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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  Nissan has Solid Hybrid - 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By CH - October 10 - 4:13 pm

  Just purchased the car for my commute to work and while I havent driven it enough to be an authority user, Im pleased overall with the car and its performance: ride is smooth. Got the tech package which may not be worth the $ since the nav system isnt as intuitive as others in the aftermarket. Also, while the rear camera is cool, I dont use it much since parking habits die hard. My biggest complaint revolves around the vibrations when system goes from EV to gas mode and back - its very noticeable. Potential buyers: test drive! The brakes also seem to kick-back at times and Im not sure whether this is b/c the car is new, if its the VDC kicking on or something else.

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  Disappointing - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By DDiehl - October 10 - 12:06 pm

  This is my first and, unfortunately, last Titan. I was immediately drawn to it due to its looks, power, and roomy back seat (no one comes close to 2nd row seat). The front bucket seats are extremely comfortable, especially for long trips, and the initial fit and finish of the interior is great. I tow a lot during the summer and it pulls effortlessly and handles well. But I have had nothing but problems. First, they had a shimmer/shake brake issue that was recalled, but just a "quick fix" performed (ground down rotors, which eventually warped). There are so many squeaks and rattles in and behind the dash its almost maddening. Very cheap lock mechanism on outside storage compartment.

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  Safe - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By DNC - October 8 - 10:16 am

  I was in a fairly bad crash with this car when another driver turned into me. The car was totaled but no one in my car was hurt, and judging from the damage someone in my car should have been. I am truly thankful that I drove a Versa.

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  Good but not Great. - 2007 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Jay - October 8 - 5:43 am

  My Black on Black SE gets A LOT of compliments. I havent had any problems with fit or finish. For $28k the radio feels pretty cheap. It has loads of power but the distortion is pretty bad when cranked up. No aux port or MP3 formats really limits things. The MPG is horrible, I barely get into the 20 range with my highway driving. Driving moderately or aggressively the engine feels strong, if a little too loud. Touch the gas pedal lightly and the engine roars. The third row seats and loads of cargo space proved very helpful over the holidays. The heater has an on/off feel. Its hard to get the right temperature setting. All in all its got loads of style and appeal and I am happy with my purchase.

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  Fun Car With Uncertainty - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By arcadianwings - October 7 - 2:26 pm

  Although it is not living up to the advertised gas mileage, Versa is fun and comfortable to drive in daily commute as well as long trips. The S trim is no-frill and down-to-earth. For the price I paid, Id almost think its a steal if I have not come across some of the build quality issues. After a month of ownership, I have found a rattling plastic panel and a clicking hubcap. I have also had some reservation over the performance. The drivetrain is not responsive enough in certain situations and feels sluggish at times when the A/C is on. Overall, I still believe it is a good buy and only hope that the long term reliability will not be an issue.

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  Good Car - 2004 Nissan Pathfinder
  By ANT313 - October 7 - 2:00 am

  I have the car for almost 2 years now (IT IS A 2002) and there are only 2 complaints that i have, #1 I have gone through 5 radios, (under my warranty) the C.D. player does nothing but skip, the C.D. could be brand new and it skips for no reason. #2 the windows occassionally rattle. So I am putting in a new radio ( not a remanufactured one that Nissan gives you ) and I occassionally hear rattle , besides that I Love my Truck!

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  Godzilla has arrived - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By NissanMan70 - October 7 - 2:00 am

  Look out, its GODZILLA and hes coming at you. Love the Armada, perfect name for this monster. Big as anything, but handles like a mid-size SUV. Interior quality not great and some ergonomic features weirdly placed at first but easy to get use to. Dont know what more can be offered in the Infiniti version QX.

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  Flimsy interior, but fun - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By EEG - October 7 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Nissana used(19,000m) and have had to take advantage of the warranty twice. Once for heating problems, once because a sensor malfunctioned and the car wouldnt start(Still waaiting for the dealership to reimburse for the towing). I do like the car and enjoy the drive. Drives decently in the snow with snow tires all around. I broke my rule about buying a first model year after a major change.

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  Solid Buy - 1996 Nissan Sentra
  By How - October 6 - 10:00 am

  This car has been a solid commuter vehicle. The motor has the punch not found in some small cars. Timing "chain" alleviates some maintanance costs...tune-ups and drive!

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  good compromise - 1998 Nissan Maxima
  By microshitf - October 6 - 10:00 am

  98 Maxima SE, 54k miles, manual transmission. Zero problems so far after 17k miles and one year of ownership (I bought it used). Small quirks: some screeching sounds from time to time from the brake pads, some whinning sounds from the clutch esp during warm weather.