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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  Lovin every mile!! - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By MDC - September 2 - 10:00 am

  Elite package with VDC.Great car, yet I havent fully broken her in just yet.Ive got about 400 miles left.I fell in love the moment I sat in it.Design, performace, and luxury! Definately no regrets!I just love the reaction I get when I drive by.

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  Problem with frontend - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By Val - September 1 - 3:13 pm

  Fun car to drive and has a great pick up and go but keep having problems with the front end. I have replaced both wheel bears, brakes & tires with only have 58K. still making a noise like the brakes are low when I stop but when I replace the bearings it stopped the steering wheel from shaking.

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  Nice Ride - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By CJR - September 1 - 2:00 am

  I think that the Murano is one of the best cars around right now. They have so many features and being a college student, it isnt that expensive on gas (i live in Alabama). Nav system, DVD entertainment package, Bose, heated seats and the list goes on!!

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  Great little car... - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By curegirl0421 - August 30 - 2:23 pm

  Unfortunately it looks as if the other reviewer got a bit of a lemon; I have enjoyed driving this car, although I will agree its a bit on the loud side. The only thing I truly have had issue with is the interior seems to be just snapped together and I often have to smack panels back in place, but for a cheap car, I cant complain. Gas mileage... well, I made it from Denver to Tucson and back on 4 1/2 tanks of gas... you do the math!

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  Excellent - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By Kristen - August 30 - 2:36 am

  When I am behind the wheel I feel so powerful I automatically have a smile on my face I can say I am in love with my car.....

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  Best sedan under $55,000 - 2009 Nissan Maxima
  By jcrichie - August 30 - 2:10 am

  I have owned my white Maxima with premium and technology packages for 3 months and 5000 miles. I absolutely love the car. My budget was anything less than around $55k when I was looking which included the Lexus GS350, ES 350, Acura TL and RL. I needed a larger car and wanted something fully loaded out so I didnt bother looking at BMW or Mercedes. The car is very, very comparable to my business partners Audi A6 4.2, right down to the rear window shade and rear view camera that shows intended travel path. The quality of the materials is very comparable and all for $30k less. This car gets many looks and looks great with the dual sunroof. Highly recommended.

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  Bang for your buck! - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By Martymd21ser - August 29 - 6:30 pm

  I love my Altima. I test drove all the leading mid-sized sedans and the Altima won my pick. This vehicle is so much fun to drive! It has power like no other! I loved the car so much that I brought a second one. This time I went for the 3.5 SE-R!

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  Best Car Ever - 2009 Nissan Altima
  By Franny67 - August 29 - 2:23 pm

  I will be honest, I never liked the Altimas before the rebody, they were cheap and you could tell. Now I am so impressed with the styling & craftmanship, I dont think I will ever stray away again!!

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  Meets and Exceeds Expectations - 2009 Nissan GT-R
  By lvgtr - August 29 - 6:56 am

  Just received my GTR. Its always a risk to purchase based on hype, rumours and reviews but not being able to test-drive. However, this car exceeded my expectations and is incredibly fun to drive. Of course the power is there and I expected it. What I didnt expect is the awesome double clutched auto-manual transmission. It shifts so quickly and precisely! Only problems so far are passenger door not aligned to close properly and some kind of problem with the bluetooth calling numbers without my knowledge (kind of embarrassing). Overall, a historic and great car. Engineering marvel.

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  350Z review - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By robbycc - August 28 - 10:00 am

  This car is the most fun to drive of any I have driven (Fiero, supercharged Miata, BMW Issetta etc.). The car is glued to the road. The ride is firm and smooth, but tells you all you need to know about the road surface. The performance is quick. The push is strong throughout the rpm range. Very easy to drive fast on back country roads from the day you get behind the wheel. Not sure why they only charge $30,000 for this car. I drive it to work every day and I look forward to the trip each day.