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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  Awesome! - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By idok - April 27 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned a number of performance, performance/luxury, and luxury cars over the years, none of them could touch my 2004 Maxima SE. This car is really something special. I like it more and more with each trip.

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  awesome! - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By bb000 - April 27 - 10:00 am

  great car with great performance!

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  rockin lil car - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By danielsan - April 27 - 8:33 am

  i love it. so far so good. i was going to get a fit, but then i test drove the versa, and its a much better deal for the price.

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  Migrating from Sports Sedan to Minivan - 2008 Nissan Quest
  By Chris Garr - April 26 - 4:20 pm

  I went from driving a 5 speed Turbo VW Passat to this Quest. Overall Im happy with it, but I do miss driving a sports sedan. We considered the Odyssey, Quest, and Sienna. The Quest was the best value that particular month and weve had 4 great Nissans before. The acceleration, steering, and braking are great. Tons of power regardless of its size. Very comfortable to drive. The interior is great, and I think the exterior offers the best styling in the minivan category. The cabin is a bit too noisy. I think its weird to have only one power sliding door. I love being able to make all the seats flat wihtout having to remove any.

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  Best car I ever owned!!!!!! - 2001 Nissan Pathfinder
  By BHOW - April 26 - 2:46 pm

  My 01 pathfinder was the best investment I ever made. My kids and wife love the comfort. Ive had this car for 8 years now, and the only problem with it was the spoiler had to be replaced in 07. Otherwise, it was the best car EVER!!!!!!! It has a lot of pep in the engine. It acts like a truck, practically is a truck, but the amount of power in the engine makes it act like a Ferrari 612 Scaglietti. This is a great choice for a family car. Extremely comfortable, reliability is great, and my only complaint is gas mileage.

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  Best car to drive - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By Max25127 - April 26 - 2:00 am

  This is the most fun car Ive ever owned. It still has original everything after 44,000 miles. Its only been to the body shop when someone smashed it in a parking lot. ITS NEVER BEEN TO A MECHANIC. All Ive done is regular oil changes. But I will get the 50,000 service done soon.

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  Will always buy a Nissan - 1999 Nissan Maxima
  By dc-cop - April 26 - 2:00 am

  I traded a my 2001 Toyota Tacoma for the 1999 Nissan Maxima. This vehicle impressed me the minute I started the engine. It handles great and has great power. I travel 54 miles one way to work in Washington DC and this Maxima makes me forget about the rush hour traffic. I will drive this car until it dies, then I will buy a newer model.

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  the ultimate mid-size suv - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By sharkbait - April 26 - 2:00 am

  apart from the crappy oem tires, this beats the pants off of the gr. cherokee i had before this. comfort, power, great fit and finish, and nissan quality. handles like my old accord, but just as capable as my jeep off- road. i test drove them all - 4runner, gr. cherokee, land rover. studied all of the reviews. edmunds was dead-on: this is a great vehicle.

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  This is the coolest vehicle ever! - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By clschlegel - April 26 - 2:00 am

  This is the coolest vehicle ever! We love it! It is so easy to get in and out of and the ride is so smooth. When you need the extra acceleration its there! Would recomend this vehicle over any other SUV in its class.

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  Love my car! - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By NIUplan - April 26 - 2:00 am

  Beautiful car: I get comments from people 18 through 60(the color is Mystic Emerald, more a mineral green, distinctive and gorgeous). 26.5 miles to the gallon on regular gas (averaging 29-35 miles an hour); a full tank carries me 500 miles. Comfort is amazing, because of the adjustability of the seats and steering wheel. Handling is sound,not edgy; acceleration is brisk. Cruise control and stereo controls are all on the wheel so I never look away from the road. The hubster drives a V6 with 240 HP and my car accelerates faster, as the salesman said it would.