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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  2004 Sentra Spec V - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By deltaj52 - February 8 - 10:00 am

  I love my new nissan sentra. Lots of fun for the dollar .

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  2004 quest - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By rcmk165 - February 8 - 10:00 am

  Love my Quest. traded in my pathfinder 2002 for the Quest 2004. loads of interior room. room for everything. Great trunk space too. looks sleek for a minivan.

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  5.6 Liter Hemi Eater - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By AdamSibille - February 8 - 10:00 am

  I have owned this truck now for a few months and have turned heads since purchasing. The vehicle is by far the best driving truck on the market. The smooth ride and low road noise make this a great buy for everyone. Eventhough it has low road noise, it still has exceptional power when you need it. Plenty of room for the whole family seating six comfortably.

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  love IT! - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By kem - February 8 - 12:50 am

  I have owned my 2005 Nissan for 2 years now. I absolutely love it. The gas mileage is great. I have not had any problems with the vehicle. I have not need anything done to the car maintenance wise. The car is comfortable and roomy. I get about 20 mpg in the city with frequent stop and go and about 27 mpg on the highway. My husband is able to sit in the back seat comfortable with room to spare he is 64". Overall it is a very roomy car, a great value, very reliable, very comfortable, and great deal for the money.

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  Love my new LEAF - 2013 Nissan Leaf
  By TJ - February 6 - 5:42 pm

  Im now in my first days with a red 2013 Nissan LEAF and really happy with it. What are most important to me in a car are practicality and comfort, including drive comfort. The Nissan LEAF excels for me in part because of the spacious design of the interior. Second, the handling and acceleration are snappy and efficient. The only sacrifice I have to make is to budget charging every day or two. On the other hand, my days of planning trips to the gas station are over!

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  Drive a versa now - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By SS - February 6 - 8:00 am

  4 weeks ago , I didnt even know what a versa was. I drove a honda fit and about had a fit. It felt like a clown car. I drove a toyota yaris and it was the noisest car Ive ever driven. I accidently sat in a sold versa, closed the door, turned on the stereo, and almost fell asleep in a comfortable seat. The customer couldnt get financed and after I went on a 25 mile demo ride , I bought the car. The cvt tranny is a joy. Quiet, roomy interior,no blind spots,great gas milage ,cold cold air conditioning,blue tooth tech, keyless ignition and a great look. I have never bought a car without researching it for a week and driving it 3 demo times, but this car is different. It says BUY ME NOW !!!

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  Excellent Car! - 1999 Nissan Maxima
  By gwalters - February 6 - 2:00 am

  This car is fast, smooth, quiet, and excellent. I have the 5 speed, which is great for the control. Bigger back seat than a camry or accord. Excellent for the 85 mph commute in Massachusettes, and front drive is fine in snow. Excellent in the twisties! It never breaks, and at 98000 miles, I might consider new struts in another 40,000!

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  Awesome Car - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Sweet02AltimaSE - February 6 - 2:00 am

  Its about time they made the Altima available in a V6...and what a V6 it is. The engine is smooth, responsive, quiet, and fast. The exterior design is great. Thats probably what attracted me to the car initially. Then, I found out that it had 240 horsepower hiding under its hood...I had to have it. The interior lacks a bit; however, consider the car. The Altimas price range extends from as low as $16K-$30K. For a $16K car, the interior is fine. For a $30K car, which is what mine almost was, the interior is lacking a bit, mostly in the cheap-looking door panels. The interior has some rattles, but Ive learned to deal with it - turn the radio up.

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  Go for it! - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By Ron - February 5 - 4:30 pm

  Bought 6 Mo. ago, Love the car, no problems, I use regular gas, Avg. about 20 M.P.G., highest on the Hyw, was 24.7, From other reviews here, I noticed some people do not read the owners book, before they complain about things, like "the seat gets caught on the seat belts when folding them down!" (There are clips to hold the belts out of the way!!}, Reading the book solves a lot of knit picking. If you like the car GO FOR IT. I never looked back!!!! I added the wood interior, people really like the class look of it.

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  Great Truck, Except for the Brakes - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By BT - February 5 - 8:56 am

  Bought this last year for a work truck, wife liked it so much she started driving it and didnt give it up. It rides great, very comfortable and has plenty of power. The Rockford Fosgate sounds good, volume adjusts with speed, (dont know if the 30000 mile review guy knows this) The only problem has been the brakes. I have had it in once, at 6000 miles, but they are starting to go again. If Nissan cant figure it out I will switch to Brembos. The gas mileage could be better, I have a 65 mile round trip commute and 16 mpg doesnt cut it. (this is why I am driving the wifes car)A friend of mine has one as well, he switched to syn. oil and diff. exhaust and got 20 mpg, but it should be better