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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  Great Buy - 1999 Nissan Pathfinder
  By PamelaE2001 - August 12 - 2:00 am

  I bought the SUV used... it was only 1.5 years old. I have YET to do any work to it other than the basic oil changes and upkeeps... GREAT SUV~

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  Big Nissan..Big Power - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By BigKW - August 12 - 2:00 am

  I bought the Armada to tow my boat. A little overkill since my boat and trailer only weights 3,500 lbs. The vehicle has had some initial minor repairs with the rear seat cable release jammed. In addition, they replaced the left rear axle since it would make a cricketing noise when loaded (acceleration). I noticed the noise when driving with windows down.

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  GOOD LOOKING TRUCK - 2004 Nissan Frontier
  By sierravera - August 12 - 2:00 am

  Nice truck so far no problems at all the only complaints I have is the MPG!! is really bad for a 4 cyl. I only get like 20/22 miles per gallon and is a 15gal. tank Im only able to put 12 gallons and I get 283 miles the most before I have to gas up again, wind noise in the cabin, the door seals are bad and you hear the wind noise,the rear seat area is really small, and engine is a bit noisy it consumes al least 1/2 qtr. of oil when reaches 3,000 miles, mine has 3100 miles on it and the oil chg, is due @ 3,750 miles, maybe is because is not broken in yet, Ill keep my fingers cross til its first oil change.and beyond that.;)

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  Good Value - 2005 Nissan Quest
  By jagged30 - August 11 - 12:16 pm

  We bought the van in March and currently have 7500 miles on it. My wife traded it for a 2001 Chrysler Town/Country. The power and ride are very good - almost sporty - and it is comfortable, but the reliability is questionable and build quality needs improvement. We just got it back from the shop for a bad transmission control module, which was replaced under warranty; service was very good. However, the drivers storage hinge is broken, the a/c vents have fallen from the ceiling, silver finish on the steering wheel and shifter show wear - as does the material on center stack. It also looks like it will be hard to clean. However, it was significantly much cheaper than the Sierra/Odyssey.

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  Overall an excellent truck - 2006 Nissan Titan
  By tracktech - August 10 - 2:43 pm

  Overall, I have been very satisfied with my 2006 Majestic Blue Crew Cab 4WD Nissan Titan LE. I have had to bring it back to the dealer for a few things covered under warranty, but nothing major. Also, when installing aftermarket products, there is ABSOLUTELY no room in the engine compartment for anything additional. The cab is unbelievably spacious and comfortable, and the 5.6 Liter 8 is very bold. Sometimes a little too loose in the rear end though. I used to want my first truck to be Ford or Chevy, but after the release of the Titan I couldnt pass it up, and Im glad I didnt.

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  Jack of All Trades!! - 2006 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Matt - August 10 - 2:16 am

  This car is "good" in a lot of different ways. Suspension is soft for off-roading, but skid plates, and ranchos serve it well. Highway ride is GREAT, very smooth and quite, long wheel base helps with that. Only complaint is the seats! Im 64 and I dont fit comfortably, seats could be more supportive. Rear seating is cramped but storage capacity is great. No reliability issues whatsoever yet Yes, the throttle IS touchy, but if you know how to drive a car, this shouldnt be a problem! Interior ergonomics are above average, plastics could be little bit more scratch resistant (have to be careful when cleaning). Can avg 21 mpg if you drive it at 65.

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  Great but not perfect - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By djfultoz - August 9 - 5:16 pm

  Love to drive my Titan. Lots of performance and sounds great. Room for the family. Good value for the money. Had problems with the gas gauge and interior lights. The gas gauge problem was with the sending unit in the gas tank. The part was on back order and took 3 weeks to repair as I drove a Sentra rental provided by the dealer. Like the adjustable pedals and power drivers seat.....easy to get good driving position. I get a so-so 16 to 18 mpg without the big tow pkg or 4 wheel- drive. Overall, this is a very nice truck and like it MUCH more than my former 2001 Tundra.

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  Bang for the buck! - 2008 Nissan Versa
  By Fred Mallien - August 9 - 12:46 am

  Advantages: Extremely roomy. Uncanny quiet engine at idle (you cannot feel it or hear it). Peppy (I have gotten it to 118mph), but good mileage (30 city, 35 highway in real life). Disadvantages: Very susceptible to crosswinds. There is no keyhole in the hatch.

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  One of the First - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By ToughStar - August 7 - 10:00 am

  I was one of the first proud Spec V owners in CT, no others on the road until May. Great handling, stock tires sucked though (Replaced with Conti Extreme Contacts) for us winter drivers. MPG is a joke!!!! Gets many looks and I have kept it stock except for stereo & tint. Good civic killer, yeah you heard ME! Drove mine off the lot for $17,500 (Thanks Jamie @ Exec. Nissan.) To many recalls though, and rattles.

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  A Decent Commuter - 2000 Nissan Altima
  By South Shore Steve - August 7 - 10:00 am

  Purchased this car for my wife who ended up disliking it after 6 months. She didnt like the way it felt in relatively light cross winds. Car gets decent mileage (25-27 mpg on regular grade) and the 2.4L provides adequate power. Handling is so so and the ride is busy. Ive had to replace a serpentine belt idler pulley twice, otherwise reliability has been good. Original Firestone tires (16 inch) were awful, running Kuhmos now which are great value. Its a good car for commuting, look elsewhere if fun to drive is high on your list.