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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  Wonderful so far - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By mtpete - April 10 - 4:46 pm

  Replaced a 2012 Maxima, which had seats that caused physical pain like Ive never experienced. Thankfully the new seats in the Altima are terrific. The car seems solid and well thought out, overall. Excellent ride quality, acceleration, and handling - although it feels a bit soft compared to the Maxima. Fit and finish are excellent for the price point. Engine is very powerful, and the CVT is flat out amazing. Fuel economy is exceptional. Bose stereo is good. Backup camera is a great feature. Best air conditioning Ive ever experienced - you could store meat in the car on 100 degree days. The leather is soft (surprising at this price point!) and the zebra wood grain trim is nice.

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  an excellent truck! - 2006 Nissan Titan
  By driver1232 - April 9 - 4:20 pm

  bought new. Been making me happy for years now. Comfortable, spacious, quiet on the inside. loads of power, great utility. I will buy another one without reservations. Best truck Ive ever had.

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  Great Pickup - 1999 Nissan Frontier
  By alex_5626 - April 9 - 2:00 pm

  This truck runs great. No engine problems or design flaws. It would however be nice if it had four doors instead of two. Also the engine could use a little more guts, putting out 160 horsepower and 200 ft/lbs of torque. Other then that, great truck. It uses 90% of its horsepower at 1800 rpm and less, so passing on the highway can take time. This truck will make you happy.

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  bbbb - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By mg - April 8 - 6:46 pm

  Good quality built car, only minor details that have gone wrong in the past two years. one is the windshield wiper solution sprayer on the drivers side does not work well.I have had better A/c in other models but it does the job.

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  The surprise cute-ute - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Dan - April 8 - 11:53 am

  I started searching for a small SUV to replace my wifes old 03 Outback. I had narrowed my choices down between the rav4 & crv. After finding that the rav4 equipped the way we wanted wasnt a good deal, I was sure the crv would be the car. We happened to checkout the new rogue, but we werent impressed with it. My wife however, liked the Murano. After realizing it was MUCH bigger than it looks, we took one for a spin, and liked the overall feel. We went to look at the crv, and did not like it, so we went back and got a murano. MPG is good IMO for a V6 SUV. Weve had the car for over 2 weeks now, and consistently avg about 20-21 mpg with mostly "city" (stop lights) driving. Great car!

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  Thoughts on Xterra - 2008 Nissan Xterra
  By Jack - April 8 - 2:40 am

  The Xterra has its ups and downs, the engine offers nice power, but fuel mileage is bad. Sometimes city/hwy average mileage as low as 13 mpg thats not even using 4wd. Aerodynamics are terrible roof rack, running boards, fenders, back bumper steps, heavy 4wd system. The auto tranny shifts well. Cargo area offers a decent amount of space. Overall satisfied.

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  Impressive! - 2008 Nissan Pathfinder
  By dep22 - April 7 - 6:46 am

  Other than gas mileage which we expected with the V8, we LOVE our Pathfinder! The outside is quite attractive and it rides like a dream. If I could change anything it would be to make the inside a bit more luxurious, it is very practical.

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  If you need an SUV this is the one! - 1999 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Eddie O. - April 6 - 10:00 am

  This is my first SUV but likely my last. While this may sound like the start of a negative review, it actually isnt. I really dont need an SUV, I dont have anything to tow around and despite it being amazing in the winter its just not a neccessity. The truth is, I got caught up with the whole yuppy craze with getting an SUV. I am really disappointed with the fuel mileage that this type of vehicle gets. I knew it would be worse than a typical car but I think 15mpg is just unexceptable. The reliability and comfort of this vehicle are fantastic. I looked at all the competition and this is the one to get, if you really need to have one!

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  maxima eval - 2001 Nissan Maxima
  By bernsyb - April 6 - 10:00 am

  Very pleased with everything.

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  Nissan usa a-ok - 2003 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Dog Man - April 6 - 10:00 am

  Excellent vehicle. Somewhat small, but very reliable