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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  Not a bad SUV for the right type of buyer... - 2015 Nissan Xterra
  By AJ - June 8 - 2:22 am

  ... good value overallThe 2015 Xterra is more or less unchanged from the previous years. I own a brand new Pro-4X in the Night Armour color with the cloth seats. Several aspects of the Xterra attracted me to it in the first place. First of all was value, I paid in the low to mid 30s for a relatively powerful 6 Cylinder SUV with 4 wheel drive, off road capability, a navigation system, Bluetooth connectivity, heated seats, and a cool overall look. Granted the car hasnt been redesigned in quite a while but it still looks good. I specifically enjoyed that this is among a small group of cars that you can get heated seats on cloth seats. That makes it nice and cozy in the winter without the experience of hot leather in the summer. Inside, the Xterra offers a very easy to read and operate instrument panel. The infotainment system is basic but it never freezes or gets stuck. The climate and audio controls are easy to use with simple but quality dials. Personally, I love technology but the new cars with the complicated screens have gotten too intricate and they take my attention from the road. The Rockford Fosgate sound system (optional) is one of the best stock sound systems Ive ever heard. The heating and air conditioning unit works great in all types of weather, the "MAX A/C" option works tremendously in hot weather. The cargo room is great and there are plent of hidden storage areas throughout the cabin. The front seats are comfortable but not very big. The back seat is even tighter with difficult ingress and egress. While all of the switches and electronics work well the materials of the interior are very much sub-par. I have already had several squeaks and rattles develop in a car with less than 9,000 miles, this is unacceptable. If Nissan had put a little more time and effort in quality materials this would be one of my favorite automotive interiors. Outside, the car has a very utilitarian look with nifty cargo spots and steps for accessing the roof. Care needs to go in maintaining the exterior plastic trim as it can fade quickly in the sun. Use an exterior trim gel to keep it looking good. Mechanically, the Xterra has a great engine with a sub-par transmission. 5 Speed Automatics are incredibly out dated and this one shows its age. The engine has great power for regular driving as well as highway passing and off-roading. The gas mileage is extremely poor as I usually get aroung 14-16 in the city and about 17-18 on the highway. If Nissan could get this same power from a new engine while bumping fuel economy to the mid to high 20s it would have itself a great engine. However, most people dont buy an Xterra for fuel economy. This SUV is designed to handle anything the road throws at it. The Xterra is amazing in snow, rain, mud, and sand. It will get you to work when everyone else can get past the snow in their driveway. The 4 wheel drive system along with the off road gadgets in the Pro-4X make sure this SUV never gets stuck. Furthermore, for an off-road inclined SUV it has a fairly compliant ride on-road with not an obnoxious amount of road noise on the highway. It is easy to drive and park and the Pro-4X has a backup camera to help with parking. Overall, its a shame that Nissan is rumored to be pulling the plug on the Xterra after 2015. This is a good fun SUV for the younger crowd that doesnt have kids or doesnt need tremendous gas mileage. This car looks and feels sporty and rugged without being too harsh on its occupants. Its a great weekend trip car and it has enough technology and entertainment to be competitive in todays tech world. If Nissan could improve gas mileage, interior quality, and give it a fresh redesign I truly believe there would be plenty of buyers for a future Xterra generation, myself included.

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  Great car so far - 2016 Nissan Altima
  By Nick A - June 8 - 2:14 am

  Love the styling of the altima for 2016. It has great acceleration even with the four cylinder and handles pretty good. Ive been averaging 31mpg with mostly city driving. Road noise is a little much but i think its these cheap tires it comes w from the factory. Engine makes alot of noise but i like to hear my engine most of the time. The A/C in this car will freeze you to a solid block of ice in no time even on low. Only have 1200 miles so far but will update my review as time goes on. Great car for the money, if you want something thats going to drive like a million bucks then spend a million bucks.

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  High quality, low price - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By monica richards - June 6 - 6:10 pm

  I just bought my Nissan Versa 2 weeks ago. Fantastic gas mileage, so far, in city, one tank, and Ive gotten 210 miles. Very quiet interior when driving, even though consumer report magazines have reported otherwise when driving at speeds over 65. Great speakers for an entry level car. The only drawback for this car is the blind spot that is created due to the wide pillars in the rear of the car, very hard to see drivers in the lane you are changing into.

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  Great car with comfort & style - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By Ray - June 5 - 11:20 pm

  This has been 1 of the best vehicles Ive owned over the past 20 yrs. Never had any major problems with it. Gas mileage is decent for the size (20 mpg) and I can fit 2 German Shepherds in the back without folding down the rear seats.

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  Nice Truck - 2001 Nissan Pathfinder
  By xwingftr - June 5 - 7:43 pm

  Ni 2001 Nissan Pathfinder is truly a great truck. Im a performance oriented person and this truck does not disapoint. Its fun to drive, handles well, has good brakes, and its acceleration is sweet (240HP). Looking back, I should have opted for the navigation system. its reliability has been solid. I had the radiator replaced after the warranty ran out, otherwise it has been very reliable. I would recommend it as a used car purchase.

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  owner - 2001 Nissan Xterra
  By markie - June 5 - 10:00 am

  love the xterra dealer sucks

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  Impressions after 39 Mos - 2007 Nissan Murano
  By NiHao - June 4 - 11:10 pm

  I went with the Nissan Murano after much research because of the advertised MPG, Utility and Amenities. I have 45K miles on it now and have only had to do the scheduled maintenance. No issues, zip, none, 0 with this vehicle. The Goodyear tires are still the originals in fact and I have about 5K mi left on them. The AWD works well in the snow and on wet surfaces for all you weekend skiers out there. The seats on a long drive were quite comfortable as well. New the gas mileage was bad = 17 MPG. Now I get 21-22 regularly in mixed driving. ItÂ’s fairly quick too despite the fun zapping CVT transmission. This, besides the paint chipping a bit too much for my taste, is my biggest gripe.

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  Been Pretty Reliable So Far - 2005 Nissan Sentra
  By myfirstnissan - June 4 - 11:18 am

  Ive had my 2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S since Feb. 2009. It had 58,000 miles on it when I bought it, and now has 122,000. Overall it has been a reliable car. In addition to the normal wear & tear stuff with any car you buy, I recently have had to change the rear struts, rotors & brake pads, left lower control arm, right tie rod end, and had an alignment. Overall, so far the car has been good to me.

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  Dont believe the hype... - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By 0_tolerance - June 3 - 3:50 pm

  Overall, the Murano has its good qualities, but has MORE bad qualities. The CVT transmission, is a plus. I have the SL model so I have a few bells and whistles which work. The AC knobs are kind of funky for the SL line. Nissan should do something with that, if they are competing with the Lexus RX models (I get a lot of looks, because they think it is a lex). Had a few recalls AND a few problems with warranty items (engine/sensor light went off 5 five times AND a faulty fuel part inside tank). Service department finally diagnosed and fixed the problem. Called NMAC, to complain. Gas, Gas, Gas... Maybe 13 or 14 in the city...suppose to be 20. Highway, rode to vegas. Average 22.

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  Love This Car - 1998 Nissan Sentra
  By i2ancid - June 3 - 12:10 pm

  I bought this car when i was 16 for $600 at 223k miles i drove it pretty hard as it is my first car (floor it from stand still, top it out at 100mph on high way, take turns hard.) 4 years later, iv added 50k miles to it and it still runs great regular tune ups, tires, oil changes, and the only thing iv replaced is the starter, wrong with the car is the CV boot rips easily but i think thats cosmetic. i recommend this car to anyone that needs a cheap RELIABLE car.