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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  Excellent Nissan car! - 1999 Nissan Altima
  By Mike-I - January 31 - 10:00 am

  This is my wifes car but I drove it maybe 5000 miles and all I can say is that is very reliable, never had any major problems (bought it new), great performance overall. Gas mileage is one of the best, good power, handling, comfort, good resale value. I highly recommend it to everyone.

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  Old Cricket - 2004 Nissan Frontier
  By Mr.Courier - January 31 - 7:50 am

  I do courier work in South Florida and put around 50,000 miles a year.The reason I named it Cricket is because since I bought it has a cricket noise on the front end , the only thing wrong from new.Cricket now has 238,000 miles and so far the only thing wrong was the battery once and the alternator once. If you are looking for quality this is it none better. Make sure you change the oil every 3000 miles and these babies are really INDESTRUCTIBLE

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  Great Car - 2000 Nissan Altima
  By Jan F - January 30 - 11:06 pm

  My car currently has 205,000 miles. Have replaced the alternator twice. I dont think the 1st one was that good, but hopefully the second one will be better. My mechanic tells me the car is still in great shape - not leaking any oil or anything. I have to say I have been extremely pleased with the reliability and dependability of this car. I have driven a lot of highway miles on it and I think that has helped emensely.

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  Fun and reliable - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By Dave - January 30 - 10:26 am

  I bought my 02 Sentra with 25 miles on it. I now has 140,000 and has only seen the shop for tires, brakes, and oil. It gets wonderful gas mileage with the 1.8 L 4 cyl but the car is light weight enough that it is peppy and fun. The only downsides are the seats are not that comfortable for long rides and it could definitely be quieter at highway speeds.

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  only nissans - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By PEG - January 30 - 4:53 am

  Knowing Nissans the way I do I expected better. The drive was great in the beginning aside for the alternator issue which almost caused me to have a serious accident. I am continuing to be surprised by the amount of mechanical problems Im encountering; Im starting to think it may be a lemon with a little sugar on top. Ive gotten many compliments and inquiries about handling and various other topics.

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  White knights first review - 2008 Nissan Frontier
  By white knight - January 26 - 1:50 am

  I just purchased this truck within the past week so please keep this in mind when reviewing this score. This is an impressive truck with a quiet and smooth ride (could feel no vibration from the 4cylinder engine). this is a 4x2, with manual 5 speed tranny. Shifts smoothly. Great outward visibility. As soon as the artic conditions moderate here I plan to drive this vehicle a lot. Right now truck and I are hibernating. I will review this truck once a year.

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  Go kart on steroids - 2010 Nissan 370Z
  By Larry - January 25 - 6:03 pm

  Wow, first two seater, but I have had powerful cars before. Great handling, cant believe how well it corners. Strong motor, very linear response. Fun factor off the charts. Very impressed with the styling, especially how I see the original Z in this model. Pictures dont do it justice. Got the Black Cherry Paint in the Base sport model, but went in to buy the 40th edition Touring Sprt. When I saw this color, I decided I didnt need the touring package. Synchro-rev match is pretty cool stuff, but the motor is the real gem

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  My car go everywhere no matter what - 2012 Nissan Altima
  By mexican86 - January 25 - 6:39 am

  My Altima 2.5S is amazing. Good mileage I average 25-28 mpg combine and with a bigger 20 gallons fuel tank I can drive up to 450 miles before refueling. The car is responsive when I press down the gas pedal but it makes that drone noise which kind of bother me every once in a while. Huge roomy backseats good for 2 adult full size, not recommend for 3 in a long trip. Currently has 50k miles already, yea I drive a lot.

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  Performance that lives up to Style - 2009 Nissan 370Z
  By SAvant - January 24 - 2:13 pm

  Have owned many sports cars before (from MGs to Porsches), but never had a Z. The 370Z really looks the part: aggressive, integrated, and brazen. The interior is a good place to drive in, and the seats work well for spirited driving. I have the touring pkg. with alcantra seat inserts that are comfortable in hot or cold weather. This thing goes great, brakes well, handles well, and is flat out just FUN! I considered a Porsche Boxster or Cayman, but this is more involving at 2/3rds the price. Not as refined, but youre not paying Porsche prices for parts or service, and it is arguably more fun in daily driving. Ride is firm but comfortable on the highway. Handling not upset by bumps

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  New Spec V Owner - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By 03spec v - January 23 - 6:33 am

  One of the better cars I have owned. Not the best nor the fastest but I am truly amazed everyday I drive it. One major draw back is I had to buy Snow/Ice tires for it since the factory wheels are "Z" rated. Kind of costly but it is the only negative thing.