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 your Daddys Sports Car - 2006 Nissan 350Z
  By Bill - October 30 - 11:56 pm

  Bought this car New Years Eve (yes,the dealership was open Sunday before the holiday). Performance/handling is great. Have to constantly look at the speedometer to check my speed. The car is that smooth. I can even fit my golf bag with a few pieces of soft luggage, no problem. Even though this is a performance sports car I get better mileage with the Z than my SUV. The only negative is the tires cant be rotated,and they are not cheap (18"front/19"rear).

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  Best Quest - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Mr. W - October 30 - 8:40 am

  Going on 22,000 miles and i cant complain. Been to Utah and Nevada twice with killer gas mileage. This V6 roars and does not hesitate ask the little civics i can take offline. Comfort is great and the room is awesome i can walk back to the rear seat with no problem. A true family truckster!

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  1st. year in Production,I would buy a dozen more. - 2000 Nissan Xterra
  By Adam Sands - October 30 - 2:57 am

  You should know that you have a reliable,safe,vehicle that will go anywhere,everyday.My x-terra owes me nothing.Over 200,000 miles.still perky and strong.I have a 5 speed man.trans.and Ive had to replace clutch @ about 130,000 miles.after driving lessons with 2 kids and towing a boat out of the water every weekend.Ive only had a few issues through the years.A/C compressor failed after 100,000 mi.quick fix= removed belt and rolled down windows.Broken leaf spring,due to rust sand/salt is a challenge here in MA.Dealer replacement springs were about $325.local mech repaired+new shocks.DIY tune ups are a challenge to get the #5 spark plug out.*tip= after tune-up check that ALL spark plugs were replaced.honest repair men are rare.The only "issue I had was getting the "4wd"to disengage back to 2w drive.theirs a sequence.drive 35mph in 3rd gear and shift out of 4wd.some times it takes awhile for it to go back to normal drive.Thats it for issues..AWESOME truck for snow,rough roads,hills,and trails.The only reason Im getting rid of my xterra is that I cant keep up with the RUST spots.Mine started on the back hatch ,little blisters,and every year it spreads all over.Good thing I am so handy with bondo and primer paint finishing.I LOVE MY TRUCK.

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  Love the Versa - 2010 Nissan Versa
  By Fifth Nissan - October 30 - 1:43 am

  I bought the Versa after attending a car show and sitting in every small car made. The Versa is extraordinarily roomy and comfortable for its size, as roomy as most midsized. The headroom, both in front and in back are excellent. The seats are comfortable, especially for a subcompact. Ive read some comments about the width of the Versa. It is indeed narrow, but the designers have constructed the Versa in such as way as to create a sense of greater width than it objectively has. Im pretty wide, 5 6" and 250, and I truthfully do not feel squished. Ive owned my Versa for about 3 months. It handles beautifully. The ride is quiet. I highly recommend it.

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  Love the van! - 2006 Nissan Quest
  By Janet - October 29 - 6:46 pm

  When my husband and I decided to purchase a mini-van to accomodate our growing family we began to research the Nissan, Honda and Toyota. After driving the Nissan we were sold! Not only is it the best looking of the 3 vans but the interior room is amazing! We can now easily accomodate everyone with plenty of room to spare. Some of the reviews posted were negative (doors that rattle, awkward instrument panel, and other complaints) but we have not seen any of these issues with ours. What we have found is a terrific van that looks great and is easy to drive.

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  200,000 Miles and NO PROBLEMS!! - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By love the van - October 29 - 12:23 am

  I just rolled over 200,000 miles on my Quest and no problems. Squeaks a little. Sunroof leaks in a hard Florida rain. But this van has never had anything but 1 battery, several tires, and one brake job. I am so pleased that it has been so reliable! This van is powerful and fast! Every other car I have owned had problems by 75,000 miles. This thing still runs as smooth as the day I bought it. A/C control design takes forever to adjust. Center console did not last long, the powder finish disintegrated and it just looks horrible but is very expensive to replace. Huge and comfy interior. I have had none of the mechanical or interior problems mentioned?? I have 3 kids and use the van A LOT!!

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  Nissan Fan - 1997 Nissan Maxima
  By Nissan Lover - October 28 - 11:36 pm

  I am a Nissan fan...I have owned my Maxima for 5 years. Its time to upgrade and Nissan is at the top of the list. I didnt take the best care of my car but it has taken care of me. Not many repairs needed - I should have been more proactive and those my have been prevented....never left me stranded and always starts in the mornings. Its stylish I look good behind the wheel and allows me to show off with pick-up & GO! when needed. I would tell anyone that the Nissan Maxima is a great buy!

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  2008 Sentra - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By Julie - October 28 - 6:26 pm

  Love the car. It is cute, the body style is totally different from previous years so its a lot more modern looking. Actually saw one on the road after looking at the Altima and decided on the Sentra. The Black and Dark Blue ones really look good on the road. I purchased the Silver one because I am not going to be at the car wash every week!

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  2009 Altima 2.5L SL - 2009 Nissan Altima
  By Bugeye - October 28 - 5:00 pm

  This is the 5th Nissan (3 Sentras, 2 Altimas)that I have purchased. The 2009 Altima is a fun car to drive that looks great. Interior is roomy with plenty of leg room for 4 adults. Seats are comfortable. Standard sound system is adequate for an adult. The 2.5L performance is ok for the daily commute. Fuel mileage is great averaging 30 mpg driving 65 mph. CVT takes some getting used to but is generally smooth. Ride, braking, and handling are very good. As for value, you get a lot car for the price. Only complaint: It took me a while to figure out that carrying my remote in my pocket could accidently open the front windows. It would be nice to be able to disable this feature on the remote.

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  Off road enthusiasts rejoice! - 2008 Nissan Xterra
  By koobsw - October 28 - 8:46 am

  Well I am a camper, hunter, and an outdoorsmen and this vehicle does it all. I also needed something to tow my two atvs to the sand dunes and with a 5,500 lb. towing capacity it is a breeze. I also considered the fj cruiser but after test driving both this was the clear choice. the xterra has more horsepower more torque and similar features, but is alot cheaper. the fuel economy is bad but for me it is worth the 265 hp and 281 ft. lb. torque. I would recommend this vehicle to anyone who needs a daily driver but also spends a considerable amount of time off road.