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:

• 

  Nice Sporty Ride - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By Worm - May 30 - 2:00 am

  Test drove this SUV twice to make sure it handled and performed as well as I thought the first time. Handling is great and stable. The engine has excellent performance and runs very smooth. I just think it might be priced a little high considering nissan does not have high residual values like Acura or Lexus but it is priced around 38,000 for a loaded SE.

• 

  great truck - 2001 Nissan Frontier
  By Tony Eberhardy - May 29 - 11:43 pm

  I bought my truck used 10/05. I love this truck and plan on buying another one like it whent the time comes. It has good power, great looks, and is very reliable. The only drawback is the gas mileage, I get about 18 miles a gallon.

• 

  Looks great but having issues - 2006 Nissan Maxima
  By steve - May 29 - 11:10 am

  I took a march 2006 delivery on this Black with dark grey cloth seats Nissan SE as a commuter and 2nd car. The only options were the mats, spoiler and the sunroof. It has been in the shop 3 times to replace the front right struts (it is now Oct. 06). There is a rattling in the steering that the dealer cannot seem to fix. It is fine for straight highway cruising but forget having fun in the twisties. This car get nervous and sloppy real fast. Its a psuedo sports car. While the exteriror styling is beautiful the body panel are soft and thin. Subject to the slightest dings. With the mecahnical problems and the sloppy handling I cant wait to get rid of it.

• 

  Very Satisfied owner - 1997 Nissan Altima
  By Very satisfied owner - May 28 - 3:36 pm

  I purchased my Nissan Altima 97 with little over 8000 miles. It currently has 286,437 miles on it. The car has treated me very well even though I didnt take care care of it. It still runs just as good as it did when I bought it. i havent had to do very much work on it thus far. Just minor repairs and regular tune ups. I have driven it literally all over the country due to being in the army.

• 

  Front Brakes Suck - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By Jay Veenis - May 26 - 8:53 am

  After only 20,000 miles the front rotors have been turned down twice. The front braking system was replaced once and it appears that it will require more attention at 26,000 miles. There seems to be 4 - 5 thousand miles between brake repairs. The rotors become warped and either require machining or replacement. It appears that the brakes are undersized. The same braking system is used on the Titan, which has a similar record.

• 

  Transmission problems - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Former Nissan lover - May 25 - 8:56 pm

  After reading several reviews about this car I am compelled to write my own. My 2005 Pathfinder is my third Nissan. I was going to purchase nothing but Nissan in the future. That has now changed. At about 70K miles the Fuel sensor failed then I stated to have trouble shifting. The coolant and transmission fluids were mixing due to a faulty line. These are major $$ problems. I bought another Nissan because I NEVER had a problem with my other two. I loved this car when I first saw it and I had to have it. When I finally got it I knew it was too good to be true.

• 

  Former Skeptic - 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By NEW HBD FAN - May 25 - 5:13 pm

  Traded in my Audi A4 for the Altima Hybrid. Its as comfortable, as quiet, as loaded with features, as beautiful... and I get 42 mpg on my 75 mile commute instead of 29 mpg on the Audi. I just set the cruise control to 65, ease up on the pedal around town, and the car does its magic. Add the regular gas instead of premium, and the $2500 tax credit, and Im saving a lot of money. OK, I give up something on zip and handling, but I definitely gain something just knowing Im not spending all that money on gas and supporting the dictators who run most of the oil producing countries... plus having a hybrid has a certain cache that makes up for the loss of the luxury car nameplate.

• 

  Bad paint job and rattles - 2000 Nissan Xterra
  By Honukele - May 25 - 2:00 am

  The Xterra is perfect for our one-baby, two-dog, surf-board, and kayak carrying lifestyle. Even towed out a stuck Cherokee once. (4WD, no less!) The paint job (white) was really bad. Warranty work was done to repair serious rust below the radiator. Also look for rust spots wherever there is s spot weld. Also, there is a mysterious rattle on the front passenger side that the dealer was unable to fix. Overall, we like the vehicle, however, I recommend hunkering down and taking a close look under the grill at the paint below the radiator and in other hidden areas for signs of rust.

• 

  Keeps on Ticking - 2001 Nissan Altima
  By Road Warrior - May 25 - 2:00 am

  This is my third Nissan (92 & 96 sentras prviously) and is certainly the best and most reliable. I just had my first service problem this week after passing 70,000 miles in 26 months. The check engine light came on- I needed two new oxygen sensors. $400 is not bad after some serious use.

• 

  Bad Mistake - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By BadSituation - May 25 - 2:00 am

  I had problems from the word "GO" and I will never buy another Nissan car again. Too bad Nissan Corp. can not take the car back.