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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  Wish I could have a "do over" - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By ginger29 - July 30 - 1:34 pm

  We bought our 2013 Altima S in Dec. 2012. Big mistake. It has been back to the dealership 3 times. Trips to correct passenger side airbag and seatbelt warning light malfunctions. This Altima is one that has the high whine from the power steering pump. The dealership said it is "normal". If this is "normal" why are only some affected? They refused to even attempt a resolution. I opened a case with Nissan customer service; they refused to do anything. The whine is so irritating! Nissan is aware, but does nothing. The transmission is extremely noisy; unfortunately that is a trade off for better gas mileage. If you like a noisy car and want a constant annoying whine, buy the car.

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  Great car - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Pathfinder 1 - July 30 - 10:00 am

  Rides great. 240 horsepower really does the job!!! Pay up for the sunroof and leather packages. best misize SUV on the raod...

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  Nice Surprise - 2012 Nissan Versa
  By vvandenburg - July 29 - 5:06 am

  My son needed a commuter car for college, so I spent days looking for the right vehicle for him. I looked at new cars, used cars, cars on Craigslist and finally I ran across this vehicle at Hertz Car Sales. Most sub compact cars have very little head or backseat leg room, but I was amazed it had enough room, even from a 6-2 guy like me. It’s phenomenal on gas and was a good value, compared to other vehicles I considered. We just purchased this vehicle, but so far we are ecstatic with the performance and gas mileage

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  great 2nd car..Love it! - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By jeadie - July 27 - 11:56 pm

  I bought my 2002 Pathfinder on a whim 2 years ago when I had my Mercedes in for service. Other than the questionable gas mileage, the car is perfect. Very reliable, comfortable and plenty of power for my needs. I loved the way it looked and the amenities are awesome for car of its age. I only paid $9k for it with 72k miles and it was and is in excellent condition. Although we will keep primary cars which get better mileage, I plan to keep the Pathfinder in my fleet for as long as it will have me. So far, so good.

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  Nice truck - 2002 Nissan Frontier
  By cowasockee - July 26 - 2:00 am

  I just bought my Frontier used, and so far I have been very happy with it. Only problems have been a few rattles that I believe are fixable, poor gas mileage, and my motorcycle (Ducati Monster) will not fit in the bed with the tail gate closed(misses it by a few inches). The only other problem is my wife steals my truck all the time.

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  My Nissan Experience - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By Mr. Mones - July 26 - 2:00 am

  This is my first time having a brand new car. I was kind of scared when I choose the car that I bought, but then when i test drive it. I was totally amaze with its performance. Now, I cant wait to upgrade more power and looks on it.

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  Pathfinders great except for fuel cost - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Paige Young - July 24 - 11:26 am

  The Pathfinder is sporty yet classy. It has quick acceleration, is easy to manuever, has great visability, comfort, style, reliability, is not too big, yet can carry a lot of cargo, and is fun to drive. Two cons only: I only get 17 miles per gallon in the city, and the CD player, which has been replaced once by Nissan, is very finicky. Other than that....it is an AWESOME vehicle.

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  excellent - 2006 Nissan 350Z
  By cso123c - July 23 - 6:00 am

  its wild to drive. the car is fast and fun to drive. it also is wonderful to get away from problem drivers. all you do is gas and your gone

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  Not a long term car - too bad - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By KLBliss - July 23 - 2:43 am

  Loved my Murano from day 1 but am learning the hard way it wont go long term without some heavy costs. Currently @53,000 miles. Drivers seat rail collapsed just after warranty expired. Nissan USA forced dealership to cover the repair without cost - it clearly wasnt normal wear & tear. Now electrical systems are acting up - even when not it in use the Bose 6 disc CD player shuffles discs when the ignition is turned off. Front windows roll down when the remote is used to unlock the car. Occasionally, a motor under the passenger seat triggers and whines when I turn the ignition off.

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  1998 Pathfinder 4x4 - 1998 Nissan Pathfinder
  By buckeyes3108 - July 22 - 4:19 pm

  This is a good truck if its taken care of. Previous owner lied about what he said he did to it, like regularly changing the oil. Took it to get fluids flushed a week after I got it and my mechanic said that was some dirty oil. I bought it with 175k miles on it for $2000 and Ive put $3000 into it. New tires, brakes all around, new front axle, bearings repacked all the way around, rear shocks, alternator, battery and a few other maintenance repairs. Still needs front struts and catalytic converter. Has an oil leak. No rust. Other than that, I really love the truck. Took it 4-wheeling today in the snow. Fun. Giving the truck to my nephew when he turns 16. Hope he gets a lot of use out of it.