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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  gggrrreeeeaaaattttttt - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By lanieg - March 26 - 10:00 am

  Im always getting compliments even from owners in more expensive cars.

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  SL - So Lovin my Altima - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By AltimateZeta - March 26 - 10:00 am

  This is my first auto purchase and it was nerveracking. But I am so loving my altima and glad shes mine! I get lots of compliments on the car - exterior, options, handling. I enjoy driving her and am learning more about her everytime i get inside. i got a good deal on a discontinued color, so my baby is unique and worth it. gotta get yourself one, just dont go to westbury nissan. their customer service sucks.

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  very reliable - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By rm68818 - March 26 - 12:26 am

  this is a great car for the price. i bought mine at 50k and now have over 100k on it and have only had ONE issue the muffler broke at the pipe it would have cost 150 for a new stock muffler or 30 to repair the original but i went to ebay and got an after market crome muffler for 30 deliverd. ive done regular maintenace and ive changed front brakes. i use synthetic oil and only change it every 10-12 thousand miles.the car even has the original battery. one thing i think could be better is gas mileage i only get about 26-27 avg. and for a 1.8L engine it could be better but it runs great and has no problems. doesnt have cruise control which i find very odd for a 2007 but oh well great car

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  Poor seat belt design - 2016 Nissan Murano
  By Chris - March 25 - 11:30 pm

  Ive owned my Murano for 2 months. Ive never owned a Nissan before but I liked the size of the back seat in the Murano since I have 2 very tall teenage boys and I wanted to make sure they fit comfortably. The front seats are also very comfortable and it is a nice ride. But there is one very annoying issue. When my kids sit in the back, they inevitably step on my seat belt thereby tightening it on me while I am driving! The front seat belts come out of the floor and there is no protection around them. At the very least, this is an EXTREMELY poor design and quite possibly a safety issue. Im also disappointed that Ive already gotten recalls on the airbags and brakes. Nissan is not doing a good job building my confidence in them, this may be my first and last Nissan purchase.

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  Just bought - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Lou - March 25 - 7:23 am

  Just bought my S type. Love the ride! Very comfortable suv. More interior room than my old Explorer. Dont know much about economy or reliability yet but expecting the best. Things I wish my S type had - fog lights, automatic headlights, and a 6 disc changer. Couldnt see paying $5,000 more for the other models that include these features.

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  2006 RAV 4 vs 2008 Rogue - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By pitkeys - March 24 - 7:16 pm

  Having had a RAV 4 V/6 Sport and now a Rogue SL AWD (with Premium pkg): 1) Rogue rides much better, not as "busy" as the RAV. Handles tighter. Wind noise seems much less at 65-70 MPH in Rogue. Road noise also. Rogue much better in crosswinds. 2) RAV accelerates faster, both from standing start and highway pass, but Rogue isnt at all lazy. 3) MPG on Rogue is better. 33 avg on first three tanks in Rogue vs 27 in 30k miles in RAV. 4) Rogue seats more comfortable, more supportive on sides and lumbar areas.

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  Roomy, comfortable gas guzzler - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By john caldwell - March 24 - 6:10 pm

  I wish I had road tested first. The turn radius on this car is rough. Parking it between cars is difficult, due to the long rear overhang. It is a real looker. Mileage around town is low, about 22, but on highways its great - goes into the mid-30s mpg. Sorry that i didnt wait to buy, price has come down quite a bit for 2007, assuming equal performance.

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  LOVE MY MAXIMA - 2006 Nissan Maxima
  By buttrnut - March 24 - 2:06 am

  I bought this car off of the showroom floor in Jan of 2008. I love, love, love my Maxima! Exceptional handling (can take a 30 MPH exit ramp at 70 MPH), acceleration is comparable to a V8, sometimes a bit scary... the power is underestimated. The exterior of the car screams "HOT". Sporty, low profile high performance ride. I took an 11 hour trip in this car and really enjoyed the ride, I averaged 29 MPG with a fully loaded trunk. I love the body style and was a little sad to see Nissan succumb to a Camry look for 2009. Hope the new body style grows on me because I would really like to be a Maxima-lifer!

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  Great Car pound for pound - 2001 Nissan Sentra
  By DOCEK - March 23 - 6:26 am

  Bought my car near new, with 18000 miles, now with nearly 70000. So far has held up great, but wear and tear is starting to take its toll. needed to change tires, brake pads, a belt and alternator so far... but not too costly overall.

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  So far, so good - 2009 Nissan Versa
  By Joseph Stewart - March 22 - 10:06 pm

  My 09 Versa 1.8S HB (6-speed stick) is almost a year old and I am quite happy with it. Ive had oil changes and the whole car checked over every 3750 miles per Nissans advice. MPG isnt what Id hoped (my former car, a Dodge Neon with a larger engine and an automatic got 30 mpg), I am getting mid-twenties in town and low thirties on the highway. Which isnt bad anyway, right? I put new custom rims on (black), other than that the car is stock. I am waiting on a part from Nissan to fix the plastic shroud around the battery which inexplicably tore loose somehow. I have had no mechanical issues such as some of those reported here. Once the tach hits 3000 rpm watch out, the car takes off!