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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  Great for the family or having fun. - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By packersfan34 - February 5 - 4:13 am

  Me and my wife did a lot of research on the Altima before our purchase. The one drawback I could see was that people wished they had bought the V-6 instead of the I-4. The first time I test drove my Altima SL I knew it was DEFINITELY the car for me. The leather interior is soft and VERY comfortable. The six disc changer is great and the 8 speaker Bose system really rocks. I have not owned this vehicle very long but with the amount of test drives Ive taken and the many vehicles Ive looked at this the Altima is for sure the best mid-size family sedan for the money.

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  exceeds expectations - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By new to nissan - February 4 - 7:26 pm

  This is my first time owning a Nissan and I had a great experience from the start with the dealership, they had great financing options and discounts that made it possible for me to purchase the Altima. Overall the car is very comfortable, the first weekend I had it, we took it on a 5 hour trip with no problem and the gas milage was great considering the size of the car. It is sporty and roomy, which is what I was looking for. The interior controls seem modern, but not complicated. Overall I feel like I am driving a car that is in a luxury-class

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  Exceeds Expectations - 2010 Nissan Maxima
  By Justin-Ryan - February 4 - 6:06 pm

  I recently purchased a 2010 Black Maxima. This car has plenty of technology and entertainment. The CVT transmission is something you have to get used to, but in daily driving, it truly is perfection. Everyone enjoys the bucket seats in the rear and large panoramic sunroof. The fuel economy is excellent for a vehicle with so much horsepower. The Xenon headlight and LED tailights bring in a lot of compliments. The rear spolier completes the look of a real sports car. I test drove a Malibu LTZ & Camry SE V6, and purchased the Maxima with no regrets. If your looking for a reliable, fast, fun car, this is your ride.

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  Best Bang for the Buck - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By ducksquat - February 4 - 10:56 am

  With gas prices soaring and my Jeep Wrangler eeking out a pathetic 14 mpg average, I had to do something about it. At 64", I needed a vehicle that would accommodate my size and be useful for an upcoming baby. I just didnt fit without my head bumping the roof in the new Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and Hyundai Sonata. But, much to my surprise, the Nissan Altima was a winner in terms of "fit." Im very impressed with the power of the 4- cylinder, which felt much like what I had in my old V6 Accord. It rides very smooth, quiet and is refined. Im very glad I bought this vehicle and have absolutely no buyers remorse. It has a great aggressive style to it and wonderful for touring.

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  Best sedan hands down - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By clangille - February 4 - 7:33 am

  This has to be the most powerful & smooth 4 cylinder engine ever built. Not worth the extra for the 6 cylinder, trust me. The drive and handling are comparable to that of a $40k-$50k sedan. Interior is quiet, comfortable and extremely roomy. You get alot of car for the money, with great standard features. Vehicle is sleek and classy yet sporty all at once. Great gas mileage as well. Excellent all around car!

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  05 Pathfinder SE 4x4 - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By ZANE - February 3 - 4:03 pm

  We sat on the fence for a long time between the 4Runner and Pathfinder and we are very grateful we picked the Pathfinder. We love the exterior look and the drive feel. The extra set of seats will be perfect when family visits. We no longer have to take two vehicle or squeeze into one, we can comfortably ride together. As returning Nissan customers we expect many years of riding enjoyment in our new Pathfinder.

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  Fantastic Truck - 2006 Nissan Titan
  By SuaSponte - February 3 - 4:53 am

  I shopped for a while and narrowed my full size crew cab truck choice down to a Ford F-150 Lariat or the Nissan Titan LE, both 4x4s. After a couple of test drives it was a no-brainer, the Nissan was far superior in all respects. The Ford seats were not comfortable, the Nissans sound system and controls were much better; additionally, the navigation system in the Nissan was awesome and much better implemented. The Ford F-150s power was an also ran in comparison. Both trucks ride and handle very well for big rides, but the Nissan felt more stable in the mountain roads where I ride. Also love the spray in bedliner from the factory and the innovative bed management rail system, etc...

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  Love my 98 SE 5 speed - 1998 Nissan Maxima
  By Jonathan - February 2 - 5:20 pm

  Bought this car with 95000 mi. 4 yrs ago and I have been running it hard ever since. The car is comfortable, classy, fast, dependable, fun to drive and now with 195000 mi. still runs strong and torquey. Very few problems in the 100,000 miles I have had it. In really cold weather the cruise control is intermittent. I had to have a new airbag control at 185,000, $750. Now the ABS light is on. Will get that fixed in the spring. Other than that I have had no real problems... still running the same clutch, same water pump, same alternator, same suspension parts, no problems. I love this car. Its one of those rare cars that comes along and it becomes a keeper. I love this car.

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  Look out Toyota - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By Eric Laettner - February 2 - 6:30 am

  I have only had the car a week so the reliability rating is a guess. I have owned two Nissans before both Sentras. One was a GXE and my latest was a Spec V. I never had a problem with either Nissan. The Altima is fun to drive and has more cool features then I know what to do with. Gas mileage is good for its performance (0-60 in 5.9). Also considering the price I think you cant compete with it. I was thinking about a Infiniti G35, but for about $7000 less I got just about as much car (I know they are both technically Nissans). The Camry and Accord are just to plain and not even close to being as "sporty" as the Altima. I would recommend the Altima as a mid- range sedan for the $$.

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  We just love this car! - 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By Tropo - February 2 - 12:06 am

  This is our second Altima. The first is 2007 SE with tech, and this one is a hybrid with a sunroof and tech package. The day we got it, we drove from Philadelphia to DC for the weekend and back. total miles 300, half a tank of gas. Car is great, and best part is the button start and everything is totally quiet in the car. I can go on and on, but the bottom line is we compared it to the Camry, and we liked this one better. We got the Metallic Jade (green), so we have a true green car in more than one way!