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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  Versatile Versa - 2009 Nissan Versa
  By MetallicMoment - June 7 - 11:30 pm

  Traded in my old 1995 Nissan 4X4 king cab for the 2009 Versa 1.6 L sedan with ABS and AC (cash for clunkers) The Versa is very comfortable, quiet, and very peppy on the road. Happy to have the AC and the ABS, no radio though. I got 400 miles on the 13.2 gallon fuel tank, not too shabby and that is with the AC on and in a lot of stop and go traffic. Looked at the Yaris but it was more expensive and not as comfortable or quiet and considerably less roomy. The Honda Fit was also less comfortable and less roomy plus more expensive. The Versa may not be flashy looking but it covers all the bases and then some.

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  The Truth - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By Sirrobe - June 7 - 10:50 pm

  I am Nissan Maxima man, but the 2005 Maxima has let me down. The design is great, but the front wheel shakes like crazy once you reach about 50-60 mph. I dont believe that Nissan has done a good job with this one.

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  Cant Stop Smiling! - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By theojac - June 7 - 10:30 pm

  Just purchased a 2004 cherry red 350z with black drop top and black leather w/only 19000 miles...Ive read the other reviews and agree that it is such an enjoyable ride that you will find any excuse to drive it...and it is a head turner. This is like heaven on the eyes. I would put the design of this roadster up with any other sports car at any price...its just that beautiful!

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  A Nice SUV - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By drift2u - June 7 - 8:16 pm

  Just bought it and drove it home from the dealership. It has 56k on it. I really like how high you sit. I drove an Outlander (Mitsubishi, 4 cylinder, AWD) for years. What a difference the 6 cylinder makes, WOW! Love it! Trip computer shows an average of 19.8 mpg. Wondering what I will get on the hwy. I was only getting 22 with my previous car, so I am hopeful that this will get close to the same. I do a lot of hwy travel, so I may get a little better gas mileage!

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  2005 Xterra - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By Kent - June 7 - 12:23 pm

  Purchased a new left-over 2005 Xterra S two weeks ago. Was looking at the Liberty, but the Xterra has so many more features and rides much better, and got it for a slightly better price. The truck has a great stance - aggressive and stylish - and the dark black is an eye-catcher. Lots of compliments. Very comfortable inside and the truck just rides and feels solid. Just as fun as my 2001 Jetta. The seats are great and the 6 speed manual is german-car quality.

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  2002 Nissan Xterra - 2002 Nissan Xterra
  By Spinnsetter - June 7 - 3:53 am

  The perfect vehicle for me, its great on the beach, in the mud, or on the rough high terrain of the mountains. No matter where you are driving, it delivers the goods, comfort, quality, and durability. Now, here comes the best part, I recently totaled it while coming home from work one late evening. I hit a ditch head on at 50 mph, shortly after hitting a tree, and also flipped front over back. When the SUV finally came to a rolling stop on the roof, I unbuckled my seat belt and climbed out. I suffered only mild back pain from the accident. The frame and build of the Xterra saved my life. Soon after I bought a 2003 model, and I love it just as much as my original. - Thanks Nissan!

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  Excellent Vehicle, Excellent Value - 2007 Nissan Maxima
  By Hard To Please - June 7 - 1:50 am

  Having owned numerous performance (sports oriented) vehicles and luxury vehicles, I remain impressed with our new Maxima SE. We have the Driver Preferred Package. The Maxima feels and looks luxurious while driving as a high performance sedan should. Very crisp handling in everyday driving. It compares favorably to the 5 series BMW we had. Its front wheel drive is an advantage in inclement weather. We also had a 2003 Towncar. By comparison, the Maxima has even more luxury and none of the wallowy ride and vague handling. Very good value for the money we spent compared to the Avalon, TL, CTS, etc. we considered.

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  Fantastic,fun and beautiful - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By bob forest - June 6 - 9:30 am

  this is my second one, and it cant get any better. good gas mileage on long trips 30 miles to the gallon. very comfortable, great sound system and very reliable.

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  My first truck - 2006 Nissan Frontier
  By Hank - June 5 - 7:53 am

  Love it, lots of power, drive and handles great. added soft cover, step rails, fog lights. Chrome on black looks great. Other than oil change it has not been anywhere for repairs.

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  Glad to have it! - 2012 Nissan Murano
  By tim2628 - June 4 - 3:01 pm

  My wife and I have not been able to afford a Murano until now, and are glad to have it. You truly cant beat the comfort or power in this thing. We had a 2010 Altima with all the specs, and that doesnt even compare to the Murano. We averaged about 23MPG from Florida to Illinois and back with a fully loaded and weighed down vehicle (plenty of space). Handled excellent in Chicago and Atlanta traffic with plenty of power when I needed it. No issues at all. If I baby it, it will get close to 28MPG, or 19MPG if I have too much fun. Was hoping it got closer to 28MPG with normal highway driving (70-80MPH), but 23MPG is still great. LOVE IT!!