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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  Truck of the Year - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By Joe - December 21 - 12:53 pm

  Bought 2005 Frontier King Cab, w/NISMO package in Red. This truck is awsome. It has huge horspower / torque and lots of cool features you can add on. It rides great and pretty much whoops on all other midsize truck that have a V6 engine. I upgraded and got the Audio Package, Bed Package with liner ect.., the in cabin microfilter, and alarm.

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  Id Buy it Again - 2012 Nissan Frontier
  By bansko - December 21 - 5:23 am

  Ive put 8,000 miles on this truck so far, including hundreds on gravel and dirt through a Wyoming winter, and I have no regrets. No warranty issues of any kind. The V6 has plenty of power and the steering and handling are excellent on and off pavement. I considered the Tacoma since I like the looks slightly better, but Toyota has had some serious quality/recall issues with the Tacoma over the last 10 years. That, and the fact that toyata wants a few thousand more for an equally equipped truck leaned me toward Nissan. The Frontier is indeed a rugged, no-nonsense truck. I expect to drive it for many years. BTW, JD Powers just ranked it the top midsize pickup for 2012.

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  Sporty - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Lara - December 21 - 3:03 am

  This car is just what I was looking for. After trading in an Eclipse I was looking for something with good pickup and sporty handling and found it. The gas millage hasnt been quite what I expected at 20 mpg but that was only the 2nd fill up. The interior is very roomy and also accommodates for the shorter driver.

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  My First SUV - 2007 Nissan Murano
  By Mike Arakelian - December 20 - 9:13 pm

  I just bought my first SUV, the Murano SL AWD with touring and towing packages. After 6 years of driving a BMW 325CI I was a bit nervous about my new driving experience. I drove the Pilot, Highlander, RAV4, Edge, Touareg, RDX, CX7, CX9, FX35, and RX350. The last test drive was the Murano SL. I was pleasantly surprised at the acceleration and handling of the Murano. Its loaded with features that were found in the pricier SUVs, but for $6K-$8K less, and the fit and finish are top notch. Its too early to accurately predict fuel economy, but I expect numbers in the range of 18/23, about norm for size and weight of the vehicle. The Murano offers lots of bang for the buck.

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  i love this car - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By ram - December 20 - 10:56 am

  This is the first nissan i have owned. I have driven other imports before, This car handles great and the interior is first class. Before i purchased it i drove two other imports but this one was just that much better in every aspect..

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  Fantastic car - 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By vroom - December 20 - 6:50 am

  Great car - consistently returns 32+ mpg/600+ miles on a tank, good pickup, and very comfortable. Its the right size, too, and quite roomy in the front seats at least. Its held up pretty well, too, although I must admit that dealer service has more expensive than it was for the Hondas, Toyotas, and Mazdas that Ive owned previously. 18 mos & 33k mi in, I still feel that its a good value and I still like it.

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  well put together car - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By manoj - December 20 - 2:00 am

  This is my 3rd maxima. I have also a 93 and 96 maximas. I love the engine, interior, and exteriors of the car. Only thing I am little disappointed about is the suspension system. I feel that they could have improved upon it. Other than that, I love the car. I have so far about 8000 miles on it. For the money, this is a great car.

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  well put together car - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By Manoj - December 20 - 2:00 am

  This is my 3rd maxima. I have also a 93 and 96 maximas. I love the engine, interior, and exteriors of the car. Only thing I am little disappointed about is the suspension system. I feel that they could have improved upon it. Other than that, I love the car. I have so far about 8000 miles on it. For the money, this is a great car.

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  The Best thing on four Wheels - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By R.dot - December 20 - 2:00 am

  The Murano is simply the best vehicle I have test driven and I have driven quite a few, From the Highlander, Pilot, Trailblazer, Axiom, Etc.. Great sound system (Bose), great handling and design inside and out. All the other car companies need to watch out because Nissan is no longer on life support with the new Z and the Murano. Nissan will put A strangle hold on the Mid price market. I have yet to see another Murano around my town, but i dont think that will last long. Best Midsize SUV Hands down.

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  Some reviewers out to lunch - get real! - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By marque - December 20 - 2:00 am

  My buddy and I were the first in our SW Ontario city to test drive one of these beauties. Hes driven both models several times each. Nothing in this category compares to this vehicle in looks, design, quality, handling, power, or price, and weve driven lots of small/mid-size SUVs. These people who say otherwise dont know their arse from a hole in the ground! They expect Japanese quality for domestic price - this aint no Ford Escape or breeder wagon. Test drive one - anyone smart enough to know a decent vehicle will love it. If you think this vehicle is overpriced, you cant afford one anyway. Check out the Infiniti FX35 or FX45 if youve got lots of money.