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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  Awsome,no problems - 2009 Nissan Altima
  By Fartell Cluggins - July 9 - 11:44 am

  Idk what people are saying about charging issues, mines fine and I love the car. Leather, sunroof, bose, dial climate control (as was my 96.5 regal gs but at least nissan caught up) no problems, stiff,sporty suspension was a pleasant surprise,

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  Love my maxima - 2006 Nissan Maxima
  By chiller - July 9 - 8:43 am

  There are so many things I love about this car. Ive owned many different makes and models over the years, but this is my favorite car. It looks great, drives great, and is super comfortable. One of my favorite features - a heated steering wheel. (I live in the Midwest.) Ive had just regular maintenance and no mechanical issues at all. I usually trade my vehicles in after three years, but Im actually thinking of keeping this one for awhile. Well, maybe Ill trade it for a new Maxima. I would like remote start.

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  Smooth and Powerful with CVT - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By nissanfamily - July 9 - 8:43 am

  This car is excellent and is a very comfortable family sedan overall. It handles extremely well in rain storms and any inclement weather. Heavy water on the roadway does not affect its traction nor does it pull on the steering wheel, as it did on my 2005 Altima. The 6 cylinder is definitely not necessary as the 4 cyl acceleration is smooth and powerful. Though it is not as sporty to drive as the 2005, the turning circle radius is much better.

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  "This is the One" - 1998 Nissan Maxima
  By Margarita Gutierrez - July 8 - 2:20 pm

  Prior to purchasing this great car, all cars previously owned gave me so much trouble, were so unreliable, and had to spend a lot of time and money at the dealer or somewhere else getting them fixed. After so much frustration and having heard all great things about the Maxima, specially since my brother had previously owned one (for about four months when it was stolen), I decided to buy one. In the short period of time my brother had his Maxima, he loved it, and encouraged me to get one. From the beginning I knew my Maxima was finally the one and that I had made the right choice among the other cars I looked at time of purchase.

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  Fun to drive - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Andrey - July 8 - 7:46 am

  I am 63, my wife is 53 and we both feel very comfortable behind the Muranos wheel. Performance is great, great brakes, flat cornering. Although suspention is tight, ride is smooth. Bunch of space for rear-seet passengers. My Murano is still breaking-in, so MPG is not 20, but is improving with every tank (from 14.6 to 17.6, city driving)

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  My best car - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By unclewimp - July 8 - 7:30 am

  This is the best car I have ever owned. Forget any negative reports about this car. These people probably did not heed to the owner instructions. I am a mechanic who works for a Toyota dealership. I bought this vehicle because of the technical achievements. It is fun, it is good on gas, it is a pleasure to drive. As for the CVT, have no fear, it is great! The CVT has been used in off road and heavy duty equipment for years. The limitations of this car are negligible and in some cases non-existent. There is some room for improvement, but it is insignificant compared to the overall splendor of this exceptional vehicle.

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  AZ First 2009 Maxima Buyer! - 2009 Nissan Maxima
  By Srini - July 7 - 9:43 pm

  Luckily I happen to be the owner of the Arizonas first 2009 Nissan Maxima :) I have had it only couple of days, but gentlemen, this car is a treat. The ride is so much better than any earlier Maxima. Especially at turns, this cars gives a damn good feel. With 290HP, this cars is giving me 21MPG in city so far, which is only 2 days. Interior is much richer and I would rate it as better than Infinity G35. 3.5S comes standard with 8-way power seats (with manual lumber support), moon roof and 8 speaker audio system, steering wheel mounted audio controls, all of which are upgrades in other cars like Altima or Accord. Will come back with more reviews after I get to drive it for couple of weeks

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  Great premium level sporty family sedan - 2016 Nissan Maxima
  By Kevin L - July 7 - 7:11 pm

  If youre looking for a premium family sedan with cabin space that can fit 5 people comfortably, look elsewhere. If youre looking for a premium family sedan with performance, sporty feel, AND fits 4 people comfortably, this is THE CAR! Materials used and the technologies included with the Platinum trim in this car are top-notch with this price tag. When you sit inside the car, it really feels more like a sports car than a traditional sedan because of the interior design, this is probably why Nissan wants to label it as a 4DSC (4 doors sports car). Handling is great for a car thats between mid-full size. Acceleration is plenty with 300HP and 261lb-ft torque. Some people complain about the CVT installed in this car, however those are also enthusiasts who should be driving sticks instead of auto if they really want that "feel" of the engine. IMO, CVT in this car is not bad at all and Id say 95% of the population wont even notice the difference if they werent told about the CVT. With the CVT, my best fuel economy so far is 34mpg highway and averaging 24mpg in city. Safety features that come with this car and especially in Platinum trim are great to have. My car insurance went down 40% switching from a 2011 Camry to this car. Insurance agent told me thats probably because of the safety features and safety ratings from the new Maxima. If youre considering this car, Id suggest watching some review and comparison videos on Youtube.

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  Best Value SUV, Most Improved - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By CHS - July 7 - 6:46 pm

  The redesigned Xterra is one of the best values in the market. With the new 265hp engine power is no longer a problem. Excellent engine braking with the manual transmission makes the HDC unneeded, glad I didnt get it. Gearing is low enough for actual off-road use, great power in the low end. The clutch cancel and locking rear make this vehicle a great value without expensive add-ons that other comparable vehicles require for off roading. Wind noise is greatly reduced from previous design overall much quieter ride. Built on a true truck platform this vehicle rides like it should, not like a car. What makes this one really stand out for me is attention to details such as wiper function.

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  Vics Versa - 2008 Nissan Versa
  By Vics Versa - July 6 - 3:10 pm

  This is my 1st brand "NEW" car. I did my research and found this to be the car for me! One thing that I love about this car is the comfort; from the front seats to the back! With the high price of gas, it doesnt hurt my pocket as much!