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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  Smell of Coolant Already - 2010 Nissan Altima
  By mongo - August 5 - 10:00 am

  Im enjoying my new car, but I recently noticed the smell of coolant after driving it with the a/c on. I did an online search & found other Nissan owners experiencing the same issue. I havent taken my car in for an inspection, but after reading some posts, its unlikely theyll find a problem right away. I stress over the fact that I paid a hefty price to buy a new car so I wouldnt have to worry about mechanical issues for awhile & now this has come up. However, no other issues so far.

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  Sporty Value - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By whitng - August 5 - 6:03 am

  Traded up from a Sentra SE-R. Although much bigger, the Altima Coupe 3.5SE has more power and a luxyury-car like interior with the premium pkg. Im getting almost the same gas mileage as the Sentra, too! Handling is softer but the A/C is a great value for what you get.

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  LOVE IT AT FIRST, BUT THEN.... NOT! - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By Altima - August 4 - 7:36 pm

  Pros: love the power, handling good, gas is okay (v6. what do you expected), anti-lock breaks, Cons: bad brakes (worn-out quick), highway noise, steering wheel vibration even right after well balancing. "Heat seal" this is a bad and annoying thing ive been dealing with. Nissan is well known about this negative thing, but has yet to come up with a better solution. Would i buy a nissan again? The answer is noooooooooooooo!!!

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  Great vehicle, very reliable - 2004 Nissan Pathfinder
  By matthans - August 4 - 9:26 am

  Bought new in 2004 and never a problem yet. I maintain normal wear and tear items (Brakes, belts, fluids, battery & oil) and nothing seems to beak. Going to drive this truck to its grave.

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  Great SUV overall - 2005 Nissan Armada
  By Siberian - August 3 - 5:23 pm

  Bought fully loaded 2004 Nissan Armada. Quiet yet powerful V8 engine, fun to drive, great acceleration. Duriong last Xmas, I drove it to Mexico from Minneapolis, MN - not a simple problem. Best features in the class: DVD Navigation, lots of computer settings you can adjust, nice leather with heated seats. Much better than Toyota Sequoya or Ford Expedition. SHIFT_drive!

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  Good first car to buy for your self - 2000 Nissan Altima
  By Terrin - August 2 - 12:23 pm

  This is the first car that I have bought on my own. You can find really good deals on these cars now. I paid 3200 for mine and have not have a problem with the motor or tranny since i got it. I have put 20,000 miles on it this year alone. Yeah the gas mileage could be better, but hey the good shadows the altimas main downfall.

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  New Car On The Block - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Ryan - July 31 - 12:53 pm

  I just bought my Altima and love it for the most part. The Navigation system is great, even though alot of roads dont exist (according to the NAV). Strange how newer roads are on it and mine that has been here 6 years is not! ABS not being standard is just plain stupid! I found that our the first day I had the car. It was raining and i had and emergency stop and the car slid a long way but I did get stopped. Why is it that my Hyundai I own that cost 15,000 has 6 airbags and the Altima only 2? Guess Nissan doesnt care for our safety too much! Squeaks shouldnt exist at only 1500 miles! My gauges are what is making the noise.. Cheap plastic!

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  Not bad... - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By Adrienne S - July 31 - 2:00 am

  Fast as hell for a little four and an automatic (My son is yet to teach me stick, so no Spec V for me). But the build quality is so much lower than my past three Altima SEs. Numerous problems with the brakes and even the parking brake (it was not holding the car). Also body hardware is cheap. Happy with the aftermarket leather. Car has refinement issues, and the driver- comfort level needs improvement. But it is a blast to drive and turns heads, since people confuse the front fasia with a body kit. But why did they take it off on the 04s? It looks less agreesive. Oh well. Hopefully it will hold up through the end of its lease in 05.

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  SOME DISSAPOINTMENTS - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By AMB - July 31 - 2:00 am

  I love the style, the features, the drive but I was so dissapointed with the fixes that we have to had done when the factory should have checked it. Ratlle noise on both doors (passenger), there was a technical bulletin on it. Problem with power window in drivers side, loose part found. While the car is fun and great, it is difficult to have to take a van back when these types of issues should have been looked upon before giving to customer. I expect superior quality on a Japanese brand.

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  Nice little/big car - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By SteveNJ - July 30 - 1:50 pm

  My wife and I purchased this car about 10 months ago now. We had intended on buying the Civic, but when we test drove the Sentra, it was a huge difference. The Sentra has a large interior for a "compact" sedan. The trunk is a nice size. The leather seats are quite comfortable. It has a very smooth ride and I like the CVT very much. The SL has all the features of a much more expensive car. I would recommend test driving the Sentra before deciding on a Civic or Corolla. We are very happy with our decision.