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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  Consider the Maxima - 2007 Nissan Maxima
  By maross - December 8 - 10:20 pm

  I was getting sick and tired of the cost of upkeep so I traded an Audi A8 for my new SL. First let me say the Maxima doesnt come close to the overall ride quality of an A8, however for 1/3rd of the price the Maxima drives very well, is tight, quiet, and has every feature and more of an A8. If you forget about "image" and think about a good, solid, dependable, feature loaded car, at a reasonable price, you have to look at the Maxima. I have only had the car 3 days but I have already taken it on a 300 mile road trip and am very pleased. I am counting on it being dependable and inexpensive to maintain, not like the A8 but my Pathfinder that I bought new in 1990 and now has 175K miles

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  my 1st car ever bought, out of 4 today! - 1996 Nissan Sentra
  By daddy-danny - December 7 - 7:36 pm

  Despite the fact that it was and still is a dull car, it was a ride or die! I bought this car for 1700 dollars, with 180,000 miles on it. It saved so much gas, and rode like a boss. I went to the bay area 3 times, and what not. But now that it has 230,000 miles, this car has faced a bit of problems. The catalytic converter is messed up, so it wont pass smog. But overall, this car has proved itself. I never had a tran problem, nor engine problem. It still turns on without hesitation, and still rides hard. I will always love the car for the memories I put in it, and the reliability.

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  Not bad - at all - 2004 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Jan - December 7 - 5:46 pm

  Third Nissan in this household (Stanza, Maxima, and now Pathfinder. Got a good deal at end of year (October), so easy choice. It is a high profile vehicle (like any SUV), so does not like sidewind much. Does however like its gas.

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  Fun economy car - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By chris - December 7 - 9:03 am

  Ive had my altima for a few months now. Its comfortable and powerful. Averaging 28 mpg (30% city/70% highway) which is what I expected. The transmission is excellent though it takes a bit getting used to. The seats are comfortable and I can fit my 3 kids in the back (3 car seats). I compared it to other similar models and found it was more fun to drive than your camry, accord, fusion, sonata, etc. Between that, the looks, fuel economy and price, I found it was the perfect combination for my tastes.

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  Already Traded It In - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By townhome - December 7 - 2:00 am

  This was my fourth Maxima, and it was not what I expected. Its probably my fault for buying the SE model, but the car rode really, really rough and was way too loud. The interior seemed cheap, but it was roomy. I traded it in on a used BMW 523i after only a few months and I havent looked back.

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  Titan rocks! - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By tdsiob - December 7 - 2:00 am

  I was hesistant to buy another pickup or SUV due to performance and gas mileage, etc! but after driving this truck i was hooked. This truck is rock solid and the engine sounds and feels more like a sports car. I have the off road/tow package and a few other extras with no regrets! This truck makes me feel 10 years younger

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  Great Truck Good Value - 2006 Nissan Frontier
  By Ohio Frontier - December 6 - 7:43 pm

  I just bought a USED 2006 NISMO 4x4 38000 miles. On the drive home 21 MPG at about 70 MPH cruise control. Around town 15.6 MPG. I was concerned that the truck was going to be too stiff with the 4x4 and NISMO package. However it is very smooth to drive on pavement with low road noise and sturdy feel. Happy with my purchase everyone should look at this truck if you want a mid size. The Tacoma had a bad seating position for long trips and the domestic trucks just dont measure up. This is my first Nissan and so far so good.

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  As I experienced it - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By maithem - December 5 - 4:13 pm

  I had a friend who bought Nissan Versa (Tiida) 6 months before me. He recommended it. Also, i searched the market here in UAE and found 3 options suit my budget and my taste : 1- Tiida , 2- Honda Fit (Jazz) and 3- Honda Civic (the basic)... I didnt like Toyota Yaris because the engine is only 1.3 - 1.5. and in general I dont trust Toyota. The Versas engine performance is good, I dont know but sometimes it is very smooth and give the impression that Im driving a sporty car, however, othertimes it doesnt give that power. From 0 km/h speed upwords, the engine doesnt look very impressive, but above sixty or 70, it gives the feel that it is unbeatable. In general, it has wide space, and Im happy with it.

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  Having fun driving - 1997 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Terrys Princess - December 5 - 10:00 am

  The ONLY problem I have had with my pathfinder has been with the Les Schwab Tires that the previous owner had put on the SUV. The side walls were caving in and created a wabble when going around curves. After buying different tires from Les Schwab, it is doing 100% better. I would like alittle more room in the back seat though. 3 kids and a dog seem to not fit comfortably. I would also recommend an automatic transmission.

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  Fun Little SR20DE - 1999 Nissan Sentra
  By remintin - December 5 - 10:00 am

  Wonderful car, with a peppy fun little 4cyl engine. With performance modifications this car is a screamer.