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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  luv my Titan - 2006 Nissan Titan
  By philup44 - December 8 - 9:26 am

  Only had this Titan 2 weeks but it is a blast to drive. Too early to tell about reliability problems, but runs great so far.. gas is not too bad considering it is a full size pickup. I love the smoke color and get a lot of looks from others. Some even come up to me in traffic and ask how I like it! So far so good. I would recommend this truck to anyone!

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  I expect more from Nissan - 2008 Nissan Versa
  By Hatchback - December 8 - 2:36 am

  I expected more from a nissan. It has been in the shop over 5 times in the first year to fix missing interior part, mysterious cluck in the front steering, air conditioning problem and hard to start at first until a part was replaced. All covered by warranty but that runs out soon and I cant wait to find out what breaks next. I would have rated it lower but my wife is too nice.

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  Overall A Great Car! - 2000 Nissan Altima
  By Kobayashi - December 7 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car March 2002 with 38k miles and have had almost no issues with this vehicle. Now just turning 71k miles, aside from the routine scheduled maintenance, the only mechanical repair was to fix a serpentine belt idler pulley. As many 2000 Nissan Altima owners will tell you, this is a common problem for these vehicles but a relatively inexpensive repair. This has been a very good commuter car and I have taken it on several road trips of more than 1,000 miles with confidence. Overall this has been a terrific vehicle and it is just as reliable as the Honda and Toyota competitors.

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  Most practical car Ive ever owned - 2010 Nissan Versa
  By mmckibbin - December 5 - 8:35 am

  Maybe it isnt the prettiest, or the most feature rich, but nissan has made a car that has everything I need, and nothing I dont. Its fun to drive, gets good gas milage, has an auxilery port that is conveniently located so I can have my electronics in the stash box, has tons of room (a bigger back seat than my dads jaguar), and has been essentially maintaince free the last six months. All in all, for the price I paid, I cant complain (even with only 37 k miles)

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  One of a kind - something different - 2010 Nissan Cube
  By yetearlytoreview - December 5 - 3:40 am

  Just got it a week ago and getting more amazed at overall difference - which Id never known if I didnt drive it over a 100 miles. Especially different inside - feeling comfortable and even cozy. It literally keep dragging me to get inside. A feeling Ive never felt before even in more expensive luxury vehicles. Also, even it is under-power (just over 120 hp) and kinda noisy upon excel, the other standard features are just rocks(more than Hyundai or Kia except warranty)! Also considering 2010 record of top safety pick and reasonable price(same as Kia forte), how come there could be another choice? 100% Made in Japan is also a great add-on for a peace of mind watching TOYOTA crisis.

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  2010 xterra - 2010 Nissan Xterra
  By hondaf1 - December 5 - 3:33 am

  I really dont know what everyone is talking about. This truck does not have a rough ride quality. Trans shifts smoothly and overall first impressions are great

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  Happy with my truck - 2002 Nissan Frontier
  By Fronterra - December 5 - 2:53 am

  I have had no problems with my truck. It has 60,000 miles on it. I bought it used with 45,000 miles on it. It fits my needs perfectly. I can haul my dirt bikes with no problem.

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  Great all-around SUV - 2007 Nissan Xterra
  By RV - December 5 - 2:43 am

  This vehicle has been reliable--I have no major complaints. It is a success as a city vehicle--more practical and generally useful than my BMW 5 series. On logging trails, it is excellent. My only complaint is that it is not great as a long-distance freeway cruiser. It usually get about 18-20mpg. Some observations: the mudflaps could be better designed because in serious off-roading, they get sucked into the tires and it tears them at the base. I like the OEM Rugged Trail tires because they are soft on rough pavement and have a lot of give, but are good in mud and snow. The 6 speed is the better trans, by far. The R-F stereo could be improved with better stock speakers.

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  Yikes... - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By Chris0101 - December 5 - 2:00 am

  This car has real punch. Im still amazed how quick this car is after nearly a month with it. The transmission does a good job of kicking down quickly too. Nice to get 4 wheel disc brakes, side airbags and abs in a car for $15.8K

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  Love my MO - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By Gonzo - December 4 - 10:03 pm

  I have owned the Murano since 2003 when I purchased it new with 35 miles on it. The car has been great. The CVT tranmission is smooth and fun to drive. I love the enterior features and displays. The 2006 is a huge thumbs up with improvements.