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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  Green Machine - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By neorik - December 11 - 9:16 am

  This car is a blast to drive. Handles like a small car but with lots of space. Leather seats are comfortable. Four cylinder provides plenty of power for me. Receiver works well. I love this car.

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  x - 2001 Nissan Xterra
  By jjjjj - December 10 - 8:46 pm

  very cool, i love te body style and all of the little xtras that come along with it. the last thig i love is the little nissan emblem on the front, im proud to drive it!!!

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  Good New Purchase Value - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By Cognashene - December 10 - 10:00 am

  When I first bought the vehicle it was a really good value for the money. Lots of features and excellent performance. After two years of ownership and 80K km the car is still pretty solid but the performance doesnt feel as good as it did. Ive had numerous recalls and the ECU decides to act up every now and then by stalling the engine - the dealer still cant figure it out. The interior is not the greatest, design or material wise, but the build quality is pretty good and the seats are great for hard driving. Although the colour of the fabric (red/mesh/black) is not the best, I think the material is excellent - with the exception of a little fraying on the seat back.

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  Greatest SUV on the planet - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By justtara - December 10 - 10:00 am

  The Aramda is the biggest and the best SUV in it class. It offers more standard features(Safety)than any of the other vehicles in its class. Ive tried the Fords, the Lincolns, the GMCs, Dodges and the Toyotas SUVs and none of them stack up to the Aramda. The Aramda rides and handles like a smaller SUV and has great off- road capablities. Its fun to drive and its very quick 0-60, I think around 7 seconds, none of the other competitors even come close.

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  So far, so good - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By rayin NYC - December 10 - 10:00 am

  I bought my 04 Sentra 2.5s two weeks ago, and so far, so good. The cars engine is wonderful, quick and responsive. The back seats, however, leave much to be desired as they are VERY cramped. The fuel ecnomy could be better (Im averaging about 23 mi between city and highway driving). I test drove the Civic while shopping around and although a very solidly built car, I felt its engine was a bit boring and not very powerful at all. So, all in all, my Sentra is turning out to be a pretty good buy.

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  Loving it, but... - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By manhattantitanowner - December 10 - 10:00 am

  Coveted Tundras forever, thought about Chevy/Dodge, then test drove the Titan. GAME OVER! Bed features and interior design for the $$ involved made this one a no-brainer. The engines power is addictive; gas mileage no worse than anything else this size. Drivers seat extremely comfortable. Graphite/Titanium leather the way to go (Whats the butterscotch color? Blech.) Love the stereo, esp. the sub. No sunroof, but I dont miss it. BUT... add-ons back-ordered, minor quirks like faulty airbag sensor, clock malfunction, broken spring on storage lock cover...all have left me with a loaner at this point. But Im not complaining (too loudly)....

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  Fun but could be so much better... - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Urooj - December 10 - 10:00 am

  A truly fun car to drive, however, there is considerable oversteer and the roadhandling is not all that great but the acceleration does put a smile on ones face. Interior cabin noise is fairly intrusive. The overall interior fit and finish is done well with some minor exceptions. The faux wood trim is -quite frankly - a little cheesy - choose the faux chrome, it looks better. All that being said - it is probably more fun to drive than its older sibling, the Maxima and several of its more conservatively styled competitors.

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  Dont Buy this JUNK - 2006 Nissan Quest
  By FREEDOM RINGS - December 10 - 9:50 am

  We are SO relieved to get rid of this junk. We traded our Nissan minivan in for a new Toyota Sienna. The biggest difference is the customer service. Nissan was incompetent, unresponsive, and useless in solving our problems. We too settled with the Lemon Law Practice and cashed in after fighting for 2 years with Nissan headquarters. I even wrote a letter to the CEO himself. So much for the "customer is always right". After 11 recalls, 4 rentals, 19 visits in less than two years there were still problems. Nissan took the fun out of having a new vehicle. Toyota put the fun right back in! I have had the Toyota for nearly 4 months and not one problem. They have been terrific!

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  Love it! - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By Tracy - December 10 - 3:36 am

  Where do I begin? I love everything about this car. Large trunk, roomy interior - husband 62" and rides comfortably, low maintenance, good gas mileage, smooth quiet ride, strong engine, beautiful car.

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  returns to dealer for fixes: 0 - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By george - December 9 - 3:43 pm

  I have owned a lot of cars and this is the first one that has had NO problems! I love its looks and performance too. The only annoyances are a clutch that engages abruptly and a front tire that is just now starting to make a roaring sound. Fit and finish is excellent.