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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  STAY AWAY FROM THIS VEHICLE!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By JA - January 27 - 10:00 am

  After buying this vehicle I started having problems with it. There was a leak coming out of the sunglass holder anytime that it rained. After 3 times at the dealership they still havent found the source of the problem. Both sliding doors are still rattling even after the recall. This vehicle looks nice but Nissan has to get off there butt and take care of all the problems before they start selling them to the public. IM GETTING MY QUEST BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP TODAY AND TRADING IT IN TOMORROW FOR A FORD SUV. DONT BUY THIS VEHICLE EVEN IF IT IS THE LAST ONE ON EARTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  Steering Wheel problem, rattling noise - 2009 Nissan Versa
  By nick - January 14 - 3:50 pm

  Steering wheel rattles everytime I enter exit driveways, bumpy parking lots, when turning left and right. I have this being checked since the first two months of my maintenance and no one could fix it. I think this is a factory defect parts. Services in 2 dealerships have failed my satisfaction already. I have email Nissan Canada, nobody seems to care. So I from now on, after that I could dispose this vehicle, no more Nissan for me. Thats it. Id rather buy a bit higher priced car than with this brand.

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  Update - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By Chris - January 5 - 12:46 am

  5 months and 3100 this garbage heap is going back for the third time. Now the alarm does not work properly, the passenger side door panel is pulling away from the door, and Nissan has informed us that the car is being recalled for brakes. Could explain the front end banging the service department had "no clue where it was coming from". Gas mileage is poor still. Never again. It is back to Ford at lease end.

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  36 MPG!? HA! - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By CKS - December 30 - 2:30 am

  I have had this car for 8 months now and am averaging 24 MPG! Most of my travel is highway so I would expect much better mileage than that. Ive already had to have the fuel pump and O2 sensor replaced at the dealership after the check engine light came on. And the interior starting making rattling noises 2 months after owning the vehicle. The ride is pretty comfortable, but the seats can get pretty uncomfortable after a few hours driving. The biggest problem I have with this car is the horrible fuel mileage Im getting. I bought this car to save gas mileage, not get the same as my 96 Nissan Maxima or my 05 Toyota Sienna.

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  RECALL - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By krudulph - December 27 - 6:19 am

  Dont buy this car, I have experienced one problem after another from the transmission failing in 2 years from the catalytic converter and solenoid failing at 5. That is over $8,000 in repairs. Do your homework on the Maxima years 2004-06 (mine is a 2005). There is a class action lawsuit against Nissan. Beware, this is an absolute lemon!

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  disappointment - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By esky71 - December 26 - 10:00 am

  I promised myself I would never spend my hard-earned money on a sleepy Japanese automobile. When it came time, it seemed like my only option so, I avoided Honda Accord and Toyota Camry because they are REALLY boring. And I chose Nissan Altima hoping it would be less boring - its not. Despite the extra horsepower, the ride is just as mundane as Camry- actually just as mundane as Oldsmobile Eighty Eight. Not only that, my service was a disgrace and the car rattles in a new place every time I sneeze. I can not wait until it is time to trade it in and Ill be on my way to a Pre-Owned BMW or Mercedes dealer. European cars are the only option from this car forward!

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  Great MPG BUT... - 2015 Nissan Altima
  By Dave in MN - December 21 - 11:56 pm

  I purchased an 2015 Altima 2.5SL(new) in August of 2014. I live in MN so I went through a winter with it. Things I liked, MPG was phenomenal, lots of room, audio system was great, ride was comfortable. Things I didnt like, I started to notice what appeared to be rust forming on the trunk where the chrome attaches to the trunk(Dec 14). I kept an eye on it and in March(15) the rust was very noticeable, I contacted my dealer and they didnt seem shocked at all. They said it was fairly common. WTF? The car was 6 months old. They "fixed" it and within a month it was showing rust again. This time they had the body shop fix it. Then about a month later a started to notice rust around the back door opening. I was told it was due to gravel. Hmm I had an Acura TSX which I owned for 10 years and drove on the same roads and didnt have any rust until year 10. After the THIRD round of rust in LESS THAN a year i dumped the rust bucket. I dont know what to tell you other than I have read other reviews with the same rust issues. That is a quality control problem. i wish I could recommend the Altima but i cant. 3 issues with Rust on a car less than a year old is unacceptable. One round is bad but THREE!!! Buyer be ware.

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  Bad Desigh - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By M-Biker - December 21 - 10:00 am

  Only had the van a few month it has been in the shop for about two weeks with transmission problems, poor air conditioning, and sever ratttles. Nissan will not change the poor shifting of the transmission and the air conditioning of the van becasue they say it meets the factory criteria and all other Quests are the same. Extremely disappointed in Nissan, they used to produce quality cars!

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  Poor Quality high price - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By joseph misrendino - December 21 - 10:00 am

  This car has the low profile look and price of a sports sedan.It runs on premium fuel like a sports sedan but that s where thre simalarity ends. the Tourque steer is so strong it is dangerious,mine came with limited slip Diferential and the pull on excelleration is still cripleing.The steering feels loose over 60mph. Dificulty seeing over the dashbord. interior is poor quality. shifer is nochy with a lot of play, feels cheep.my carshifter tends to pop out of gear a huge safty hazerd.7)the car feel bigger than it is.The turning radius is huge for a car this size.my vechicle has been in 3 times for the shifter sliping out of gear,consumer affairs has heard

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  CAUTION - Big Mistake - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By K Clark - December 14 - 8:40 am

  I am VERY DISAPOINTED. I purchased the Armada 7/04 new. It has been in the shop now 6 times in the last 6 months. The dealership is great and is sympathetic to my problems. Overhead compartment squeeks like crazy. New Tork Converter, Transmission, 4 New Michelin Tires and New Overhead Compartment @ 7300 miles. Sunroof rattles along with everything else. New brakes @10,500 miles. Front end still shakes. waiting for next go around of rattles to start. Overall 30+ business days in shop so far. I have called Nissan Corporate 4 times they promise calls back, but never deliver. I was thinking of creating a web sight called "My Armada Squeeks, Rattles and Shakes." Think before you buy!