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 daily driver - 2010 Nissan Xterra
  By bill - March 21 - 4:33 am

  When I purchased my off road x. I drove it around town and very little highway. Big mistake. It is not a highway or road trip vehicle. The stiff suspension is great in town and off road but you pay a price for a rough travel car. Its like riding a jack hammer. Like a jeep wrangler, it does poorly on the highway and at high speeds on the snow, it slips very easy! Not the best ski trip vehicle but great in town and off road.

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  150000 miles and NEVER a breakdown - 1998 Nissan Maxima
  By David Truxell - March 20 - 9:16 am

  This is the most dependable car Ive ever owned. I put on 100 miles driving to work each day, and have owned the car for nearly 6 years. I change the oil every 6,000 miles, and that is it! What a great car! Highly recommended. Every option still working

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  Paved or not, this beats them all! - 2010 Nissan Xterra
  By sailorman - March 19 - 11:16 pm

  We love our new Xterra. We have a Ford Escape and were going to get another one but after one drive in the Xterra we couldnt go back. I still grin when I have to load cargo into the massive trunk or crawl over rocks effortlessly. The huge windows all around offer a wonderful view and safer lane-changing. I spend the week commuting and this bulky SUV is surprisingly comfortable. On the weekends, it dominates off-road and Ive never doubted if it could take me where I want to go. This is a great all-around vehicle for me and my growing family.

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  major defect - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By 2 quest owner - March 18 - 10:43 pm

  Have owned 2 Quests. A2000 and a 2004SE On Xmas morning we went out to load presents and opened the passager side to find smoke coming from the seat.After spraying under the seat with the fire extinguisher and disconnecting the battery we found the motor that adjusts the seat back and forth was to the point of catching on fire.The car was in our garage and had been turned off all night.If we hadnt been up at that time our garage and house would have burned down!!!!If you own a 2004 SE please be careful

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  A great knockaround vehicle - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By BOU962 - March 18 - 3:26 pm

  Love this SUV. A smooth ride that could induce car-sickness, a powerful engine, and conveniently-placed and thought-out controls make the car a gem. With regular all-season tires, holds the road in ice and snow, and stops on a dime if youre not driving like a drunken banshee. While 4WD can be taxing on tires, the Bridgestones wore out much too quickly - and were vulnerable to shoulder wear despite frequent rotation and balancing. Depending on driver height and seat position, blind spots (merging, etc.) can be a problem - encourage all your family members to test-drive before you buy.

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  Will never buy Nissan again - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By chocaholic - March 18 - 5:31 am

  Before I had this Nissan I had a 2000 Honda accord, that was so quiet you could hardly hear it run. It now has 220,000 miles on it and is still going strong, but my husband wanted it for work, so I got a newer car. I decided on the Nissan Altima for its styling. What a mistake! I hate driving the car now. Because of its gurgling noises and ticking noises and inside crackling noises and road noise, I hate this car and wish I never got it. I would never recommend this car to any of my friends. Do yourself a favor and dont buy the Nissan Altima. You will regret it! The car is an over priced, pretty piece of JUNK.

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  A sofa with four wheel drive - 1998 Nissan Pathfinder
  By mr-ed - March 17 - 2:00 am

  Ive driven this Pathfinder for two months and am really impressed with the interior quality and features. Bose sound is outstanding, leather is still almost like new, ride comfort is great and handling is very good for a big car. Its as comfortable and almost as quiet as driving a sofa down the road.

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  Very Pleased - 1995 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Tahreem Shaikh - March 17 - 2:00 am

  I bought mine with 35K and have put another 60K on it. Aside from scheduled maintenance and normal wear/tear, there have been NO problems whatsoever.

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  Nissan Pathfinder LE 1999.5 fully loaded - 1999 Nissan Pathfinder
  By n kelley - March 17 - 2:00 am

  Ride/handling/V6 resemble previous vehicle, 93 M-B wagon with 4-wheel drive; V6 smoother than the competitors; transmission problem: downshift from torque-converter-lockout to OD stutters; wife likes low step-up and ease of loading packages; rear-end styling not distinctive

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  fear - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By HOWARD - March 17 - 2:00 am

  We live in fear since buyng ths vehichle. We were not told that the headlights ,which cost $2000 apiece were being stolen in droves. You replace them they get stolen. Great car if you live in it and never leave it anyplace unattended