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 passenger room and cheap! - 2010 Nissan Versa
  By Pragmatic Bastard - June 26 - 4:00 am

  I bought this hatch because it had more room for passengers than any comparable cars. The Fit handled better, but seemed geared higher & had less room for passengers in back. The Yaris was tiny, had the annoying center gauges & felt like it would roll easily. Over 6500 miles, my Versa is getting 32 mpg (rural commute). The car is comfy, stable & handles well. It is too early to predict long term reliability. The only major knock I have is the drivetrain. The 6 speed manual needs a higher overdrive. The Clutch is a bit vague & needs to have more "feel". My total price was $15,000 out the door with California taxes and title for a 1.8S with power package, VDC and 5 yr. 0.9%. financing.

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  Best car Ive owned - 1999 Nissan Maxima
  By Liza - June 26 - 1:03 am

  I bought this car in 2000 with 14000 miles on it. The guys at the dealership put 3000 miles on it before I bought it. When I saw it had a 5 speed 6 cylinder engine, I bought it right away. Now with 130000+ miles on it it still runs good as new, with no major problems to report. The only problem I have ever had was a sensor that needed to be replaced & routine maintenance. I just bought an SUV and I didnt have the heart to trade the Maxima in. Hopefully Ill get another 100000 miles out of it!

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  Lots of Bang for the Buck! - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By CARL K. - June 26 - 12:00 am

  Chose to lease the Sentra because of all the features that came with the car. On my SL model, leather, sunroof, XM radio, keyless entry and ignition, like on cars 2x the price.

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  Love my new Rogue - 2010 Nissan Rogue
  By New Roguer - June 25 - 5:56 pm

  I love my new Rogue! I have only had it for a few weeks but am in love! I was looking for a certain style and there was not a lot out there in my price range. I upgraded from an 11 year Altima and I am really enjoying the ride so far. I like being up higher than a standard car but didnt want anything too big and this is perfect! Definite blind spot but I can deal with it.

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  Good long distance driving car - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Gatorgirl05 - June 25 - 12:23 pm

  Ive had my Altima for almost two years. Most of the miles on my car are interstate driving. It drives very well. The backseat is very comfortable. My dad is 64" and he was shocked that he could sit in the back comfortably. Overall I have been really pleased with the car.

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  Poor Service - 2009 Nissan Rogue
  By crossover - June 24 - 9:26 pm

  Nice looking car,(2009 Rogue), but has some annoying electrical problems that Nissan service department cant find, or even acknowledge that they dont know what to do. The car is not even one year old yet, but I will trade this car in the next few months. There are No more Nissans in my future.

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  Z35th Review - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By Scott - June 24 - 12:06 pm

  Love this car! Excellent experience. Must have! So much fun to drive and the style is sweet.

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  Lots of pep@1600 miles - 2013 Nissan Frontier
  By hoosierhaunts - June 24 - 10:09 am

  So far I like it. Toyota 2wd sat low. Rear seats are better than Toyota too. Love the blue metallic exterior color. Too new and too early to review gas mileage. Think it will be fine. Does not seem to be thirsty. 3rd Nissan truck Ive owned. First crew cab, with V6 5A. When Im not driving my Nissan truck, Im a driving a FedEx truck. My Nissan Frontier handles well at highway and interstates, no problems.

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  Good but not Great - 2007 Nissan Murano
  By KC - June 24 - 8:46 am

  I have driven large SUVs for the past 6 years, Ford Expedition and Chevy Tahoe. The Murano has a smother trans. and a very fun suspension. The stereo needs an mp3 jack and a bit better speakers. Id also like to have heated seats as well. Electric leather seats are comfortable and very user friendly. I like the addition of the pedals that come forward. Gas mileage (avg 22 mpg) is a bit lower than expected, but much better than the large SUVs. AWD is great. There is a rattling sound that should not be heard on a new vehicle - one that the dealer could not find. Also, the 3.5l engine pings a lot even with super unleaded gas.

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  Ill buy another Nissan - 1999 Nissan Sentra
  By Saideh - June 24 - 6:06 am

  This was my second car. I bought it new 6 years ago, when I was a still a teen. Now Im thinking of passing it on to my little sis because it has been very reliable, never a single mechanical problem and has great gas mileage.