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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  2003 350z - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By mdmike - March 16 - 2:00 am

  I love this car. I want to mention that the only thing that real upsets me about my car is the tire issue. I have been back to the dealer twice now to fix the Tire growl and feathering issue. Quite frankly its still not fixed. I have read alot of articles and they all seem to bring this issue up. Nissan really needs to step up and address this issue. The alignment and tire rotation that they recommend does not work. After it was applied to my car it seemed ok for about 1500 miles then the growl started to come back. I plan on bring the car back a third time.

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  Going Strong - 2000 Nissan Pathfinder
  By DC10_Flyer - March 16 - 2:00 am

  My 2000 Pathfinder is now 4 years old and going strong. I only have 33,000 miles on it, but use it daily and havent had any problems. Quality is excellent. Like others, my only complaint is the lack of power and fuel economy. Before this model I had a 1997 Pathfinder and it was underpowered as well, but perhaps even more so. Although Im not in the market for a new car (I loathe the thought of spending $30k for a car) Id buy another Pathfinder in a minute.

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  GET THIS CAR FAST!! - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By Good car! - March 16 - 2:00 am

  I just got this car from Hertz Car sales, and dont be afraid to buy from a rental company. I love my maxima, best car i have ever driven. Being a teen, i love flooring it, it has so much power. The other cars i drive, which are my parents is a 2001 Chrysler T&C and a 1994 Dodge Grand Caravan. This is soo much easier to park and a lot more fun to drive. I am 61" size 14 feet and i have more than enough room in it. I also love the exterior design. The Nissan dealership was very mean, hiking the prices very high, so go to a rental car place. Also has better gas milage than the vans i drive. Get this car now!

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  WHITESENTRA - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By SONIAJW - March 16 - 2:00 am

  STEARING IS NOT VERY SMOOTH. SEATS ARE NOT VERY COMFORTABLE AN ARM REST WOULD BE HELPFUL. CENTRAL CONSOLE IS VERYSMALL SO YOUR ARE UNABLE TO USE IT AS AN ARMREST. I FEEL LIKE I AM IN AN UNCOMFORTABLE BED WITH NO POSITION THAT IS COMFORTABLE. FREEWAY DRIVING IS QUIT NOISEY,NOT AS QUIET AS MY SISTERS COROLLA.

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  Awesome Truck - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By Jeff1030 - March 16 - 2:00 am

  Traded in my 03 Chev Silverado for this Titan. Chev cant hold a candle to this truck. Smooth, powerful, quiet, features, all in Nissans favor. Even got a good deal considering this is a no dicker truck at present. Fit and finish are a good or better than any import Ive ever owned. Turning radius is excellent, adjustable pedals are a great feature for the shorter driver in the family. Bed is as long at the Chev with a smaller wheel wells in the bed. Still asked almost daily what Im driving. Turns heads almost every where I go.

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  It is or REAL - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By Steve 350 Zooms - March 16 - 2:00 am

  Read tons of reviews before deciding on the Z Touring Roadster......IT IS EVERYTHING others say and more. the Pick up is awesome, sound system rocks, handling is un matched and what a head turner in Red .. This car is for real all the way around.

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  Awesome - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By paul37 - March 16 - 2:00 am

  this car is awesome. If I had a Million dollars Id buy ten more. This car is so amazing.

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  maxima sl 2004 - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By tom farmer - March 16 - 2:00 am

  over all i am very satisefied with the car. i wish i had gotten the 5 speed auto trans, just to give myself the option of shifting manualy.

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  Hit or Miss - 2007 Nissan Titan
  By Bwilson5 - March 15 - 5:10 pm

  07 Extended Cab 4x4 OR package. First off the paint on these things is a little cheap looks like an orange peel and the clear coat scratches easy. Secondly these trucks are notorious for the rear end axle seal leaking...I had mine RR side worked on 3 TIMES!! before the dealership could get it right. This truck is also noisey and the tailgate sounds bad on bumps. Don’t get me wrong I love this truck awesome power and looks great lifted. This truck takes well to mods and can really set you apart from the crowd if done in good taste. Hands down one of the best engine/drivetrains out there but the rear end issues need to be addressed...but overall I still think this is a great truck love it

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  Great truck - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By Dave - March 15 - 10:03 am

  I feel in love with this truck as soon as I saw it. But looks were just what got me started. It handles well, is comfortable to drive and has made life a lot easier when it comes to working around the property, because it goes just about anywhere.