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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  Finally got it right - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By Clifton - May 27 - 2:00 am

  We purchased a 2002 model 5 months ago. Since the date of purchase, the car has been serviced 6 times. We took the vehicle home, and the car had a strong pull. The dealership has aligned the front end 2 times, replaced struts, tires, and the wheel. That being said, the car has been very good on gas and quick with the 4 cylinder engine. My wife enjoys driving the car, and the space that is available. The car is a little noisy traveling on the interstate, but around town driving is good. Car averages 21 mpg in town and 27 highway. If you are in the market for a nice car that will not break the bank, take a look at the Altima. Just take a long test drive.

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  New Altima - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By wdy160 - May 27 - 2:00 am

  This is a great vehicle to drive. Quick and agile. Build quality could use improvement. A few rattles. Passenger side door leaked water. It took 3 visits to the dealership to fix it.

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  Good if you dont get snow! - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Aimee - May 27 - 12:46 am

  This is the worst car I have ever driven in the snow. I live in Vermont and I would trade for my Stratus any day. It is not front heavy and is bad in snow. The rear window defogger is insufficient in cold weather, the car creeks when it has ice on it. The rear lights get foggy, I already had one replaced. The car is fun to drive, as long as there is no snow. The CVT is amazing on the highway. Excellent for driving in the city. The dual exhaust looks great. Great brakes, four wheel disc. And the intelligence key is fantastic...except I never know where my keys are to unlock the house because I never need to take them out for my car!

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  Maxima really worth buying????? - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By shavis - May 26 - 9:40 pm

  My husband and I had our 04 Nissan Maxima for 11 months & 23 days. We bought our Max in Sept.03 we traded it in Sept.04. The first time we had a problem it was 35 degrees outside. Max had problems starting. The colder it got the more it would not start at all. I had about 15 mornings when the veh would not start at all. I missed 1.5 hrs of work one day. & it was 15 degrees I spoke w/dealer from where we purchased Max & they bring it in, but could not find anything wrong w/it. We started having quality issues in Apr04 grill began to bubble up, rear door weather strip had to be replaced 5x. Not happy with quality of veh. luv speed and exteior of veh not happy w/ many other things!

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  Quality, Dependability & Great Used Car - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By fasteddie - May 26 - 4:56 pm

  I purchased my Pathfinder LE in July of 2007. There were quite a few other vehicles being considered at the time of purchase but I opted for the refinement, body style and luxurious appointments of the Pathfinder LE. To this day the only issue has been the intermittent check engine light that comes on. I believe it is the o2 sensor which will be checked out next week. I have hauled everything in my vehicle, even 4 x 8 sheets of plywood. Try doing that in some other suvs... My overall satisfaction is extremely high. A highly recommended vehicle for anyone who appreciates quality, comfort and reliability!

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  Great Car - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By Danny - May 26 - 9:46 am

  Ive always loved the Z and this one is no exception. The Z is a blast to drive, whether it be through a twisty road, the empty highway, or the pacific coast highway. The shifter is smooth an the throws are quick. Plenty of torque so you never feel short on power an the sound of the engine revving up is amazing. Handling is excellent. Body roll is almost non-existent. Seats hold you in tight as you take the corners. Brakes react quickly and interior design is driver oriented. Overall its just a great car.

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  I have two NAHs - 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By steve - May 26 - 6:43 am

  My second report. Have one with tech package, now have 3200 miles, still averaging about 32.5 mpg (although computer says higher) Have a second vehicle bought at same time (5 weeks ago) with 700 miles first fill up got 28 mpg (trip computer said 31.5). I suppose dealer never filled it quite full like I do. Second vehicle with convenience package but not tech. Love the backup, nav system, very quiet with roof open, but, still, a poor bluetooth system too much road noise or background noise people cannot hear me clearly. Also, love that I can keep key in pocket never take it out. Same for my wife leaving it in purse. Less chance of misplacing. Oh well, out of room just about!

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  Favorite Car Yet... - 2006 Nissan Pathfinder
  By mwc115 - May 25 - 10:43 pm

  Ive had all kinds of Nissan cars and truck and this one is my favorite to date. I personally dont view Armada/Tahoe type trucks as practical, so I was pleased to find a nice looking reasonably sized vehicle that has seating for 7. It feels big inside and is a very comfortable ride. The extended rear is nice for when family/friends are visiting and we can fit more than 2 adults and 2 car seats. The extra storage is nice too when you are stuffing groceries and strollers in the back. All the options and buttons to press work well and are conveniently located. Also, I went on vacation 1 week after this purchase and had a Ford Explorer rental... it was 1/2 the truck the Pathfinder is...

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  Engine Replacement Already @ 82,000 - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By hmj8321 - May 25 - 9:05 pm

  I bought a 2007 Nissan Sentra 2.0 with a automatic CVT transmisson back in 2008... I have always keep up on my repairs, oil changes etc. The other day the service engine soon light came on so of course I took it in to be looked at. I was told by the mechanic that the engine needs to be replaced because the second cylinder has low compression which would run $3,000, What a joke! I have only had the car for a little over two years now... I was told by the mechanic that for the year the car was and how many miles it has on it (>82,000) that it should not have happened. Sentras for the year 2007 are nothing but Lemons. I will never ever do business with Nissan again!

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  Driving a Silver Bullet - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By silverbullet99 - May 25 - 9:33 am

  My truck is a beast. It makes right at 300 horses and will blister just about anything. The truck rides like a dream, ages ahead of the old F-150 I had. The only thing is it gets 17 miles to a gallon.