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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  Not a Honda in any way shape or form - 2001 Nissan Maxima
  By Dutch - January 17 - 5:23 am

  Bought a fully loaded GLE Meridian edition with every option that was available. Compared to my other car a 2001 Honda Accord EX V6, the Maxima is bigger and more powerful. The Accord on the other hand has been bullet-proof reliable only going back to the dealer for a malfunctioning clock. The Maxima however has had all 6 engine sensors replaced and now I am dealing with the infamous wheel bearing issues. Waiting to find out if the dealer will honor the warranty and cover them. Based on the lack of reliability I would have reservations recommending this car.

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  My brilliant silver king Frontier - 2011 Nissan Frontier
  By Carol Neal - January 17 - 4:07 am

  Great space for groceries, travel chairs, luggage, purse and endless possibilities behind the driver and passenger seat. Great 4 cupholders for all sizes. Large console between seats and space for change. Do not know the exact name but a bar on each side to pull yourself up more. I have had my 2011 frontier king cab since July 2014, two years. No repairs have been needed! I love the pull up bar.. Also good size cubby hole on bottom of all four doors and double dash doors. I paid $14,500 at modern Nissan in Winston Salem, nc. It is 5 gear Manuel. Also rear cab light stays on long enough to get to house door. Just make sure you shut all doors or the light stays on. Has brilliant silver finish. Water still beads up. Wipers work smooth and quite. I also have a 2008 Nissan rogue crossover purchased 2010. Still has not needed any repairs in 6yrs! On a scale of 1-10 I give a 9.9 July 13,2016 still no problems and still enjoying the king cab truck - Frontier. Thank you.

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  Very nice car for the money! - 2010 Nissan Versa
  By easter00 - January 16 - 8:30 am

  My wife had a 2002 Subaru Forester and it was time to get her a new car. She loved the Forester so I knew that it was going to be difficult finding her something she would like as well. After looking at the Honda Fit, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Matrix, and VW Golf, there was no question that the Versa was the right car for her. She absolutely loves the car, especially the unique Espresso Black color, which is actually a dark brown. The gas mileage is tremendous and it is really fun to drive. I would recommend spending a bit extra to get the SL package as it is much more comfortable and the standard options it comes with make the driving experience better.

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  Its been great - 2001 Nissan Pathfinder
  By edeb456 - January 16 - 2:00 am

  Have had this pathfinder for over a year now and it has been great. Has been extremely reliable, not a single problem. Performance from 3.5 is great, gas mileage hasnt been that bad about 17-18 mpg mixed driving around town, of course im not a lead foot. Its an SUV afterall. Paint has held up well, still looks like it is new. Overall the seat fabrics, materials and fit and finish are well above average when compared to others. AC is great, especially with hot Vegas summers. Handles like a car not like a truck. Does quite well on semi nasty offroad trails. Is very comfortable on long highway trips.

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  Excellent Family Van - 2005 Nissan Quest
  By jod5 - January 16 - 2:00 am

  Very nice van to drive that is relatively quiet. It does not feel as heavy and bulky as it really is. Fantastic acceleration, solid braking (althought soft pedal), and reasonable cornering ability. The kids love the dual screen DVD (I love the sound of silence that eminates from the rear). The Navigational System is wonderful. The center console design is really nice when the van is equipped with a Nav. system. Everything is right there in the center and your eyes track to the same area for speed and direction versus down for speed and over for direction. The AC and fan controls are right there also within easy reach. Passenger door ticking appeared at 500 miles (fixed).

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  a few things about the quest - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By vette55 - January 16 - 2:00 am

  1. nicely designed 2. too many interior knocks (supposed to be repaired by recall..knocked more after "repaired" going in to the shop again. 3. over priced aftermarket items ( dvd player, navigation system ( this should be doen in factory) 4. terrible terrible mileage, nowhere near posted (12mpg local driving) 5. dealer seems to make service as inconvienient as possible. 6. manual back windows pain to open and close. 7. side windows do not open 8. back hatch never completely catches on first attempt. 9. lots of storage 10. great seat design 11.problem with passenger window controls.

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  The Murano is a JEWEL of an SUV! - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By FirstTimeSUVer - January 16 - 2:00 am

  I drove about 8 mid-size SUVs before I settled on the Murano. Everything from the Kia Sorrento on the low end to the BMW X-5 and Lexus RX-330 on the high end. I decided that, for the money, the Murano was the best deal out there. The Murano has not disappointed. I love the way it looks, and so do others given the number of looks it gets on the road. I love the way it drives and rides. Very comfortable due to the many adjustments you can make to the driver and passenger seats. Gas mileage has been great so far -- 21/23, CVT transmission, which some reviewers dont like, has turned out to be a very pleasant surpise. No regrets at all. I love my Murano!

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  Awsome driving experience! - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By Mr. Fisherman - January 16 - 2:00 am

  I have owned Ford, Chevy, and Dodge trucks in the past. I have NEVER been this happy with a truck, ever. versatility, form and function are all aparent at high levels. I tow a 22 boat and love the performance.

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  First review - thoughts - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By nissanpathfinder - January 16 - 2:00 am

  I have hard car for 1 week.Very Solid build quality. Drivetrain appears very solid. I hope to have similar experience as my Maxima which had unmatched quality and reliability. Only small issue I have is mis- allignmnet on back hatch. Base model very affordable for quality and based on past reliability.

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  frontier - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By zeelodee - January 15 - 9:40 pm

  I enjoy the overall look and the handling of the vehicle. Also,the rockford sound system is a good addition to the truck.