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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  Great Truck - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By sah - July 5 - 2:53 pm

  Have owned this car since new, continue to keep this while trading/leasing others. The size, ride and functionality are incomparable and we have had minimal problems with a first year model. Highly recommend this vehicle to those considering. Do your homework. The brake concerns are to be expected for a large, heavy SUV that gets traditional auto miles. We have 65k miles and are going in for our second brake job... the first was covered. 2nd set of tires are in great shape. Compare to a Suburban/Expedition by taking a drive test... it is a hands down winner.

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  smilingary - 2015 Nissan Versa
  By Gary Gibbens - July 5 - 12:59 pm

  I get 41 mpg easy on highway at 70 mph. I also took a drive on a road with only 2 stops in 40 miles and no traffic I drove at 50 mph and got 54.7 mpg. I could not believe it myself but I double checked it. In the city it is hard to get 31 mpg. The car labors to get up to speed and looses gas mileage. I usually get about 29 mpg. If you want a fast car this is not the one. If you want gas millage this is a choice. Over all I am happy so far.

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  Bulletproof - 1996 Nissan Altima
  By mikelrb - July 4 - 10:00 am

  Have had this for 32 months. Super reliable. No maintenance other than oil changes. Now has 85,000 miles. Just goes and goes and goes. Never had such a reliable car. Has sold me on Nissan / Infiniti. Looking to get an Infiniti or Maxima. Not real comfortable for long drives, but does the trick. Around town, just fine. Get up and go when you need it from a 4-banger. Mileage a little low for this size engine. Overall super value.

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  Infinitly better than a chevy - 1995 Nissan Pathfinder
  By pathfindercomment - July 4 - 10:00 am

  I bought this truck slightly used and have put over 120,000 miles on it over the last 7 years. A few problems were fixed before the warranty ran out (speedometer replaced and exhaust pipes replaced) and I recenty bought a new transmission. The engine still runs great, and Ill be disappointed if I dont get to 200,000 miles. I continually get compliments for how well its holding up. Overall a great ride.

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  real suv - 2000 Nissan Xterra
  By xterra fan - July 4 - 10:00 am

  I purchased this vehicle with 50k on it. It has been the most fun to drive vehicle Ive ever owned. It has a much better feel off road and on than my previous explorer. It still feels tighter than my explorer did when it was new.

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  real suv - 2000 Nissan Xterra
  By Xterra fan - July 4 - 10:00 am

  I purchased this vehicle with 50k on it. It has been the most fun to drive vehicle Ive ever owned. It has a much better feel off road and on than my previous explorer. It still feels tighter than my explorer did when it was new.

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  Just got it - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By evetsv - July 4 - 10:00 am

  Bought the 2003 because my old car was a 5 speed 91 Celica and I just got tired of the shifting in rush hour traffic and it was time for a new car! Since the 2004 model was out, Deland Nissan offered great incentives to move the 03 and everyone at the dealship has been outstanding! Got an excellent deal, including what I got for the trade in. Since Ive had the car less than a month, it has , of course, performed flawlessly. Great ride and handling.

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  24,000mi & not a single problem - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By G - July 4 - 10:00 am

  24,000 miles. No issues at all. Some aftermarket performance parts. Navigation System is amazing (prefer DVD though), Very roomy for 5. All of my friends/family love this car! I cant stop driving it. 2k-up Mustang GT autos are no match. JUST BRING IT

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  Those bad reviews are so far off!! Wow! - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By Peter - July 4 - 10:00 am

  I read all the reviews here before buying, and now that I have the vehicle, i think its so funny what some of the others say! The ride is so smooth, it drives like a sports car, and i keep finding new features i didnt know about everyday! I trading in my bmw for this, and I turn alot more heads now! And the soundsystem! Wow!

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  Nissan makes a great car - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By abstractor1 - July 4 - 10:00 am

  I got my SE with Elite package 10 days ago. I really like the design from the sleek exterior to the rocket ship interior. My father-in-laws observation is how futuristic in design it looks. It is fun to drive, and the car tends to want to drive faster than legal speeds and I constantly find myslf having to slow down. I have owned 3 other Nissans and an Infiniti so Nissan continues to impress me. Highly recommended!