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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  Long term owner - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By kirkmm - September 5 - 6:16 am

  I bought my Nissan Altima 3.5 SE in 2006 and have been very pleased with it over the course of its lifetime. I had no warranty issues and have made sure that regular maintenance has been done. This car has been fun to drive and I enjoy getting into it every day. Overall I am very pleased with this car. Pleasantry aside, I recently needed to have the timing chain replaced. This is not cheap and is a labor intensive job. Aside from the timing chain and other regular maintenance (brakes, battery, et cetera) I have not had any issues with my car. I plan on driving this colloquial tank into the ground.

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  2003 improvements, some still left - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By 10e - September 4 - 2:00 am

  2003 Crystal Blue 3.5SE in Toronto, Canada comes with everything except auto. ABS, cd stereo, cruise control, steering wheel mounted controls, automatic climate control. 245 hp through a five speed is massive acceleration great for 3,200 lb car. Wider tires give good handling, although it is a little front heavy and torque steer requires front tire pressure a bit lower than spec to counter. Interior material mediocre at best, unlike Maxima, but not a big deal. Dashboard attractive, centre console useful. A lot of room inside. Exterior styling in this colour is electric.

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  97 Pathfinder was good to me - 1997 Nissan Pathfinder
  By tjm - September 2 - 3:23 pm

  I had only one problem ever with this SUV. The heater motor went out at about 97,000 miles. Other than that it never gave me a problem.

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  titan - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By burton - September 2 - 3:13 pm

  flexible with respect to its comforts as it being a work truck, and a family vehicle .

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  Always somthing wrong - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Harry - September 1 - 1:30 am

  Whats next? It started with fuel leaks on the fuel rail. Two in fact. Then wheel bearings. Then brake rotors warping continually. Next came the A/C leaks. Now the A/C compressor is making a noise. The struts are shot and bottoming out and the engine is whining. Clear coat peeling of chrome grill. Whats next? Im not hanging on to find out! Its out of here!

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  New Purchase - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By Daniel - September 1 - 12:20 am

  I was sold on my 2004 Nissan Xterra after the test drive. I needed something fun and for work, not for long hauls. I love the ride, it is very comfortable. I love being high and the clearance. I am still breaking my truck in, and hope to update my review in six months.

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  So far, So Good! - 2013 Nissan Quest
  By tagamasid1023 - August 31 - 5:13 pm

  After 19 months of owning the 2013 Quest, its time to write down my review. So far, my Quest drives pretty well. No mechanical problem whatsoever. No squeaks, clanks, or any unwanted under-chassis noise. Suspension is soft enough to silence Chicago potholes. Electronic and power features all working great. Everything in the cabin still tight and in their right places. Captain seats are comfy and fabric is easy to clean. Storage is plenty for a family of four. Overall, everything works accordingly, except for fuel economy. My Quest SV averages 12-13 MPG combined. It seems the CVT is not really helping the Quest achieve its MPG claims.

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  Im spoiled forever - 2000 Nissan Altima
  By David - August 31 - 2:40 am

  Original owner and 102K+ and 5 years later equally satisfied now as it was new. No modelwide recalls, reliability as solid as you can get. Never at dealer for repair. 2 brake jobs, 2 sets of tires, 1 battery and regular maint given to the car. Starts on first turn every time. Interior is very ergonomic. 24-32 MPG lifetime. Only issues: ABS, side bags, 4 whl disks opt; no trac, curtains or brake asst avbl. Tight rear esp foot and knee. Trunk hinges impede. Wheel covers rattle. Steering wheel offset to left 1". Can live with all listed. Nissan has a loyal fan here. Heard lots of good reviews of this car and other Nissan products. Youll only see me driving vehicles with a Nissan emblem on them.

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  Nice Nissan - 2003 Nissan Frontier
  By rfernatt - August 30 - 10:00 am

  This truck replaced a leased 2001 Frontier CC 4WD 5-speed which was trouble free at 42K miles. Although we havent had this 03 long, I believe that it is quieter and rides smoother than the 01 on the road. The automatic keeps the engine running at lower revs on the interstate, and that helps. I also like the seat fabric better on this 03 XE than the 01. Squeaks and rattles werent a problem with the 01, but this truck feels very solid with virtually no rattles even over bumps and ruts. In summary, it has most everything I liked about our 2001 with some evolutionary improvements.

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  Can only recommend with caveats. - 2007 Nissan Pathfinder
  By nwfinder - August 30 - 3:06 am

  This is a review after 2.5 years of ownership. We bought used with 60K miles. So far we avoided the dreaded transmission blow-up by by-passing the cooler lines. Now it appear we may have the timing chain whine. Other than dodging mechanical armageddon with this SUV the only part weve replaced thus far is the fuel sending unit (under warranty). The ride is quiet and towing is excellent. I cannot recommend this vehicle unless you know for sure the radiator and timing chain has been replaced/fixed. Otherwise get a Honda or Toyota. We used to own a 97 Pathfinder and NEVER had a problem. Third row is too small for adults. Will probably have to get bigger rig when kids hit teen years.