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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  Great Car to buy used - 1997 Nissan Altima
  By GP - March 27 - 10:00 am

  Really good car to buy used. Engine is peppiest among this group. Real fun to drive. Buy extended warranty.

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  Terrific! - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By Donne - March 27 - 10:00 am

  What a great car! Cant go wrong with this baby!Much better than others in the same class, yet value priced!

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  Sport Sedan - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By mombear - March 27 - 10:00 am

  After 40,000 miles, this car remains fun to drive. Except for a O2 sensor, Ive had no problems. Highway mileage is 30 MPG. The RE92 tires will go 50K. My major complaint is the fact that the engine holds on to its revs between shifts.

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  Get whatcha pay fer - 2002 Nissan Frontier
  By diffie - March 27 - 10:00 am

  Driven all kinds of trucks from great big diesels to little bitty 4-cyls... cant beat this for quality. Mileage depends on the driver. I get 15 in the city, 17(hwy) when I tow my small camper, and an honest 21(hwy) when solo (Im happy with that with a 2-ton compact V6). I have had this truck 14- mo now and have no complaints when you consider the competitions price and quality.

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  2 years not a problem - 2009 Nissan Maxima
  By texdave - March 26 - 3:38 pm

  I leased the car new with a fantastic lease deal. It is fast and fun to drive. 21 mpg average city and highway driving and I drive fast. 45,000 miles and have had no problems with the car at all. I would highly recommend this car. Try to find a good deal on a used one.

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  Awesome - 2006 Nissan Murano
  By Gina - March 26 - 8:33 am

  I have always had a Chevy Blazer which was good but nothing compares to the Murano! I just love it! Im still breaking it in so I cant go too fast but so far so good. Handles great.

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  Thanks to edmunds - 2010 Nissan Altima
  By Railroad - March 26 - 7:50 am

  I want to thank edmunds for providing excellent insight and knowledge for car hunters. I recently bought a 2010 2.5S Altima and had great success at the dealership. The car sales team hit me with all the text book tricks. The four corners, trade in value, and monthly payments. Thanks to reading the article on the inside the dealership, I was well prepared to handle the smooth talk. I purchased the car three hundred dollars under invoice price. Thanks Edmunds! To new car buyers, do your homework, be ready to hear the slick talk, and never tell them the price per month you want to pay or like my brother tells them initially - $25.00 per month LOL!

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  Best vehicle in this class, hands down! - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By Eric G. - March 25 - 8:20 pm

  I looked at the Fit, Yaris, Scion and the Versa. As a huge Honda fan, I was leaning toward the Fit. That was, until the Versa was released! After one drive it was no question which car I wanted! Very high quality textured plastics and fabrics, excellent fit and finish, and a more upscale look than the others made the Versa purchase and easy decision! Even the power of the engine and the CVT make it so that I dont miss the V6 of my Accord!

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  The Armada - 2012 Nissan Armada
  By Vanessa Tritten - March 25 - 2:30 pm

  Gas mileage is less than 18mpg

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  Sweet ride - 2010 Nissan Altima
  By AliceBettyAnna - March 25 - 1:13 pm

  Purchased the 2010 Altima 3.5 SR (V6) with the Premium, Sport and Technology packages. I generally buy my cars brand new, maintain them well and keep them for 10 plus years.So far, driving this for ten years would be a pleasure.