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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  What a sports car is all about - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By Billy D - April 16 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned my car for over 6 years and purchased it new. It is a true drivers car with emphasis on going fast and doing it well. Practicality and comfort are afterthoughts. The trunk will take a reasonable amount of stuff, as long as you "pour" it around the strut brace. Its handling is very confidence inspiring and the car always eggs me on. Its like its always taunting me: "You know, you couldve taken that turn faster!" I recently replaced the OEM tires with BF Goodrich KDWs. Gas mileage plummeted, but grip is outrageous. The new tires turned my Z from a nice car to a race car. Engine is fantastic: incredibly reliable, predictable, smooth

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  Transmissions - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By PRDR - April 16 - 2:00 am

  Same problem radiator fluid leaked into the transmission. This is my second Nissan I love my 92 Nissan SE, and I still have it, so it is why I brought the second Nissan Pathfinder 2005 SE 6CL 4WD, but I will never buy another Nissan again. Not only that the electrical modular that controls the car went, it shuts down the car down completely, which cost a pretty penny to fix. Now I see they have a recall on that starting in December 2010. They need to do the right thing and recall these particular Makes and Models fix their issues and any revert of those issues. Come now Nissan do the right thing and keep loyal customers. Oh heat shields rattle like mad. Same problem on 1992 model too.

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  1997 Pathfinder SUV - 1997 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Gene Ferioli - April 14 - 8:23 pm

  My 1997 Nissan Pathfinder has been rock solid. It is poor on gas mileage, but worth it. I just bought another 2005 Pathfinder. The redesigned body is great!

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  Not perfect, but a very good truck... - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By Oompa - April 14 - 10:03 am

  I test drive this truck and was amazed by the power and some nice features it has. Its a very good truck, but I still believe there are some things that can be done to make it even better. All in all, I really like it and would certainly recommend anyone in search of a nice truck to go and test drive one. Im certain youll really like. Styling is much better then that of Dodge and Chevy. Ive owned both a Ford and Chevy before. The Chevy was a good truck, but not as good as my Titan. The Ford on the other hand was nothing but headaches...something was always going out on it. Again, check out the Nissan and you wont be disappointed. Oh, and its fun driving this truck!

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  Interior cramped - 2006 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Jerry - April 13 - 11:23 am

  Front interior room is tight (& Im under 6 foot)but passable. Middle seats are OK for kids but much too tight for adults--and theres no room for anything on the floor. The rear rumble seats are for kids only. Vehicle is deceptive as its looks large enough from the outside but the interior is actually cramped. Doesnt hold enough cargo for a family of 4. Maybe were spoiled from our van. Also, the paint quality is not so great. It scratches easily and a small chip an 1/8th of inch in diameter on the hood has rusted. In any case, should have gotten something else--perhaps a Pilot. Fortunately, its a lease so when my time is done, its gone. No more Nissans 4 me.

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  This crossover thingamajig rocks! - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By Bob Bitchin - April 13 - 2:00 am

  Smooth, comfortable and stylish - whats not to like! So far, no build quality issues (like rattles, etc.). Gas mileage is a bit less than advertised - about 18.5 mpg overall in 6 months.

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  Maximas are over-rated - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By morrieb - April 13 - 2:00 am

  The vehicle is difficult to maneuver in tight place and narrow driveways due to the 18" wheels. Visibility over the hood is nonexistant (Im 61") and it is next to impossible to determine by visual cues just how close one is to a forward object. Outside mirrows obstruct drivers view of curbs by blocking out about 50 degrees to the left and right of the outside scene. The adjustment control for the outside mirrows is poorly located and not well designed and is hidden by the steering wheel. Finally, the local gas milege is not very good. I get about 16.5 MPG in local driving. The EPA of 20 MPG on MSRP is unrealistic.

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  Some problems with this truck, normal? - 1998 Nissan Frontier
  By sandiego - April 11 - 10:00 am

  Bought this truck new in 98 and here are some problems Im having: Bushing in stabilizer bar been replaced twice; radio light is dying; A/C is very noisy and horsepower is lost when on; clutch is dying at 56k; horrible gas mileage; well see if this truck makes it to the 100k w/o spending too much in repairs! this truck is fun to drive though, and very nice ergonomics. So-so resale value.

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  Schmieds Review - 2000 Nissan Pathfinder
  By schmied - April 11 - 10:00 am

  I havent had any problems with this car. Its been great and fun. Lots of power...just be careful make a turn after it just started raining. Its engine is very powerful and you could lose control. Comfortable vehicle.

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  great car for its class - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By cars129 - April 9 - 1:12 pm

  The nissan altima is a great car for its class. It gets great fuel economey, yet gets decent performance. My car has the tech package. It has Blind spot warning, lane departure warning, and moving object detection.The intierier fit and finish is impressive. The navigation system works well. The optional Bose sound system sounds fine, but not exeptional. It is however better then the standard speakers. The zero gravity seats are quite comfortable. Overall the Altima is a good choice for its segment.