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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  ABS Brakes - PLEASE - 2000 Nissan Sentra
  By TY - August 12 - 10:00 am

  Yes, I have that chirping noise in the morning before the car is warmed. It started at $11k miles. I thought it was the brand of gas I was using. NOT! Okay, the brakes. The car skids even at 15 to 25 miles. I drive two to three cars back on the highway and streets rain or shine. Its a great car - but it needs a better braking system.

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  overall good car - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By jay123456 - August 12 - 10:00 am

  the spec-v has a lot of power for its class. six-speed is awesome, but a little jumpy. i have been driving stick for years and was hoping the transmission was a little bit smoother on this new car. i have continental contisport tires on from the dealer, they have been rated bad for wet roads, but so far have held up well in rainy conditions. suspension is really tight. overall the car is excellent for its class and value. very sporty looking and at the same time very practical and gets pretty good gas mileage.

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  not yet sold - 2002 Nissan Frontier
  By workinmanstruck - August 12 - 10:00 am

  Not yet sold on this vehicle. I have a 2002 V6 4x4 XE king cab. Gas milage good at 20-21 mph everywhere. Having problem with clunky brakes, fade in pedal, long stops and heavy pulling to left. Loud wurring noise,like that of a power steering pump is getting on my nerves. Fit and finish not the greatest. At 7k miles (8 weeks old )it is starting to get squeeky. Motor is loosening up and acceleration is improving. Love the look, price was right. Will be making first trip to dealer for service, well see how that goes.

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  350ZZZZZZZZZ - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By Bill - August 9 - 9:23 pm

  Great car as stock and I dont think additional cost of other versions worthwhile. Best performance bang for the buck with perfect reliability and comfort.

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  O2 sensors are a pain - 1999 Nissan Maxima
  By mark - August 9 - 9:13 pm

  Bought it in 02 when it came off a lease. I put new BF Goodrich tractions on last year. Even at 6 years old, its fun to toss around. The standard 120 watt stereo(made by Clarion for Nissan) is nowhere near the BOSE but is OK. Dealer service was great. Glad I bought the extended warranty as Ive replaced two O2 sesors and need a third already.

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  Through thick and thin - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By BX - August 9 - 6:43 pm

  I have been hit twice by other negligent drivers and my Altima has kept me safe each time with little damage while the drivers at fault suffered major damages. This only confirms to me that my Altima is a tough cookie. I have been complaining about all of the cosmetic things such as boring interior and basic sound system. However, I have realized now that safety is more important! One downfall would be that Im a petite person and the head rest and seat is not really comfortable for someone short like me. Other than this, my Altima is a gem. It rides smoothly, has good pickup, pretty decent gas mileage, and has a great design. Thank you Nissan!

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  Its Fun - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By darren - August 9 - 10:00 am

  My wife owns this, and its a treat to drive. Lots of power, good size and a useful trunk. Had some trouble with the transmission, which Nissan fixed FOC, but it shouldnt have happened. Id buy it again though

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  2004 Titan - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By SoulFish - August 9 - 10:00 am

  Great truck for the buck

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  tight interior - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By demorambo - August 9 - 10:00 am

  fun to drive, gets attention on the road, but has no decent rear view, uncomfortable seating. Price was right but I should have test driven it more to determine it lacked interior space.

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  From Fla to NE - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By G. Lance - August 9 - 7:20 am

  Having the vehicle in Fla was great until I moved to NE. Being flat, no hills and no pot holes in Fla I believed this SUV was as smooth as silk. Ha! being in the country in NE up and down hills, windy roads, uneven pavement and pot holes I found out pretty quickly how noisy, unbalanced and terrible the suspension was on this vehicle. However I have been quite lucky and surprised by how it handled in the snow considering I have no 4wd and Ive been in 12-18" of snow many of times. I have had issues with the breaks and seem to have to get the pads and rotors redone about 2x per year other that that no other problems with the vehicle.