic has to crank the seat to suit THEM and I it seems to take me forever to get the seat adjusted to my comfort again. Every other vehicle Ive owned the past 20 years has had power memory seats; push a button and its all back to my setting. Even the 370Z Roadster has power seats.

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  Nice Ride - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By Robocop - December 22 - 10:00 am

  I love this car. After my 99 Civic was stolen, I bought the Maxima 2000 Se. The Civic was also found. So now I have the Civic and Maxima. Paid in full cash. Pretty cheap :):)

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  Downshift in Quality - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By karrun - December 22 - 10:00 am

  My Sentra now has 4100 miles and I am having problems already. I feel like the car is impossible to control at high speeds. As far as the summertime, the AC completely kills any power the car has. It makes merging a nightmare. Have taken to turning the AC off (our turbo switch) to get that power back in a merge situation. The sunvisors on both sides are completely inadequate. There is WAY too much space on the drivers side windshield wiper that is not wiped away (it makes a big difference when you cant see). My ABS brakes are starting to grind already.

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  not the prettiest peach! - 2008 Nissan Versa
  By kasey - December 22 - 9:33 am

  I love this car. Straight up. Personally, I think the exterior design leaves a bit to be desired. However, Ive put 40k hard-driven city and highway miles on it since purchase (1/08) and its given me no problems.. Other than a recalled starter issue, which was covered by Nissan. I have the hatchback, and am mindblown by the amount of stuff and people I can comfortably pack into the versa. Nice base stereo, interior design is intuitive and ambient. I have manual trans with the standard 6-speed, Nice for highway driving. A bit squirrely on highways during windy weather and suspension is indeed soft. Standard stereo has trouble reading mp3 cds sometimes. Solid deal for a tough little car.

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  overall nice car - 2008 Nissan Xterra
  By raindeer - December 20 - 3:03 pm

  I have my XTerra now almost 1.5 years, and I never regret buying it. However, I think, the dealership ripped me off a bit. The car is fun to drive, just a bit hard over bumps in the road. I wouldnt recommend it to anyone with back problems. I frequently drive long distances, and Its a bit tough on gas mileage, which is even worse in the city. One tank filling lasts about 360 highway miles. The air condition is o.k., but not great during the hot season in Louisiana. Features, that I miss: The tank is not lockable, and the dealer told me not to buy a lockable tank lid, because this would not seal properly. The antenna cant be pushed in. The sound system is awful.