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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  Love it. - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By hpbny - August 21 - 10:00 am

  This is my first brand new car in 15 years and Im glad I waited. This is the best car I have ever owned. My commute to work has doubled and I cant wait to drive it.

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  R.I.P Altima - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By James - August 21 - 7:26 am

  I bought this car brand new in 2007. I cant tell you how excited I was to get it. I had so much fun driving it and I got an endless amount of compliments about it. I dont think you get as many miles per gallon as they say you do, but its still great on gas. The key never has to leave your pocket because there are buttons on the door, trunk, and a push start button to start the car. I got hit head on last weekend and my car is totaled. I cant tell you how miserable I am thinking about how much more I could have enjoyed my car. Just remember, for the 20 some thousand you are paying, dont expect the world, but expect so much more than you would from any other can in its class.

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  Impressive - 2001 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Linda - August 20 - 7:56 pm

  I drive this vehicle hard. I have 95k mi, and NO notable problems. I consistently get about 18 mpg (L.A.traffic). The only thing that has failed is the face light for the Bose (too expensive to pull out and send out for repair). I absolutely love the engine (powerful and good torque). Good ride quality. Good looks. Very reliable! I have been struggling with whether or not to replace this vehicle (since Im nearing the 100,000 mi mark). Struggling, because I really have no other reason to trade this vehicle in- its still running strong and looks good. And yes, my purse falls on the floor, too- and I hate it!...but it has in all my other vehicles.

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  Awesome Altima - 2009 Nissan Altima
  By DMODE - August 19 - 7:10 pm

  I just bought my 2009 Nissan Altima and I love it! It has a really smooth ride, has a good sound system. Looks almost like the other Altima upgraded models. Real big trunk and glove box to store items. Every time I drive it I feel real safe, I love the intel key and push button start. It has real good MPG too. I would recommend this car to anyone. GO NISSAN! :D

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  LE w/Nav System and DVD player - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Done-in - August 19 - 8:03 am

  Pathfinder purchased had 3500 miles and came w/ everything. Its a pleasure to drive, solid in construction and well designed. Time will tell whether it holds up. Dealership experience very positive. Did not seem eager to discuss the .9 financing. Picked up the car a couple of hours later; they took it upon themselves to do oil change and give full tank of gas.

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  Absolutely love it!! - 1996 Nissan Maxima
  By Max17man - August 19 - 2:00 am

  I got my 96 GLE loaded when I got my license, and have loved it ever since. It has everything I could ask for and then some. The Bose audio system is simply amazing, I thought I was gonna have to spend big bucks for a nice sound system, not with this car! The sunroof is an added bonus, so are the leather seats. When merging onto highways, Im at 60 MPH in no time.

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  good little car - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By orcinus49 - August 19 - 2:00 am

  Overall the 2002 se-r is a good car with room for tweaks of improvement. It is an improvement over the 99 limited edition sentra gxe I traded in for this one.

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  2003 SE-R Spec V - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By bnewton_xp - August 19 - 2:00 am

  This is a great car! I love everything about this car. I have about 400miles on it so far - I have nothing but good things to say about this car.... bnewton

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  My Nissan - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By T. C. - August 18 - 12:13 am

  The new 2005 Nissan Pathfinder is an excellent buy. With the SE Premium package and SE Comfort Package it is awesome, let alone all the standard equipment. The BOSE radio system with a 6CD changer and Duel Zone automatic A/C and more make it in my book a excellent buy for the Money. We traded our 93 Pathfinder for it and there is no comparison--yet the 93 was one of the best vehicles we have owned. Now we believe we have out done ourselves--We will enjoy this one for as many if not more years than the last one. Awesome SUV

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  Sentra..One Solid little car - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By Dunlopboy - August 17 - 10:00 am

  Just bought the car on 9/18/04 and got a super deal. I checked out the Civic and Corolla. What is all the hype about the Civic and Corolla? Yes, they are both great reliable cars but so is the Sentra. Why does the Sentra always get the "bum" reviews. I read that Consumer Report does not "Recommend" the Sentra because it is below average in reliability. I find that very hard to believe. Where are they getting this information? A couple of my friends have Sentras with nearly 100,000 miles on them and they have had little or no problems with them. The build quality on my Sentra is top notch, comparable to that of a Civic if possibly not better.