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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  dont buy black - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By eriktodd - March 9 - 10:00 am

  I love this car.....but I ahve owned other black cars and not had near the problem I am having with this car. I think it is a pretty cheap paint....I know it looks great clean but with this paint it is impossible to get rid of water spots!

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  Could be better ...... - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By Warrior - March 9 - 5:20 am

  Erratic transmission shifts with the 5- speed auto. Noise in cabin after 35 MPH or on highways. Excellent suspension settings. Great exterior view.

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  Best all around vehicle in its class - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By Tim J - March 9 - 3:26 am

  Been a great car since day one. I used to be a GM fan until problems with Saturn drove me to check out other car makers. Best move I ever made as the Altima rides and drives circles around anything GM has in its class! Hopefully, the engine oil consumption issue will be cleared up soon as it was extremely proactive by Nissan to provide us with an 84 month or 100,000 mile extended engine warranty at no charge!

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  My MAX ,is a beautiful vehicle - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By kc21 - March 8 - 5:06 pm

  I think over all the vehicle is extrodinary,except for the rough ride over bumps,as I explained below.other then that the vehicle is GREAT!.

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  Sporty with Comfort - 2009 Nissan Maxima
  By Bob B. - March 8 - 4:40 pm

  What a fun car to drive. We went thru a lengthy process to pick out a sedan that met mileage, comfort and appearance conditions we deemed important. The Maxima won out no hands down. Mileage is good for a luxury car, about 25 so far with mixed driving, and comfort is superb. We bought the SV model fully loaded and cant be happier. We strongly recommend this vehicle.

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  Bulletproof - 2000 Nissan Pathfinder
  By whittonm - March 7 - 10:46 pm

  In 8 years of ownership, the only major repair was the replacement of the ignition key switch after 3 years. Other than that, just tires, oil, etc. Performance is OK, fuel economy is fair, interior is nice, driving position is excellent, AC held up well during 7 TX summers. This truck is bulletproof.

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  scam - 2017 Nissan Rogue
  By Aj - March 6 - 7:11 pm

  make sure company will not scam you with maintenance plan

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  One Solid Truck - 1995 Nissan Pathfinder
  By CarOwner - March 6 - 10:00 am

  This is one great truck. Its a little small on the inside but the comfort level is great. I bought it with 90K. I owned it for over 2 years and 15,000 more miles and never had to do one maintenance job. Just be good with your oil changes and it will treat you great!

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  Almost Overlooked this SUV - 2004 Nissan Pathfinder
  By TrapperJay - March 6 - 10:00 am

  This SUV had flown under the radar with me. When my Explorer finally died, I sort of stumbled across the Pathfinder when a friend told me to check out the Xterra (!). I did my research (including Edmunds) and saw that the Pathfinder garnered consistently high ratings from both reviewers and consumers. All it took was one test drive for me to say "this is the one". It handles superbly, has a lot of power, and is very comfortable. It doesnt have the latest body styling, but I actually find it very attractive, especially in the Platinum Edition. This is a smaller midsize (why do they keep getting bigger?) that sure fits the bill

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  Gas mileage Stinks - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By william b. paatrick - March 6 - 10:00 am

  okay, the titan is fun to drive and the exterior design is snazzy but the gas mileage stinks. You cant keep gas in it! If I had it to do over again, I would not purchase the titan truck. I recommend you wait and buy the new 2005 Frontier which is coming out in Dec 2004. Im serious you cant keep gas in the titan. deac