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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  Nice Car - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Toni - October 30 - 12:03 am

  I have been pricing and looking at Altimas for over a year. I rented an Altima before purchasing this one. I purchsed this one out of town over the phone. It was several days before I picked it up. The salesman was excellent and the car was ready when I got there. I have no complaints about the dealership. The car performs well. I do not have the excitement I thought I would with the car. Im still driving my 14 year old car with 331,000 miles, so Ive only driven this one 3,000 miles. It performs well on the road and overall, I think it is a very nice car.

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  FROM MAXIMA TO ROGUE - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By DOUG - October 29 - 7:43 am

  Traded my wifes 2007 Maxima se on a Rogue. Reason was the ability to use regular fuel. I had hoped to get better fuel mileage but didnt really believe that I would. The Rogue is a nice little vehicle. My wife misses the power and handling of the Maxima but she likes the Rogue. She has 5,000 miles on it already, and has averaged 26.4 mpg. Not bad. She likes the bluetooth and I like the Bose. The CVT takes getting used to. When we bought the 2007 Maxima I thought that I would never get to like the transmission. But after a while it grew on us (we put 48,000 miles on the Maxima) the rogue could use a locking gas door in these times, and a way to open the hatch from the drivers seat. Over all we like it.

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  Has been as advertised - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By readycash - October 25 - 10:03 am

  I purchased my 02 Pathfinder LE w/36k miles a year ago. Traded a BMW 3 series because we needed something a little bigger. Did not want another "new" car note so pursued 02 and 03 Pathfinder, QX4, or 4-Runner. Narrowed to these 3 after reading multiple reviews on this site. I now have 53K on it and knock on wood have had no issues. Pathfinder has great pickup for an SUV and is easy to drive in town and comfortable on the highway. At 1/2 the cost of a new one I have been very pleased with this vehicle and would recommend it.

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  2004 nissan titan real truck - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By P Proffitt - October 25 - 2:10 am

  So far it is a real good truck drives well and handles real well.Has plenty of power sounds good to.Nissan did there home work on this truck it is put together very well.You can see out of it very well.I believe it will be a winner.

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  Great Truck! - 2009 Nissan Frontier
  By Great Truck! - October 22 - 11:46 am

  I did a good bit of research before deciding on this Frontier, and Im totally happy with my decision. I looked at Tacoma, Ridgeline, Dakota, and Colorado before I decided on the Frontier. I have 500 miles and have gotten about 17mpg in mostly city driving in Atlanta with the A/C running (better than I expected). Overall, the truck rides well, looks good, is comfortable, and can haul a decent amount for its size. It definitely fits my needs for a commuter truck that becomes a work truck on the weekends.

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  My Armada - 2006 Nissan Armada
  By kdocdent - October 22 - 3:56 am

  I really like the 2005 Nissan Armada, but it feels like a TRUCK sometimes, rather than a luxury vehicle. I have had a Lincoln Navigator (should have never gotten rid of it!), a Toyota Sequoia, and now the Nissan Armada. Both the other vehicles handled better. The color and the build are great, and the interior room especially the second and third rows cannot be beat by any thing! Overall I love it.

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  Nissan Wont Honor Warranty - 2007 Nissan Maxima
  By 1adam12ks - October 22 - 3:03 am

  I like the car, comfortable and smooth. The transmission is great, mileage never hits sticker but expected that. Main problem is leather seat - I paid high $ for luxury package with leather seats. First car I have ever had with leather. In under 9 months the drivers seat has big area of wear on leather. No luck through customer service, Nissan claims normal wear. I dont believe every car on the road with leather seats has the seats crumbling in under a year, Nissan should replace considering how much the option for the seats is.

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  Maximas Finest Year yet.. - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By peterb520 - October 22 - 2:00 am

  This car is ready for anything.. if your looking for a car thats under $30k, this would be it. Not only is it tailored beatifuly inside, it also has an array of futuristic features. I would just like to hand it to the engineers that thought of this wonderful design. And by the way.. OH MAN!! is it FAST!!! and just incase your into the performance specifications of the 2002 Maxima.. This 3.5L V6 runs you 0 to 60 in exactly 6 seconds flat. Believe it or not this car beats the Porsche Boxter with about half the retail price. If you are going to invest in a car. Invest Smart. Dont bother with a "name" .

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  2003 Nissan Murano - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By deenah - October 20 - 11:13 am

  I have a 2003 that had 20k when I got it in 2007. The entire fuel system failed in my car at 40k in Oct. 2008. I liked the car for some of the + points, but this car has just become worse over time. The driver side visor broke and Nissan wants $350 to fix it, but their own parts employee said that they see this problem all the time/everyday! The car has just under 50k on it, and I think that a problem with the transmission is starting because it loses power from the get go when at a stop. I dont know why Nissan was so shoddy making this car b/c it was suppose to be a unique, sleek SUV.

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  Great Truck - 2008 Nissan Frontier
  By Josh - October 19 - 7:40 pm

  Great truck! Very spacious, really comfortable, even on long drives. Shifting is smooth and gas mileage is great for a truck this size.