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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  Best of Both Worlds! - 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By Hospice Nurse - October 19 - 9:00 am

  The Altima Hybrid is just a great car. Love the look, I have the metallic jade green and get positive comments all the time. Im a hospice nurse and spend my days driving to my patients homes, so I make a lot of 5-10 mile trips and spend a lot of time in the car. I can drive it responsibly and get about 35-37 mpg, or drive it aggressively and get 30-32 mpg. Comfort is important to me and it is very quiet and comfortable. In addition to getting great mileage in town, it is a strong highway cruiser. My wife loves driving it on the highway, the acceleration is awesome. We call it the "Green Ghost."

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  A history making car! - 2011 Nissan Leaf
  By R. Edelman - October 19 - 4:54 am

  Why is this a history making car? Because the Nissan Leaf was one of the first practical and affordable all-electric sedans. I purchased this car new in 2011. Back then, the Leaf was made in Japan. Now they are made in Tennessee, but I dont think there should be a difference in quality. My Leaf has almost 50,000 miles on it, and it has been reliable and almost completely trouble free. It is deceptively roomy inside because there is no fuel tank or exhaust system. Maintenance costs are low. The original tires lasted 45,000 miles. To recapture the kinetic energy of the car, most of the braking is done by the drive train. This is called "regenerative braking", and allows the drive train to act as a generator to charge the battery. All electric vehicles and hybrids utilize regenerative braking. Not only is regenerative braking energy efficient, it allows the brakes to last a long time. For example, I also own a Toyota Prius with over 100,000 miles on it, and the brakes have never been serviced. Driving an electric car is fun. The electric motor provides all of its torque instantly, which allows excellent acceleration from a stop as well as on the road. It is quite, and there are no vibrations. There are no exhaust fumes or oil leaks, and the drive train of the car tends to stay clean. The down side of any electric car is the battery. Batteries are heavy and expensive. They become less efficient in very cold weather, and they lose charge capacity as they age. Both of these translate into reduced range. And you need access to a 220 volt charging station to recharge the car in a few hours. The Leaf is sold with either a 24 kWh battery or a 30 kWh battery. I recommend the 30 kWh battery as it provides a range (when new) of about 100 miles, rather than the 75 miles provided by the 24 kWh battery. That 75 mile range provided by the 24 kWh battery when new drops down to about 55 miles after 5 years. So, the larger battery will allow you a more generous range even after the car is several years old. Despite the battery issue, I really enjoy the Leaf ownership experience. Nissan service and support has been very good. Based on my Leaf ownership, I have become a fan of electric drivetrains, so much so that I am now on my second Leaf, one with the 30 kWh battery (which was not available in 2011). I do not think that I will ever go back to owning a car that is not either all-electric or a hybrid. Nissan should be commended for taking a big risk in developing and marketing the Leaf. I think that the commitment to manufacturing an all-electric car will pay off for Nissan in the future.

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  Great Car All Around - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By hondaccord09 - October 19 - 2:50 am

  My past life was a Honda owner. I decided to purchase the new 2013 Altima 2.5 SV over the Accord EX. Honda owners tend to stick with Honda for whatever reasons. They both have the same features including CVT transmission, except the EX has moon roof, which I never use. By this comparison, the Accord EX is more expensive and the look on both cars is equally nice, depending on the color you choose. The Altima is an overall all around car with better MPG and acceleration, and drives smoothly and quietly on the road. The car is lighter and the ride is firm. One of the main reasons I switched from the Accord is because of its loud cabin noise.

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  Love my Spec - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By logan - October 18 - 8:36 pm

  I have owned my 2003 Spec V for about a year now and absolutely love it! I was fortunate enough to purchase the car with a nismo short shifter and nismo rear sway bar. Handling on the car is second to none. I love the power it has, which is great for a four cylinder. Its also a great "sleeper" car. I have yet to lose a race (no, I dont race evos and stis). My point being its a blast to drive and fun to drive hard. I have not had any problems with the car (Ive put 20,000 mi on the car and it has 65,000) and hope to keep it for a long time.

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  Love this suv - 2006 Nissan Armada
  By rebecca - October 18 - 9:53 am

  Love this suv. Love the rear camera which has saved me. We have had no problems. I like that the lift gate in the back can open automatically which helps a lot with new baby and groceries. Love the fact that the 3rd row seats fold down flat. There is so much room. Love the gear shift in the middle instead of on the steering wheel. Feel the my family is very safe with the curtain side airbags. Love the stereo/6dsic cd changer. It drives well and has great pick up. Its a bit of a bumpy ride on these pot holed roads we have, but I didnt buy a luxury car! I wish big SUVs got better gas mileage but it is the price I have to pay for more room inside!

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  NV200 First Impression - 2013 Nissan NV200
  By cal18 - October 18 - 8:24 am

  Yes, it only has a little over 100 miles, but after comparison to the Transit Connect, I decided to bring one home today. Better fit and finish, better ride and handling and priced less with the options. It is a peppy little van and it is deceivingly quick with CVT transmission. It doesnt seem quick but it pulls like an electric car, no shifting!. We got 30 mpg average on the trip home with A/C on and a 2000 foot elevation gain in 75 miles. I will update in a few weeks.

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  Rear end wanders - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By Heathenstar - October 18 - 6:16 am

  Love the car when road conditions are good. However, in snow, ice, or rain the rear end of the car wanders and is frightening to drive. No solution from dealer yet. Some websites suggest this is a problem with rear end alignment and could be a manufacturing defect.

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  Not what i thought - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By tom from Jersey - October 17 - 9:20 pm

  I purchased a "Program Car" w/ 10,000 miles on it. Now after spending some time in it, here are some comments. Stereo in 2.5 S so-so , seems like CVT vibrates to about 40 mph. Feel it in the wheel and floor. They say 600 miles per tank full, Im getting approx 510, this is all highway driving.

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  Superior looks and off road capability - 2002 Nissan Frontier
  By MJCORT27 - October 17 - 8:23 pm

  Awesome truck very reliable, off road and on road. Looks very tough and mean. Price nobody can beat in its category. Manual transmission shifts accurately and smoothly.

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  buy this over any Acura - 2007 Nissan Maxima
  By Danny - October 17 - 6:30 pm

  have owned several hondas and acuras. Have also owned Toyota. If you are looking at an 07 Acura TL? Save your money and buy this Maxima. It is head and shoulders more car than the TL or the Top of the line honda or toyotas. Handles like a dream and is exciting to drive, look forward to going places it handles so nice in every way. Very luxurious, very sporty, and the engine is a real monster for power