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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  My new 2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE - 2006 Nissan Pathfinder
  By j1021 - March 2 - 7:53 pm

  Overall I really like my new truck. the navigation is nice but like all built in systems its not that easy to navigate around in.

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  I have loved this car. - 2000 Nissan Sentra
  By Happy girl - March 2 - 2:46 pm

  I bought my Nissan in 2002. This car has been more than I could have hoped for. In 8 years of ownership I have only had 1 problem with the alternator going out at 133,000 miles. This car just keeps going and I often say I will drive it till it dies. The interior is a little small if you have a family and the drink holders are awkward but all in all this car has been awesome. Bravo to Nissan.

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  You Will Love This Vehicle - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By SueinCO - March 2 - 8:43 am

  We tested the 2008 Toyota Highlander, Mazda CX-9, Hyundai Veracruz and others and this one was the best. Feel really good about our decision. Rides like a dream. Very quiet and unbelievable comfort. Power is great with the CVT. We got the top of the line with everything except the DVD player for the back, and are glad we did. The interior is great and feels very luxurious. Still learning all the features,but so far they are fairly easy to get familiar with and we love them all. I really like the heated front and rear seats in the LE.

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  Good Pick - 2007 Nissan Frontier
  By Good Pick - March 1 - 10:10 pm

  This is my 4th truck. Looks are awesome. Truck has plenty of power better than my chevy with a 305 V-8. Cargo features are nice. Rides great. Could get a bit better fuel mileage (my average is 18 Miles) but I think Nissan traded performance for fuel economy. Turning radius is not good. Dont try to u-turn with busy traffic. My only complaint was driver side left foot rest took up too much space. I removed it and made a much better flat surface with rubber top - worked great.

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  Fuel Emissions Control Valve - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By Ray - February 28 - 2:40 pm

  my wife drives this truck to her work on a farm, and the roads are somtimes muddy. there was a build up of dirt and mud on the emissions control box on the drivers side rear wheel on the inside of the frame which caused the service engine light to come on, this build up of dirt cause the engine emissions control valve to fail. Bad disign on Nissans part, there should be some sort of fender gaurd to prevent the build up of mud on the emissions box. Great truck just dont drive in the mud to much.

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  2005 CC SE 4WD - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By Fred Leggett - February 27 - 11:43 pm

  Looked at 2005 Dakota, Tacoma, Colorado before deciding on 2005 Frontier SE crew cab 4 wheel drive with automatic trans. This truck is solid as a rock (sorry chevy) and built like a brick --- -house. Cant imagine anything in its class any better.

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  Best car Ive owned - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Robert N Maximas - February 26 - 7:15 pm

  I paid a high price for this fully appointed 04 Maxima with 100k miles in 2010 ($10,000) and, after driving it for 7 years, I can honestly say it was money well spent because it has been the best car Ive ever owned. Comfortable, powerful, dependable, attractive and low maintenance. Couldnt ask for a nicer car! Approaching 200,000 miles now and the engine and tranny are still rock solid but the suspension needs work so Ive purchased a 2010 Maxima.... Nice as the 2010 is, the 2004 still gets better gas mileage and has more spunk. Amazing car!

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  Great Car, Overall - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Mike Watt - February 25 - 8:23 pm

  I love the car. It looks great, feels great, and drives great. I am a little disappointed by the absense of standard ABS. I even upgraded and have SIDE airbags ... but still no ABS? I also dont like that when you click the lock button on the key fob one time the horn honks. You must press twice in most cars for this. Its bad when I park at 2:00 am in my apartment parking lot. I do think, however, that this car is terrific for the money. If youre looking at a Sentra, dive the Altima first... a lot more car for not a lot more money.

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  A Must test drive! - 2009 Nissan Altima
  By Bob from PA - February 25 - 12:30 pm

  Had the Altima for about a week. CVT and the 4 cyl auto just fly! Great basic car with sporty performance. Better feel then Accord, Sonata, Camry. Lots of head room for a 61" guy. Still on first tank of gas (20 gal tank). Very quiet interior. Just a great car for the money!

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  Consumer Rating - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By Rhonda - February 25 - 9:43 am

  I love the car. It rides and drives really well. The fuel economy is great.