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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  Most car for the money - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By mclarenM5 - July 16 - 10:00 am

  This is one of the best cars you can buy for under 30K. The GLE comes with everything you would ever need. Add cold weather package and traction control and you have the ultimate car. There is nothing more you could want. Traction control works great on ice. Torque steer is noticeable when you step hard on the gas. The brakes stop on a dime. Much smoother than an Acura TL Type S(which costs more) Nissan has re inveneted itself. You cant get into a comparable BMW,Audi,Acura,Lexus for this amount of luxury and performance. Infiniti G35 is great...but RWD in the NE isnt the best.

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  Great Design - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By alopez - July 16 - 10:00 am

  Beautiful design, fun to driving, good performance in city or freeway; excellent performance driving in heavy rain conditions. Interesting interior and exterior design, great features. Poor left back and back visibility, Interior seats does not provide with an arm rest.

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  Still Loving It - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By jna - July 16 - 10:00 am

  What a great vehicle. It is a joy to drive and ride in.

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  simply the best - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By captain brandon - July 16 - 10:00 am

  This car is a dream to drive. It handles great, and the power is strong and smooth. It is so much fun to drive, that it is addictive.

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  My Maxie - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By DonnaT - July 16 - 10:00 am

  This is the first Nissan Ive owned and let me tell you...I love it!!! The 2004 Maxima is beautiful and fun to drive. Im especially enjoying the Navagational system. I highly recommend this wonderful car with its sleek curves and luxuious interior, to anyone desiring a classy vehicle that is fun to drive.

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  READ THIS!! - 1997 Nissan Pathfinder
  By arob0505 - July 16 - 5:15 am

  My father bought a 1997 Pathfinder LE loaded off the showroom in 1997. He was a traveling sales rep and he sold me the car in 2004 with 265k. I drove it until it had 310k and gave it to my little brother in law for his 16th birthday present. He drove it for another year and a half and traded it in on a new Scion. I absolutely loved how smooth the tranny shifted, how quiet the engine was and how roomy the interior was. I loved it so much that I am buying another 1997 SE in 2 days! I think it is one of the best and most underrated SUVs ever made. It eats the snow and dirt and never dies. GET ONE!!

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  Great Vehicle - 2010 Nissan Rogue
  By KSgrl - July 15 - 12:26 pm

  Looked at several different vehicles. I have always purchased Honda vehicles, but decided to try Nissan this time. The price was right at the dealership and the financing rate through Nissan was the clincher. Although we have only driven it around 800 miles, I believe we made the right decision. The ride is real smooth and it will be great both in town and for trips out of town.

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  5k miles & lovin every minute!! - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By dbn8r - July 15 - 4:46 am

  Got my new Murano in April, and just rolled over 5,000 miles! First tank of gas yielded 18 mpg, and Im currently getting 24-25 mpg (half city/half hwy). Not overly conscious of my driving habits, so a little attention could possibly yield even better mpg. Just hit my thirties and was time to move on from my sports car- after a little separation anxiety have never looked back! =D I found the quickness & agility a pleasant surprise over older muranos, and the comfort/mileage/value beat out the Mazda CX-7 & Infiniti FX-35. Its rugged enough to get to construction sites for my job, roomy enough for our two dogs, stylish for a night on the town. Love everything about this car!

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  Glad I made the switch to the Nissan - 2011 Nissan Frontier
  By fighterpilot - July 14 - 6:40 pm

  After owning a 96 4x4 Ranger for 207K miles I was ready for something new. Had been looking at the Frontier for some time and finally bought. Glad I did. I opted for the 4.0L V6 with a 6 speed manual as the automatic proved to be quite a dog upon acceleration. Im 3500 miles in and gas mileage is running about 20-21 when running the AC.

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  My Sentra - 2005 Nissan Sentra
  By erehdogmai - July 14 - 7:23 am

  I love my Sentra! Ive owned Nissans all of my life and am impressed with the quality & features of this Sentra. its a true player in the small car market. I would highly recommend this car to anyone!