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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  bad tires - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By bobbie - October 17 - 1:36 am

  mileage is great if you can afford tires every 30,000 miles because of the tire alignment going bad all the time.

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  it beats walking - 2009 Nissan Titan
  By j - October 16 - 11:06 pm

  great power tows my snowmobiles well the fuel mileage 15 all around driving ,20 on highway at 60 mph only problem banging noises from front end and rattles. nissan cant solve problem , they know its an issue.

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  Excellent Truck - 2009 Nissan Frontier
  By JV - October 16 - 11:06 pm

  I bought the 09 Frontier back in August of 08 and since then I have put 23,000 miles on it so far. It gets really good gas mileage for its engine size I average about 18 or 19 basicly I fill up when it gets to 1/4 tank and I have driven about 325 miles. Its really smooth on the highway and offroad the handling is second to none. The hill descent feature and hill start assist are really great options to have esp in the winter with snowy conditions. Overall just a great truck that can fit four people comfortably on long trips.

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  Quest, anything but a "minivan" - 2005 Nissan Quest
  By Frizzell - October 16 - 3:53 pm

  As a 28 year old mother of 3, I give the Nissan Quest a 10+! Not only is it fun to drive, but it also quite sporty. I always swore that Id never be a "Minivan Mom" but the Quest is anything but a "minivan". Im a young mother and I want my minivan to reflect that. Thank you Nissan!

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  350 Z - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By paulio - October 16 - 10:00 am

  the car is awseome, ive always loved the z and nissan has made it even better

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  z - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By boyze - October 16 - 10:00 am

  excellent handling, fun to drive, good power and acceleration, a bit noisy from road/tire, great styling

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  2-Time - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By Wendy L. - October 16 - 10:00 am

  As a very proud owner of the 350Z, I can tell you it is a blast to own. It is a conversation piece everywhere it goes, whether its the supermarket or the drive-thru. It will remain in the hearts of true "Z" followers like its predecessors.

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  just like the 280-300 great - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By m pinto - October 16 - 10:00 am

  great car...fun to drive..owned a 280 & 300..........looks like its going to be even more fun.....and even more reliable

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  Almost there... - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By eamers - October 16 - 10:00 am

  Great looker, great driver although my front wheel bearings are shot at 10,000 miles - whats up with that? Nav system is VERY cool.

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  Cys Z - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By Cy47 - October 16 - 10:00 am

  Its the best car Ive owned so far. Ive also had a Mustang, Camaro and an RX-7.