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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  Fun to Drive - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By chrispv - February 18 - 4:46 am

  Ive owned my Maxima since 2004 and it has been a great car. The car is loaded and also has a 6 speed, which is fun to drive and is fast for a family sedan. There is a lot of room in the car and trunk for my family. The car has had minimal repair work (tires, brakes, exhaust system). Ive got 89k miles and the car still looks great and runs well. Ive noticed a slight drop in the acceleration but that is to be expected with time. I would highly recommend this car to anyone looking.

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  Nissan Frontier Quality - 2006 Nissan Frontier
  By Catch22 - February 18 - 2:23 am

  I have had my Frontier now for about 18 months and absolutely love it! I have put on 44,000 miles during that time and I have no issues whatsoever. I am still on my first set of factory tires, brakes have about 50% wear on them. The interior features lack when compared to the competition. I am currently getting about 17-19mpg in the city, and 22-23 on hwy. I do not drive the vehicle hard at all though. I would have like more features available for interior (such as leather, nav. system, etc.)

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  Great Value for the $$ - 2008 Nissan Versa
  By Paulie in Baltimore - February 18 - 12:43 am

  Purchased to replace a Land Rover on my 100 mile daily commute.I havent had a car this small since I learned to drive way back in the day. Shes not sexy, but thats the only discouraging word. I average 33 mpg consistently & change the oil every 5K with synthetic. This cars exceeded all my expectations. I was simply looking for a fuel saver aka $$ saver & I got a lot more!! Best value on the market for this type of vehicle IMHO.

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  Xterra S 4x4 - 2009 Nissan Xterra
  By Mike - February 17 - 7:36 pm

  I initially wanted an FJ, but I checked- out the Xterra and was very pleased. I showed up at the dealer looking for an offroad and was informed they were next to impossible to get in my area. After much deliberation I opted for an S and never looked back. Im very happy with my xterra, the night armor looks great and it is a very capable 4x4 even without the offroad package. But really I can put in an airlocker and heavy duty shocks if needed. Mine came with the free technology package and I love it, the hands free bluetooth has been great and the rockford audio is quite enjoyable. It has an actual back seat as well and four doors. The utility of the Xterra cant be beat. Has 4x4 gas mileage

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  Style with Performance - 2011 Nissan Altima
  By JMM - February 17 - 3:00 pm

  Sits low to the ground, so if hip or leg problems it can be an issue. Overall great car. 2011 was best year for Altimas. Easy access to controls and woderfully supported seating.

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  Dicks Synopsis - 2007 Nissan Murano
  By Riochard Doll - February 17 - 11:20 am

  Driving this vehicle has been a great experience. Love the way it handles & pick-up.

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  the z - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By White Smoke - February 16 - 9:36 pm

  its the best

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  Disappointing Reliability - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Unhappy ex-owner - February 16 - 8:30 pm

  Very disappointing reliability, just over 60,000/5 yer drive train warranty, required new front wheel bearings, the one month later a new timing chain was needed. Timing chain is supposed to last life of engine. Is a $2,500 service job. Nissan would not cover, decided to trade in. Be very wary if purchasing a used 2004 Quest van if the timing chains have not been replaced yet. Nissan is aware of problem, issues a tech bulletin 1 year ago, but no recall. If buying a newer year, make sure you bring it in for service if engine ever makes a whining sound before warranty is up. I had planned on keeping it more than 5 years and 60,700 miles but could not see spending an additional $2,500 now.

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  Love this car - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By Sue0957 - February 16 - 4:10 pm

  I have owned this car for about 5 months. The only complaint I had was the gas mileage wasnt that great, getting only 26-27 mpg driving a mix of highway-city. Now it seems to have improved after the first service or break-in period. It is 29-30. I am hoping it will get better from here as I get used to the car. I have about 5,000 miles on it and love it more every day - the comfortable interior, sporty look, handling and suspension. I see people staring at this car to check it out.Trunk is spacious. Stereo rocks! A lot of standard features for a very reasonable price. All the airbags make this car a great choice if you have a family. Cant beat it, no regrets on this purchase whatsoever.

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  myXtraXterra - 2006 Nissan Xterra
  By heidi - February 16 - 3:10 pm

  Excellent ride. Handles like a dream and rides like a car, not a truck. I do believe they could have put more thought into comfortability, but you give up comfort for more extreme usage. It handles the mountain roads I live on with pristine grace and I feel confident it will handle the roads when snow becomes a factor.