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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  Lots of style - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By LT - August 27 - 7:26 am

  Had considered a CR-V, and even a Vibe, but the styling (and the gas mileage) really caught my eye. This is a fun vehicle to drive. It maneuvers easily and has lots of pep. We took it on an 1,800 road trip and there was plenty of power for passing at highway speeds. The CVT works smoothly. So far, mileage has been good; 25 combined and near 30 on the road trip.

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  Lizs Versa in Tulsa, OK. - 2008 Nissan Versa
  By Liz Torres - August 27 - 3:36 am

  After three months of research, I purchased a Versa S Model in March, 2008. Its been the best car purchase Ive ever made. Ive getting 28-36 miles per gallon (75% hwy, 25% city). I took it to Kansas City recently and upon arrival, I still had 1/3 tank of gas left. Its comfortable, roomy, drives great, has many safety features & cruise; all the basics I wanted for $14K. This was my budget and anything extra I considered a luxury I didnt really need. After reading negative reviews regarding the Blue Tooth incompatibility problems, I am glad I didnt purchase the SL Model. On the other hand, it would be nice to have the ABS brakes just for extra protection. Id recommend the Versa S

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  122K, not a single problem! - 1999 Nissan Sentra
  By nissanalex - August 27 - 2:00 am

  Great little car!! My wife purchased a Limited Ed GXE new and I was not very thrilled. But after driving it for 4 years and 122K miles, I can say it was a very good buy. I should not admit this, but we have had no work done on this car except oil changes and tires. No tune up, no brake work, AC, no real maintenance. It hasnt seen a mechanic since 4K miles. No noticable interior flaws either. Im 61 and fit rather well. All the knobs and buttons are still intact. We have since bought a new 02 Pfinder and we have equal praise for it.

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  Great car for price... - 2000 Nissan Altima
  By kurakka - August 27 - 2:00 am

  I have had this car for a little less then a year now. Have had to do nothing to is except for oil changes. Drove it 800+ miles to Canada there and back, with no problems! Good power for 4 Cylinder, easily can pass on the highway. Unique exterior design, some may say its ugly, but its definately something different.

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  04 sentra - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By kaiserfour - August 27 - 2:00 am

  Excellent all around car

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  Great truck. - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By jd1973 - August 27 - 2:00 am

  This is an outstanding vehicle. Ive owned many different trucks through the years and this is near perfect. Only a few things hold it back. Interior materials are subpar compared to other makes. There is a lot of chrome, which to me is not needed. Body style is fantastic. Now to the outstanding features. 1. Innovative styling-both interior and exterior. 2. Good group of options. 3. Best drive train available in any truck, period. 4. Brakes are outstanding. Overall I love this machine.

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  An excellent buy - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By mark Chan - August 27 - 2:00 am

  Just purchased the vehicle last week, and this one is much better than my 2002 Altima by all means! The interior is as good as the the new Honda Accord and it handles like a German vehicle. Anyone shopping in this segment should take a look at this vehicle, compare this with Accord and Camry side by side, you will find the Camry is light year behind in design and chassis dynamic. The only real competitor is only the Accord, but the exterior design of the current Accord is just as exciting as a speech from President Bush!

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  Great Vehicle - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Quest Lover - August 26 - 11:40 pm

  The Quest is a Minivan which is, when you think about it, a TRUCK. I did not buy a car, this is not a Lexus and I do not expect it to be one. Since May of 04 I have put 7600 miles on it. I drove to Disney from NJ with three children and my wife. We were all very comfortable and driving at 60miles per hr and got 30 miles to the gallon. .. Go above 75 and yes the mileage drops. This van is fast, handles great and looks cool too. Everything works. A few rattles yes. Again this is a VAN and has huge panels of sheet metal. My friend had the Honda Odyssey. He said the Honda had more rattles than Ebenezers ghosts and the Quest had way more interor room. The standard safety items and awsome engine sold me.

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  Not a Yuppie SUV - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By Al K - August 26 - 7:33 pm

  The Xterra is an awesome SUV. It took a few days to get use to the F-ALPHA truck frame but wow what a smooth ride. The acceleration from a dead stop or merging into traffic is no problem. Took a corner at 40 MPH and the Xterra did not even lean.

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  Timeless look - 1996 Nissan 300ZX
  By Fkz32 - August 26 - 10:00 am

  I drive a 96 NA 225hp and love the design, solid build, and interior. The handling and suspension is great. Only minus is the braking on this car versus others in its class.