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 Car Ever - 1999 Nissan Sentra
  By snoboardfreak04 - October 22 - 8:13 am

  I purchased this vehicle from a single owner. It is GREAT in the snow. Its well maintained and regularly gets 40+ MPG city and 50s MPG on the highway. Im not sure how its fuel rating is only shown as 29. Only major mechanical issues up to 150,000 miles have been 2 sets of struts, 1 water pump, and a clutch replacement. Its an absolutely amazing, reliable car.

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  Frontier Crew Cab Nismo - 2006 Nissan Frontier
  By IndyNismo - October 22 - 1:30 am

  This is my second Frontier. I owned an 05 crew cab Nismo. It was without the Rockford and sunroof package with rack. I absolutely loved the truck...but longed for the extra options. So I traded for an 06. Since I sell Nissan...it only change my payment by 10 bucks!

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  Love it! - 2001 Nissan Xterra
  By Laura - October 21 - 12:26 pm

  I have had nothing but fun with this vehicle. I cant imagine enjoying one of the more expensive SUVs anymore than this one. I drove it from Massachusetts to Texas and had a comfortable trip, the seats get a bad rap, but I find them very comfortable and supportive in all the right places. I recommend this vehicle to anyone who wants a practical vehicle with a different look and nice price tag.

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  Love my MAXIMA! - 1995 Nissan Maxima
  By jr73 - October 21 - 2:00 am

  Got this car back in 1997 for my wife with about 45K miles on it. It is my daily drive car now and has 135K miles and drives like the day we got it. The motor and transmission are smooth. I have done routine maintenance on it and it has been bullet proof. When I want, I drive it hard and it responds like the well tuned sports sedan that it is. It is so much fun to drive and has so much spirit for any car, much less a large 4-door family sedan. There are many new cars that wont come close to the performance and value I get out of this car even today. Im sold for life! I will buy another Maxima!

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  Best bet for family car. - 1995 Nissan Maxima
  By EaglyMax - October 21 - 2:00 am

  This is my first Nissan. I was able to obtain an 95 SE with a manual transmission, which took my several weeks to find (only about 8% of Maximas sold have a manual). This car is fun to drive. Though its not a true sports car, it makes a great family car!! With the manual this car is fun on two-lane roads. This car has more interior room than an Accord/Camry. Plus, if you get am Accord/Camry, youre going to spend a minimum of $1200 to have a sound anywhere close to what the Bose delivers. I considered a Camry and Accord when I was looking, but the Max fit the bill. It has more room and it a lot more fun to drive than a Accord and Camry (put together).

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  99 PATHFINDER - 1997 Nissan Pathfinder
  By DAS - October 21 - 2:00 am

  OVERALL GREAT CAR, LITTLE TOO MUCH ON GAS, GENERALLY EXCELLENT NO COMPLAINTS , FEW MINOR POINTS, THE FOG LAMMP ON ONE SIDE KEPT GOING OUT EVERY YEAR , I REPLACED IT FOR WHILE NOW IVE GIVEN UP. STEADY ON THE ROAD NEEDS GOOD TIRES ALL THE TIME.

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  the best - 1998 Nissan Maxima
  By RollingInI30 - October 21 - 2:00 am

  the best car available for performance /value /enjoyment. im waiting for 2004....or even better looking at M45 infiniti.

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  Excellent value - 2000 Nissan Sentra
  By Jodene - October 21 - 2:00 am

  I bought the 2000 Sentra somewhat on a whim. It seemed like the best combination of features, reliability and fuel economy for a car in the under $14k category. I have never liked how the car looks, but I really appreciate driving it 50+ miles a day. My family had Datsuns when I was a kid that lasted and lasted, so I do trust Nissans reliability. And the 31 MPG average is great too!

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  Rattling is driving ME CRAZY - 2001 Nissan Sentra
  By Collie - October 21 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Sentra used with 17,000 miles on it. Overall the car runs great! I have had no major problems with it. I especially love the sporty look of the XE.

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  Performance for a gimp - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By mshimek - October 21 - 2:00 am

  I really like the SE-R and SE-R Spec-V but a medical condition both prevents me from driving standard and requires safety features not available on most (affordable) cars. The 2.5LE comes standard with an AT and all the safety features I can shake a stick at. The big diference between the 2.5LE and the SE-Rs is the suspension. In my case, I wont be powering out corners but the beefy four definitely puts a smile on my face. Enthusiasts beware! It definitely leans more toward a luxurious (and quiet) ride than a connected to the road feel.