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:

• 

  A real work horse - 2007 Nissan Titan
  By Mike ward - April 20 - 3:56 pm

  This truck takes anything I this in it or at it and takes it like a champ! 10 years and 165000 miles and Ive only replaced the battery, the tires, the brakes, and the belt. It doesnt get great milage, but better than its true compition, the 3/4 ton series.

• 

  Very Pleased - 2007 Nissan 350Z
  By Dr.P - April 20 - 10:43 am

  I owned a 2004 350Z and traded for a 2007. I am very impressed with the upgraded interior and the solid engine performance. I had looked at other sports cars (e.g. porsche, corvette) and feel very good about this choice. This is perhaps the best sports car in terms of cost and performance.

• 

  Good to own - 2006 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Michael - April 19 - 11:53 pm

  Had my Pathfinder for a year now. The cabin is roomier widthwise than the 4- Runner and being a big guy that is why I chose it plus the styling is cooler. Dont know why edmunds said it doesnt handle as well. Great cruiser for long trips. Who cares that the 3rd row is tight for adults, it is either going to be down, or used for kids. If you need to haul 7 adults frequently, buy a van.

• 

  Nissan Altima - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Matt - April 19 - 6:30 pm

  I bought this car back in December of 07 and I have nothing but good things to say about it. I have always been a fan of Nissans, but this car is "the truth". Due to gas prices I opted for the 2.5s but it still packs plenty of power. The power steering is extremely smooth and the ride is quiet. My friends with Accords and Camrys immediately fall in love after driving the Altima.

• 

  So Far So GOOD - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By Brom - April 19 - 2:10 pm

  I got my Spec V a little to soon so I had the pay the MSRP. Overall I like the way this car drives, the shifter is very nice once you get a hang of it. very fun to drive. the rims are nice but they chip very easly since they are painted rims. For the price and performance you have to give up some thing and I guess nissan was willing to give up workmanship. the paint job is not to good and most of the sentras are not painted under the doors.

• 

  Mile High Performer - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Jhenz - April 19 - 7:13 am

  Bought Murano SL AWD after testing MDX, XC-90, SRX and Jeep GC. Performance, good mpg, power at elevation (5,000ft+) made for winning combination. MPG = 18.5-20.0(stopngo 30-50mph) and 21.5-24.5(65-75mph) manually calculated. Very comfortable seats for up to five adults. Excellent radio and XM rocks! Ease of entry/exit well designed. Good driving position. No BMW(drove 3-series for 8 yrs) but handles/corners twisties extremely well. AWD is solid in light-deep snow and on ice. Insurance rates quite low. NO problems. Bought platinum/cabernet and get lots of compliments. Little wind noise at highway speeds (65- 75mph+). Very good mountain vehicle on-road and very light off-roading. YES!

• 

  So Far So Great! - 2010 Nissan Altima
  By grampa - April 18 - 6:36 pm

  Have only had the car about a week (100 or so miles) but loving it so far. Excellent acceleration, braking, and handling; beautiful exterior and interior design. Will update review as necessary.

• 

  Great car to drive - 2006 Nissan Maxima
  By Ec Havranek - April 18 - 3:20 pm

  This car is very quiet in driving. The transmission has a smooth start, no jerking into 1st gear. The interior has a very comfortable seat. The dash board and accessories are a pleasure to see and use. The engine has a sufficient amt of HP. Engine design is very nice and clean. When driving at higher speeds, the ride is very smooth. The Nissan models have a reputation of having mileage of upto 300,000 mi.

• 

  Very nice ride - 2010 Nissan Altima
  By thacrusha - April 18 - 11:20 am

  I traded a Forester XT for this Altima and the difference is night and day, which may speak about the poor quality of the Subaru. This car came equipped with the Premium and Sport Packages. At 500 miles so far no complaints about power or ride. Mileage has ranged from 19.5 (virtually all city) to 28 (One hiway trip avg).

• 

  3rd nissan, GREAT ride - 2011 Nissan Rogue
  By MG - April 18 - 6:15 am

  I have owned a 99 Maxima, a 2009 Altima, and now a 2011 Rogue Krom AWD edition. All my Nissans have been great vehicles. The Rogue has been my favorite, as living in New England an AWD vehicle is a must. The ride is extremely smooth and often pasengers ask if its even on when at a stop. I bought this car used with 47,000 on it from a 1 lease owner. 3 years later Im at 102,000 miles with nothing more than regular oil changes. I just had the breaks done and will put new tires soon as winter approaching. But After 3 years, thats not bad at all. The car is great on gas, and has an extremely comfortable interior from front to back. Lots of space in trunk area, just overall a great ride if you want an SUV without the big engine/big gas expense. I would compair the ride almost identical to that of the Altima, but with AWD. GREAT car for sure