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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  Capitan de los mosquitos - 2008 Nissan Versa
  By carlos - February 25 - 4:46 am

  Owning a versa is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Its power has me baffled, it packs a mean Punch especially on the expressway when you drop out of overdrive. Its overall appearance is sexy, it makes me want to drop it into second at about sixty miles an hour with full open butterfly. The first gear ratio is what I like best it is long and strong. Its take of speed can be deceiving unless you help it out with the neutralizer, ( it is very simple, step on the gas with a quick stab, keep the gas pedal on the floor, within two seconds shift car into neutral for a fraction of a second and back into drive. This allows revolution to accumulate thus creating a sharp and sudden pull

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  Great Buy - 1998 Nissan Pathfinder
  By jabe - February 25 - 2:00 am

  picked up a 98 SE used - had heard great things about vehicle from friends and relatives who owned one. Build quality is great. not a rattle or squeak (the 2000 Cherokee I returned on lease rattled like a tin can after 6 months!) The pathfinder is a great deal used - considerably cheaper than a 4Runner, and built just as well and more comfortable. Will use this vehicle for camping and fishing, as well as family trips, and I expect a long life out of it - so far so good!

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  98K and still going - 1999 Nissan Altima
  By cmoaro - February 25 - 2:00 am

  Another former Honda diehard and I wouldnt trade my Altima for anything except maybe a newer one with less wind noise.

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  The most utility for the buck! - 2001 Nissan Frontier
  By hydrogeek - February 25 - 2:00 am

  This is the most versitile vehicle I have owned. I can haul the kids, camping gear, mountain bikes, take the wife to dinner and commute to work. This a less refined vehicle than some on the road (i.e. Lexus, Infiniti) but it gets the job down well with great exterior styling.

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  The paint stinks, but a great car... - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By Mr. Blair Selig - February 25 - 2:00 am

  The thing is beautiful. Great design and engine is a joy to drive. I have a problem with the paint, and so do a lot of other owners I am sure- the paint on the 2000-2003 Maximas tends to chip very easily. Only 2700 miles in, the paint has chips and scratches in it. Other than this, I love the durn thing.

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  Handling & Acceleration for Less - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By tjsmithiii - February 25 - 2:00 am

  I got my fully loaded (sunroof, audio, abs, mats, & microfilter) 03 Spec-V a week ago and have no doubt that I made the right decision. Paid $18,064 /w $500 cash back at 1.9% APR. Acceleration and handling are fantastic, as well as the look /w the mesh grills and 17" wheels. Seats are comfortable yet supportive. Fosgate stero is incredible. Overall a great choice.

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  2003 Murano - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By Chris Welch - February 25 - 2:00 am

  This has been a great vehicle to own. Of particular pleasure is the CVT transmission, which is incredibly smooth, as well as having a sport mode which allows better acceleration and engine braking, albeit at the price of some fuel economy.

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  Major disappointment - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By nissanguy - February 25 - 2:00 am

  Fun to drive, but no way this car can justify sticker price of $28.000. Poor quality inside the car. Plastic moldings on the seat are pealing off. Ugly strip of carpet-like material runs on the dashboard. Poor rear window visibility. Even top of the line SL has cheap looking plastics (wood imitation). Outside - front grill is terrible. Made of cheap shiny pieces of plastic. The whole thing moves to the touch of hand. Nissan tried to separate Maxima from Altima and they only succeeded in placing a higher price sticker, since the only good thing that this car has (engine) is also available in Altima 3.5, which costs thousands $ less and looks better.

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  My best car ever... - 1999 Nissan Altima
  By Richard S - February 25 - 12:23 am

  I have 112,000 miles on this car I bought new. Front brakes made it safely to 75,000 backs to 100,000 OE clutch made it to 110,000 as well as the battery and alternator. That I blame on my 1000 watt aftermarket stereo. I did have to replace the power window unit at 96000. Im scared to trade it because of how reliable it has been. It can even do light off roading when needed. Its not a truck so it does require some caution but it handles it well. Wish the new ones were closer to the same! We have an 06 too. Its really nice but not quite the same.

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  I love this car - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By LovesHerSentra - February 24 - 8:20 pm

  The Sentra had everything I was looking for, fantastic fuel economy, power, economy and great styling. I drove the corolla as well, and there was just no comparison in how it felt. Upon taking the test drive, I knew immediately this was the car for me. The fuel economy is very good as well. Ive been getting 28-30 mpg on average with mixed driving, and up to 35 during pure highway driving. Did I mention its fun to drive? The CVT is so smooth and I feel that Im getting better fuel efficiency without sacrificing power. The styling is great. I think it looks like a much more expensive car. The convenience package is definitely a must.