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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  AuntieAnn_2013NissanAltima2.5SL - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By Ann Keegan - April 11 - 9:14 pm

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  07 Nissan Versa - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By Darien - April 11 - 4:30 pm

  Great car, but loses a lot of acceleration when using A/C

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  No Problems - 2007 Nissan Xterra
  By Craig Utah - April 11 - 2:30 am

  I have only had my Xterra, but I love it! The ONLY minus would be the gas consumption, and the miles per gallon is only been 14.5. I still love it!

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  Best of its class, and good value - 2010 Nissan Rogue
  By Froggy PA - April 10 - 6:56 pm

  Did extensive shopping after deciding to replace our 2000 Subaru Outback. Subaru has taken a step backward with the 2010 redesign. The Rogue is a nicer vehicle than CR-V, Tucson, Equinox, CX-7, and better value. Great handling and ride. Good passenger room front and back. Good front and side view - limited rear view, as others have pointed out. Rear seats are a bit "benchy", but lots of room. And yes, the fuel door should be inside release. But if you rarely haul bigger cargo and want a comfortable, nice riding, stylish, AWD, well-built crossover at a decent price, get a 2010 while you can. We have the "premium" package and the Bose sound system is awesome.

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  Surprised - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By Neels Van Wyk - April 10 - 4:13 pm

  As a previous Atima owner, 2003 model, I found the new 2007 Altima to be a large improvement on the former model in terms of style and performance. The CVT is innovative, although 19th century technology, it gives the car a smooth and quiet ride.

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  LE Crew Cab Rocks! - 2006 Nissan Frontier
  By D - April 10 - 1:50 pm

  Traded My 01 Tacoma. Had a great experience so I decided to buy another one. After testing driving both vehicles I found the Frontier was better equipped for my needs. The Frontier has a great ride. Stiff but very stable. I dont feel the bounciness on the highway as the Tacoma did on my test drive. The transmission shifts are quick and precise. Comfort is great. Albeit the Tacoma scored better with their back seat. Price was the biggest deciding factor. The SR5 Tacoma costs almost $1500 more than my LE Crew Cab. The LE has far more options. I think the Frontier is a great bargain for what you get.

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  nice car but a few rattles - 1998 Nissan Altima
  By don scott - April 10 - 2:00 am

  THE CAR IS STILL A NICE ONE, BUT ITS HARD TO FUEL FILL, AND THE FROND WINDOWS MAKE FAR TOO MUCH NOISE

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  Alright 4 the $$$ - 2002 Nissan Xterra
  By Cdogg - April 9 - 10:00 am

  I was thrilled when I purchaced a new sporty 2002 yellow Xterra. The exterior is awesome and the ride is so smooth. I am however very displeased with the lack of power and poor gas mileage.

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  Not happy and here are the reasons - 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
  By kamalimla - April 8 - 11:33 am

  I bought Nissan Pathfinder 2130 SL Premium a month ago and now I have 1000 miles on it and here is my experience. 1. Audio over Bluetooth is supported only in cars with Nav. Stupid because you get this option in $100 CD players this days. 2. After driving 40 to 50 miles, heater blows cold air. 3. Belt sign on the dash board even there is no one on the passenger seat. I hate to see red signs on my dash board. 4. When start Front defrost, AC gets turned on with it which is understood. When turn off front defrost, AC does not go off itself, it has to be turned off manually. This is not a big deal but if you have to do this twice a day like me, it bothers.

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  Aging quickly - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By Prashant - April 8 - 12:06 am

  I loved the new car. My first car ever. Had a lot of fun with it but getting pretty tired of it. I had a recall issue with the engine crankshaft when it was 2 yrs old .. spoiled my vacation. The car has failed to start on half a dozen occasions. Lately Ive been getting a cylinder misfire. The car also started knocking about 3 months ago so I went back to 87 octane fuel. Ive also noticed a lack of power recently. Or maybe its because I am hesitant to push it now because of all the reliability issues. I have 85k on it and hope to get it to 6 digits before letting it go.