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 Front Drive Perf. Car For The Money - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By B. Ryde - June 20 - 10:00 am

  This car will absolutely smoke cars so many cars that are so much more money. Im sure all driving enthusiasts will get a kick out of the "Helical" limited slip front. I dont think another front driver(stock)can hook up its tires any better. Its really quick off the line. While the other guys engine is reving up youre blowin by. Front end also works better than any other Ive driven in the corners so its fun on the back roads too. So many kids (and Bemers) will want to race you in this car! -Its a lot of fun to own.

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  Great car and deal - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By Billnasp - June 20 - 10:00 am

  This is a super car. I have owned 4 Nissans and this is a fun car to drive. I had a 280ZX and 240SX too. This car is a better option than the Altima. Friends with new cars, (Honda Accord, Honda Pilot, etc.)love to ride in my Maxima.

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  I love this car - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By dl - June 20 - 10:00 am

  We test drove every competitor before getting this. Have taken it on a 3500 mile trip - excellent comfort and easily to get in and out of. Great leg room. We did not want the 3rd seat so we were happy to find this. Attention to detail is excellent. No trouble - 10000 miles to date - couple of small items dealt with immediately by dealer.

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  excellent customer service. - 2006 Nissan Quest
  By tita - June 19 - 10:06 pm

  got the nssan quest se recently and was very impressed with appearance. dash board is nice, seats are comfortable, huge space but the best is the customer service in central ave nissan. everybody was just very accomodating and helpful, very detailed about the features of the car. not like honda dealer, they just gave the key and that was it. didnt even show me how to operate cd. will definitely buy from nissan central ave in yonkers again!

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  Awesome Car - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By gcsimmons - June 19 - 2:16 am

  I own a 93 Toyota Corolla with 230000 miles and we wanted a bigger car with fewer miles. This car is awesome. I love the room and the seats are great. The car is fast off the line and I can tell you my gas mileage is awesome for a 3.5 V6. I get 24 to 26 city and average 31 to 33 mpg highway. My 4 cylinder Corolla gets 34 to 37 highway. It seems the longer I drive the car the better gas mileage I get. I would definitely buy another Nissan they are a superior vehicle. Love, love, love my Nissan! Get one today you wont be sorry!

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  Fantastic all season car - 2012 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet
  By hillbillydoc - June 18 - 5:50 pm

  I have had my 2011 Murano Crosscabriolet for 2 1/2 years, and 40,000 miles later I absolutely love it. This car is an extremely fun drive with the top down. With the top up, road noise is better than other convertibles that I have owned. Yes, the rear visibility is a bit diminished, but not terrible. There is some rattle from the window, but again this is common with many convertibles. The car is very comfortable to drive on road trips, and the interior and driver interfaces are top notch. I have driven this car in all conditions, including snow, and have been happy with the performance.

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  Fun New 05 X - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By X05 - June 17 - 6:13 pm

  We just picked up our new 05 Xterra offroad 4x4. This vehicle is so much fun to drive. I was thinking about an 04 but as soon as I got in the drivers seat of the 05 I could feel the power difference. The X sits up high so you can get a clear view of the road ahead. The ride is smooth and the handling is superb. The X turns on a dime. You can get a great deal from the dealership if you do your homework first, I know because I got the vehicle for invoice price. I love the new Xterra.

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  Still Very Happy - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Becca - June 17 - 2:56 am

  I wanted a 6-speed 2.5 with Premium, and I special ordered it before they even arrived at the dealership. I was hesitant about Intelligent Key and the push-button start, but I really like both of them - especially the iKey for the safety factor. When gas was over $4.00 a gallon, I loved the 35 MPG I was getting on the highway! This is the nicest car Ive ever owned, so I have very little criticism. I *did* have the whistling mirror issue, which the dealership quickly resolved. Also, my passenger seat shakes at high speed if nobody is sitting in it, and that can be somewhat distracting. No fix for that, Im told.

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  Once U Go Z Youll Never Go Back - 1996 Nissan 300ZX
  By Mr. Z - June 16 - 2:06 pm

  My 1996 Nissan 300ZX 2+2 is amazing. I just got it a couple of weeks ago and I cant stop driving it. Although its not the twin turbo model, it is still got a lot kick to it. The bose sound system and t-tops add to the ultimate driving experience. The original sticker price was way to high when first released, but now that I could afford it, I went for it. No Regrets either!

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  Best for $$ by far... - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Perfectionist - June 16 - 1:10 am

  We bought a "stripped" 4wd SE and feel you cant get more SUV for the money. We just returned from a ski trip to VT and this thing provided a perfect balance between handling, power, and 4WD ability all for $26k out the door. The 4Runner is about $3500 more similarly optioned, and even then it lacks what you get in the Pathfinder. Build quality on ours is excellent, no rattles etc.. It is clearly not a car based SUV, but rides as good as a real chassis based SUV possibly can. Buy a Murano if you want a car...if you want something that can tow, go off-road et al then buy this.