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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  End of a Legend - 1995 Nissan Pathfinder
  By tonio - April 19 - 1:03 am

  I wrote the same review dated 03/13/07, and just wanted to give an update. The frame rusts/rots on these vehicles. Be careful when looking for one. Check the frame behind the fuel tank. Also check under the rear seats (lift them up and check for rust). 94 models may not have this problem, as the frames are made from a different source, however this year model (1995) are prone to frame rot. In 2007 I had very little rust, when I wrote the previous review. In 2008, lots of rust, and my rear bumper, along with fuel tank wanted to leave without me. I am decreasing build quality, down to a 1.

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  Say Later - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By Smith - April 18 - 10:46 pm

  The car is fast for a 4 banger. It has a lot of features that are not available any other cars in its class and price range. This car can be a great daily driver, or a weekend racer.

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  Not impressed at all - 2018 Nissan Rogue
  By Alexander Todorov - April 18 - 9:02 pm

  I rented a Nissan Rouge for a week, during the winter season. The heating is horrible compared to Toyota. I have driven the car on a highway mostly using the ECO mode, and have never reached 33mpg. The acceleration is terrible very slow comparing to the same SUV models. To connect my iPhone with a Bluetooth was a kind of pain till I figure out that the name is not My car its my Rouge. To turn off daily highlights was a kind of tricky and overcomplicated. I definitely will not consider buying Rouge.

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  Armada 2006 - 2006 Nissan Armada
  By Mohamed Almarzouqi - April 18 - 11:53 am

  it is a nice car but if they can work on the exterior design (rear door handl & roof shap, bigger size wheel, bigger hood "the engine is squeezed in, back roor flat, tire to be held on back instead of underneath,..etc).

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  A Great Way To Save Some Cash - 2012 Nissan Versa
  By toddp77 - April 17 - 11:55 pm

  I have enjoyed saving cash and driving a manual transmission. I drove a 1983 Nissan Sentra in high school and this car provides some nostalgia for me. This is a very inexpensive vehicle and it shows in several ways that may be deal breakers for some people but reminds me of how much money I saved. The handling and power are sacrificed for savings and fuel efficiency. I was also swayed by the large interior with numerous air bags and better than you would expect safety ratings.

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  This Car Sucks - 2011 Nissan Rogue
  By vicjosh - April 17 - 1:56 pm

  i bought a 2011 nissan rogue thinking id made a good investment. within 1 yr the cvt in the transmission went out while i was driving onthe interstate barely making it to safety. i called Nissan Consumer affairs to be advised that the 2011 model is not under the extended warranty and given a 3500 est of repair.. help anyone is there any petition to get this vehicle recalled or is there an open class action suite filed... any help would be appreciated

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  03 sentra spec v - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By johnny20 - April 17 - 10:00 am

  road holding performance is incredible, id like to put on wider tires however for increased lateral acceleration and acceleration seems a bit slow, possibly due to a restricting air filter ... not sure tho, otherwise i like everything about this car.

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  I love this SUV! - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By jilinsocal - April 17 - 10:00 am

  We have had this SUV for 6 weeks and love it! We did a lot of research first and knew that we wanted something that would get a 2nd glance, with a big a** engine, we made the RIGHT choice. 2005 will add a rear camera to navigation system, neat to have I would think, but not necessary as rear sonar is awesome.I have every option available EXCEPT 4X4, love all my bells & whistles, although I need about 6 more months to figure out all the gagets.I am hearing some vibrations on the freeway,around 70-80 mph, not 40-50 mph as most complain about.Seems to have something to do with the sunroof. Kids say the DVD screen "shakes" a lot at these same speeds.

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  #1 - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By jakelacm - April 17 - 10:00 am

  The Quest is the best car in the world.

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  I love this car - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By JimJulian - April 17 - 10:00 am

  This thing is a rocket. Smooth to drive, no trans-shifting, and quick to accelerate makes my Murano a pleasure to own. Hilander, Pilot, Accura all looked like they were cut from the same box shape. Back seat is roomy for 2 adults or 3 kids. Cargo area is plenty big for trips to the store or vacations. Price for leather, sunroof, extras was under $30,000. How can you beat this cost to fun ratio?