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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  Up date - 2010 Nissan Sentra
  By electricnow - January 11 - 2:38 pm

  In my old review I complained about the CVT. Now at 13.450 miles the Mexico made battery failed. I guess they saved a couple of bucks on those though. Didn`t matter they are not covered under warrenty any way.

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  Classy yet powerful design! - 2016 Nissan Maxima
  By Jason J - January 11 - 10:42 am

  My only complaint about this car is the mileage per gallon! But this may only be because before this car I was driving a 2010 Toyota Corolla (manual transmission) so this car is a lot different! But other than that I am enjoying it everyday!

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  Incredible Machine - 2012 Nissan Quest
  By majordude - January 11 - 10:08 am

  This is a spectacular van. Its pretty wide but handles well. We were looking for a new family car and compared honda, toyota, crossovers, and vans as well as the Town and Country. You have to step in one of these machines decked out in leather. We got the SV with leather package. Wow, best 32k you can spend on market. So luxurious.

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  Great value for the money - 2008 Nissan Xterra
  By 4wheeler - January 10 - 1:13 pm

  My wife and I absolutely love this SUV. We went from a minivan to a SUV and have been very happy so far. Already took it on a couple of 4 wheel trails and it handles great. This is a highly utilitarian vehicle that serves its purpose quite well. The affordability of the vehicle more than makes up for the so-so fuel economy.

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  A super vehicle - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By Scott - January 9 - 9:06 pm

  "The 2005 Xterra S is vastly improved over past models. In one day test drove both the Xterra and Honda CR-V and greatly preferred the Xterra. It drives quite smoothly (though you are aware that youre in a truck-based SUV) and is extremely quiet. The interior is thoughtfully designed and comfortable, though certainly not plush. One of the best aspects of the Xterra is its storage capability and its general utility. Negatives are: gas mileage, lack of an optional factory-installed GPS system, audio system. The GPS and audio system arent big deals and can be solved by after-market units. Gas mileage is a bigger problem, but is no worse than most other comparable SUVs.

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  the best car ever - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By johnnybob - January 9 - 10:00 am

  this was the best sports car Ive ever driven!!!! Its so comfortable and it looks really cool. I love my Nissan 350Z!!!!!

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  BEST SUV - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By BOB AND TAMI - January 9 - 10:00 am

  STYLING IS EXCELLENT.(IT IS A REAL HEAD TURNER ANYWHERE YOU GO) RIDE IS SUPER .FUEL ECONOMY IS ACCEPTABLE FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS VEHICLE TO ANYONE. I HAVE HAD PEOPLE THAT OWN THE LEXUS SUV SAY THAT THEY WISH THEY HAD KNOWN OF THE MURANO FIRST BEFORE BUYING.

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  Fun has Four Doors - 1996 Nissan Maxima
  By DDW - January 9 - 4:40 am

  I sold my 1996 Lexus LS 400 and bought this Maxima. Sounds crazy, doesnt it? This car has most of the amenities of the Lexus like leather, sunroof, Bose stereo, etc but is infinitely more entertaining to drive. I have a 5-Speed SE model which has a quoted 0-60 time of just 6.6 seconds. The steering is light but the car responds willingly. The engine is incredibly refined and has torque at virtually any RPM. In mixed driving Im averaging nearly 33 mpg thanks to the manual transmission (I do a lot of coasting). It has more room inside than its compact exterior suggests and has better visibility than anything sold on the market today. This is a lot of driving enjoyment for just $2500

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  Great car - 2006 Nissan 350Z
  By Bill Halliday - January 8 - 9:20 am

  Went by dealership, saw this car and loved it. I bought a six speed and it has put the fun back in driving. This little car handles like a dream. Not the best on gas mileage though. Has alot of leg room which suprised me. I just try out a new corvette and not near the leg room in it as the 350Z.

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  Ultimate Sports Sedan - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By MartymdSE-R - January 7 - 12:00 pm

  This is my second Altima and i love it more than any other car that Ive ever owned. It combines everyday drivability along with excellent performance! Plus, it wont break the bank.