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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  Luxury Wagon - 2016 Nissan Rogue
  By Pam Lundberg - February 18 - 9:39 am

  I purchased this lovely Rogue because someone t-boned me and totaled my 2009 Murano - :( I LOVED that Murano, so this Rogue had big tires to fill. I bought the SL AWD and it truly is nice. Off the bat though, Im not sitting as high off the road as I was in the Murano, I feel like Im driving in a sedan. Also, the Murano had the V6 and this little nugget is 4 cyclinder CVT - I do notice a slight hesitation when accelerating (but only because Im a brat comparing to the Murano). So those are really the only hmmm moments Im having. Other than that theres plenty of room inside. More head room than the Murano. I was able to go with the almond leather interior and its STUNNING! I have the moonroof that goes the length of the roof, so that is amazing as well. There are cameras galore all over the car, so Im able to look at the screen and see both a normal view AND a birds-eye view of the car.

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  beware of issues - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By my2ndz - February 17 - 10:00 am

  Great performing car! However, there are issues. One only has to go to 350Z forums to hear of the many problems the Z has: sever feathered front tires that need to be replaced every few thousand miles, pourpousing on cement highways, bad alignment, manual trans being replaced several times, front seat moves while cornering just to name a few. In general Nissan has not addressed these problems. Many Z owners have filed formal notices with the NHTSA, wich are vewable on http://www- odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/complai n/complaintsearch.cfm I would check with your dealer and other owners before purchasing this car.

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  Best bang for the buck - no question - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By Broohaha - February 17 - 10:00 am

  My goal was to find the best performing/fun to drive car. I ended up with the 350Z. The Z is a ton of fun to drive: from its throaty exhaust, to its extremely low stance and amazing handling... For those who need a backseat: see the Infiniti G35.

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  2 years old and still kickin - 2001 Nissan Sentra
  By Abeam - February 17 - 10:00 am

  Not a bad car at all. Relatively cheap and great fuel economy. The covers on my vanity mirrors have fallen off, but oh well. The car drives well, and hasnt had to be serviced yet. The Sentra is one of the best in its class. Not a really fast car, but it doesnt claim to be. I think my next bye will be based on performance. Ill be happy with my Sentra for a couple more years, though.

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  All around good car! - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By Nicole1129 - February 17 - 4:23 am

  I bought my sentra with 22,000 miles on it when it was two years old.It was just in an accident and she was totaled (and I walked away unscathed) but I miss having it, I should buy another one! This is an extremely reliable car, and would suggest it to anyone!

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  Love the gas mileage - 2009 Nissan Cube
  By Steve Brooks - February 17 - 4:20 am

  Gave in to the wifes wishes to go for the quirky styling and better gas mileage. It sure gets its share of thumbs-ups and curious looks, which is good because we have sign graphics for our business on the back window. Unexpected 30.5mpg mileage for her daily 140-mile roundtrip to a new office, 50% better mileage than our Pathfinder. This alone will save us $200 a month. I like a lot of features, esp. with the SL package, and some I dont like, see below.

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  Not a bad car - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Dave - February 16 - 1:50 pm

  I owned a 2003 altima but recently sold it. My experience with this car has been great! I priced and researched every car in its class and I have to say its a great choice. The 3.5L kicks butt! I only had minor issues like a knocking noice coming from the column between the driverÂ’s side window and the windshield. I also experienced a lot of wear-and-tear on the tires and filters with minimal mileage on the car. Overall this is a great car for the money. I recommend it to anyone looking for a sedan with style and plenty of guts for the open road.

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  Cant let it go... - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By joshua38104 - February 15 - 9:54 pm

  I bought my 2002 Maxima with, If I remember correctly about 85k miles. I now have 130K 2 yrs later. Ive had to replace a set of tires, the radiator, the battery and now a minor oil leak. Sounds bad, but its a used car and was more than likely its timing. With that being said I love this car. Ive thought about a new car but when I look around I compare other cars to my Maxima. Mine is a beautiful color (bluish) with leather seats that are in terrific condition, 6-disc CD player (that needs replacing bc the factory one is crappy) and a sunroof. No leaks. Keyless entry. MPG could be better but not too bad. This car runs and runs fast! Powerful engine. Love LOVE this car!

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  Not quite perfect - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By newrogueowner08 - February 15 - 6:20 pm

  As a former Corolla owner now working in northern NJ, I was looking for something with a little more power & able to handle the mountains, snow & rain. After driving 1500 miles, I have to give it high marks for steering and braking. That said the ride could be a little smoother. There is also noticeable road noise (wind) that seems to be coming from the hatch area as if it werent sealed properly. Seating is very comfortable. I wasnt happy w/the factory black leather w/red dots so I opted for dealer installed black leather. IMO, its much nicer. The Bose stereo is excellent. Nissan forces XM on you, so you will need to install an aftermkt Sirius radio thru the aux port.

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  Pathfinder to Pathfinder - 2006 Nissan Pathfinder
  By TonyD - February 10 - 7:50 am

  Have had no major problems in the first 3yrs of ownership. Just recently, the SES alert came on. Diagnostics indicated fuel system issue. Online research has shown this is a known issue, but no help from Nissan, so Im somewhat concerned about that. Mileage is average; decreases exponentially with aggressiveness of driving; haha. Overall, the feel of the ride was a HUGE improvement from earlier model. Cargo bay is very useful and seat conversion is very easy. Its not a roomy vehicle, but anyone who tries before buys should know that and not complain if they take it. Overall, Im very satisfied