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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  Dont be fooled by looks - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Cheryl G. - July 9 - 9:03 am

  My new Nissan is in the shop at less than 4,000 miles. The gear shift assembly needs to be replaced and I am told with getting the part from Nissan and shop time it will be approx. one week. Reading another review I see it might be longer. I was unsure of Nissan reliability when I purchased this car but was impressed with the looks. Looks can fool you and I no longer have the confidence in this car that it can outlast my payments. I am trading it off before it comes out of the shop. Look hard at this car before you buy.

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  Workhorse - 1998 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Mr. G. - July 6 - 2:59 am

  I bought my Pathfinder 10 years ago with about 70K miles. This SUV is a workhorse! I have abused this vehicle by towing more than that what youre supposed to. I love its 4WD capability. They dont make cars like this one anymore folks. My only complaint would be the poor gas mileage, but I guess you cant have it all.

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  Worth The Wait - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By homyroo - July 6 - 2:00 am

  I waited a long time for a sports car comfortable for a big guy 63" [minus pwr seats] and affordable for a working guy. This is my car!! Almost purchased a Z4 [+$10k], passed on Boxster [cramped under the wheel],Audi TT [stands for too tiny], selected the Z350. It looks beautiful in black. (2) Golf bags only with drivers pulled. Im OK with that!! Both bags are mine!!

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  Impressed - 2001 Nissan Sentra
  By ChasMan - July 5 - 10:00 am

  Keeping in mind that this is not a BMW but an economical compact car, my Sentra has been very impressive for the first year. Good build quality, performance, value, and styling are all pluses. Its head and shoulders above the Corolla in terms of what you get for your money, and the quality is very comparable. This Nissan is underrated, but if your looking for a reliable, well-built compact car, youd better look at this one.

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  98 Sentra SE - A fun little car - 1998 Nissan Sentra
  By PetersNCSU - July 4 - 2:00 am

  The Nissan Sentra SE is a sporty little sedan with good power and handling. Its basicly identical to the famous 200sx SE-R of that year with the exception of the extra two doors that making the Sentra the more practical of the two. I bought it used only three months ago but so far I am very pleased with the performance and value I got for the price.

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  My Four Door Hot Rod - 1998 Nissan Maxima
  By My98 SE - July 4 - 2:00 am

  I just turned 17 two weeks ago and to my delight my perents bought me a 98 Maxima SE with all the options availible that year except side airbags. I am known for having a lead foot and the Maxima handles that well. My friends and I timed the 0-60 time at 6.8 seconds with the car in power mode. The power mode lets the car rev higher and allows the car to shift more aggressively. The BOSE stereo is one of the best standard stereos I have ever heard in a car and is far better than the Infinity stereo in my old 96 Chrysler Concord. So if you want a hot rod on the weekend, a comfortable driving car Mnday through Friday but are on a budget than I highly recommend the 98 Maxima.

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  altima - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By mcd2000 - July 4 - 2:00 am

  the acceleration is amazing but my Town and Country (most carlike handling minivan) handles much better than it

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  A Cut Above The Klunkers - 2006 Nissan Titan
  By unclejay - July 2 - 5:40 am

  The Titan powertrain is so smooth and powerful, and has a marvelous sound, seems more like a Lexus or Infinity...until the rear suspension hits a bump. I know they need tough springs back there, but the rear ride is no better than a Ford. Cab is roomy, A/C is a little weak above 90 degrees you have to use max AC which is very noisy.

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  A great little truck - 1998 Nissan Frontier
  By timv11 - July 1 - 4:03 pm

  Ive had this truck for just over 2 years now. Bought it with 76,000 miles on it. I think I should have bought the extended cab but I really like the truck otherwise. I have had 720 lbs. of hay in the back and it ran just fine. It is more than enough truck for going to the hardware store or the dump. I use it as my commuter, around 70 miles a day. I would highly recommend this type of truck to anyone.

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  Loved my Versa for the first 2 years...now...not so much - 2008 Nissan Versa
  By beatchic - July 1 - 3:18 pm

  Off the bat the first year I took it into the dealer multiple times before they replaced the fuel pump and I think there was a recall at the time. The muffler and exhaust system rod severed at 3 years. The horn quit at 3-4 years. The visor fell off, the rubber sealing around the doors fell off and the fabric around the back door peeled off. Lots of discoloration on the turn signal bar and other levers. Was told by mechanic that this is a Renault with a Nissan Logo on it.