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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  Economy Vehicle - 2015 Nissan Versa
  By mysteryvan92 - July 11 - 6:09 pm

  I have driven other cars on a daily basis, but this is the first car I have ever personally owned. The Versa is not for people who are heavy on the gas, trying to be king of the road. It is a simple, economical, moderately stylish sedan for people that need reliable transportation. It is ideal for low budgets, daily commuting, college students, etc. Ive put about 1,300 miles on it so far and I havent noticed any problems. The brakes were tighter than Im typically used to, but thats about it. Overall, im pretty satisfied with the buy and would recommend as an economical transportation solution.

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  great car for the money - 2009 Nissan Versa
  By paul - July 11 - 6:13 am

  traded a 2002 elantra with 160k and wanted another one but the hyundia dealer wasnt moving on the price. Stumbled on to the Versa and got a great deal. Excellent on gas and comfortable too.

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  Decent sports car for the money - 2009 Nissan 370Z
  By Jim - July 9 - 11:06 am

  I was driving a Cayman S and the Z car is a totally different animal. I know they are suppose to be competitors but the Cayman is much more comfortable and feels like the precision Porsche Euro sports car that it is and the Z car feels like a cramped Japanese sports car which it is. No comparison but I just wanted to try the Z car for a year or two but im going back to the Cayman S next time. Dollar for dollar the Z is a good value though and if you arent 6-1 like me its probably a better value . A smaller person might not feel as cramped as I do. I just fit in Euro cars better. Acceleration was ok but the Cayman S just feels more exhilarating for some reason.

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  Unsatisfied after 3 years - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Steven - July 8 - 5:13 am

  I just traded in my Altima after 3 years and 57,000 miles because of a few fairly large issues in my opinion: 1) Loud Road Noise 2) Rough ride over bumps 3) Replaced front breaks at 35,000 miles 4) Replaced back breaks at 45,000 miles 5) Replaced bent rim at 35,000 miles 6) Replaced battery at 56,000 miles 7) Very wide turning radius If you want a FUN car to drive, this car will do it for you. The 3.5 engine is simply unbelievable. Its also a very attractive car. However, if youre looking for ride quality, steer completely clear of this vehicle because you will be very disappointed.

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  Not perfect, but I love it - 2009 Nissan Cube
  By DeeTee - July 7 - 6:10 pm

  Well I was the first one to write a review about this car. I have now been driving it for 5+ months, and I have 12,313 miles on it. It is a lot of fun to drive, sure it isnt fast but then again thats not the point of an econobox. I average about 31 mpg in mixed driving. Comfortable, ROOOOMY, and still gets a lot of attention both good and bad, I prefer the bad =D. I have had issues with the fuel gauge meter, had to be replaced, and it had to be realigned TWICE already. Brakes started screeching after 3,000 miles, but dealer will fix. All in all, it is a great buy, fun to drive, and am very pleased with my choice of car.

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  Simply flimsy (looks can be deceiving - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Moises - July 7 - 3:43 pm

  I just purchased a 2004 Nissan Maxima. I am pretty upset because of the poor flimsy body. The car is not solid, and the quality of material is so cheap. The car thus is reliable but lacks the German craftsmanship in every aspect; especially in the suspension, interior quality, and the solidness. It seems that Nissan attempted to make this car out of aluminum like metal all the way around.

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  Still going - 2006 Nissan Sentra
  By TLS - July 6 - 9:03 am

  Lets just say this is a damn good car if its still running after a year of my husband behind the wheel he has a record of tearing cars up in less than 6 months and trust me this little car has been threw hell but I still feel confident getting behind the wheel it take me where I need to go comfortably and shes running like a top to this day.

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  Brought it home today ! - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By grif_57 - July 4 - 7:46 am

  I just purchased my black 2.0 after several months of research. Drove many comparable models, domestic and foreign. My first impression and that of my wife, who first drove the car this morning, is great car. The CVT. It was a snowmobile to me first, but it really seems to work. Road noise? A little, but thats what radios are for. I was looking for a stripped down daily driver and found this rather impressively equipped S model for a better price than the others. You know who you are. Since this car has all of 36 miles in it, Im marking the build quality and reliability in the middle. Check back.

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  A huge step up from 2014 - 2016 Nissan Maxima
  By Dennis - July 4 - 12:20 am

  I checked out the 2016 Maxima Platinum almost as an afterthought. I was looking at several cars including the Audi A4 & A6, the Acura TLX Advance, Lexus GS350 and IS350, and the Infiniti Q50. I was really surprised at how well the Maxima stacked up. You will love or hate the new bold in-your-face exterior (I love it) but the interior is a huge leap forward from the older Max. Lighting options provide a very classy curb appearance along with the standard signature boomerand LED running lights. The high console and large screen (tilted slightly toward the driver) seem inspired by fighter jet design. The seats are large and supportive and the driving position very comfortable. The Max is very close in size to the Acura TLX but looks much bigger because of the lines and high hood design. The infotainment systems are colorful and intuitive and the Bose audio is crisp and realistic. Heated and ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel and exterior mirrors (auto-dimming on the driver side) and the safety features in the Platinum edition are very impressive for a non-luxury brand - I would love to know how they make that 360 degree camera view work - it looks like the view from a drone flying above the car. Great for positioning in a parking space! Sonar systems on the corners and collision avoidance warnings also very helpful. Ride is a little stiffer than the average family car, but not at all harsh. Low end torque is very satisfying when trying to get up to speed quickly. On the down side, the Max is a little short on 12v outlets compared to its competitors and the front passenger is limited to four-way seat adjustment rather than eight-way that some of the Maxs competitors offer - not a lot of fun for a short passenger. Trunk size seems limited by the wheel wells. Acura offers a two full screen infotainment system that some critics have called "confusing" but I found it more flexible than the Maxs - the Acura Advance also has a hard drive you can store music on which is a nice feature. The Nissan warranty also comes up a little short when compared with some of the competitors. Overall, the Max Platinum impressed me enough to forego the luxury brands. Pleased with that decision so far.

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  I like it! - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By Tennz - July 3 - 3:36 am

  Love the Z. It load, firm, fast, and fun. I commute in mine every day 60 mile each way. I get an average of 28 mpg, I have seen 31 mpg on the freeway and 19 around town. I have owned Mazda and Mercedes roadsters and this is by far the best. Others have complained of blind spots. I have none, you just have to set the mirrors correctly. I will buy again.