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:

• 

  "OH WHAT A FEELING" - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By Whatsup - September 27 - 2:00 am

  NICE NEW STYLE FOR SPORT "U" GREAT POWER AND IN A WORLD WERE NOBODY SEES YOU THEY WILL SEE YOU WHEN YOU DRIVE THIS MONSTER GET JOB NISSAN THIS IS THE MOTHER OF ALL SPORT "U" R

• 

  Not Impressed! - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By Crystal Clark - September 27 - 2:00 am

  I have had my Altima in the shop a couple of times now because it just wont start. The first time I was able to get it started by pressing on the gas several times. But, the last time it happened, that didnt work, so I had to have it towed from my garage. The first time the service dept. said they had no idea what was causing it. This last time all they said was basically it was my fault because I didnt have the 15,000 mile RECOMMENDED service done. But, thats not the problem because the first time I took it in with this problem, I only had 10,000 miles on it!

• 

  Great Value - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Fred Brown - September 27 - 2:00 am

  Went out looking out for a typical minivan and found the Quest. Love the exterior styling even with out the roof rack. Nice power, good gas mileage (esp. after our 96 Explorer) and lots of standard features. Great Price!!!

• 

  Murano Overall - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By Kashong - September 27 - 2:00 am

  Vehicle has preformed very well, the engine is strong and I like the CVT transmission. Below about 40 mph, it seems to go into some type of free wheeling and I find myself having to brake harder then I antisipated.

• 

  Great SUV - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By bob1 - September 27 - 2:00 am

  I waited one thousand miles before my review. I am happy to report the Murano is all I hoped it would be. There are a few odd little things like windshield wipers that cant be lifted for cleaning unless you stop them in mid stream. But this is nit picky stuff. The vehicle looks and rides in spectacular fashion. No rattles, no problems and gas milage unlike any SUV. Good safety features with ABS and side curtain airbags and security system. The easy entry and exit from front and rear seems well thought out with plenty of legroom to boot. The 245 HP engine and the smooth CVT tranny make this a powerful and fun SUV to drive.

• 

  Test drive it and youll understand - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By 1Titan - September 27 - 2:00 am

  Its time that Nissan put a full size truck on the market. Big 3 truck makers better watch out! Titan is here. This truck is powerful and thoughtful. Nissan sure put in a lot of thoughts and work on designing this new truck. Its hard to describe how great this truck is, go and test drive one, then youll understand.

• 

  Fun - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By CT Mort - September 27 - 2:00 am

  Im still trying to get the smile off of my face. Having owned a 72 240 Z, my expectations were high and I wasnt let down. Its a pleasure to drive on the highway but twisting mountain roads are the best. Sticks to the road around corners and has the power to stay ahead of the crowd. I can hardly wait to get over the 4M mile limit for break-in. Absolutly no regrets!!!

• 

  Nissan 350Z delivers! - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By mvprime21 - September 27 - 2:00 am

  When i first saw the Nissan 350Z I knew I had to have it. It has an amazing eye- catching design that everybody notices. For the price, the power and performance cant be beat!

• 

  Lots of fun - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By AV8RBJ - September 27 - 2:00 am

  So far it has been definitely a lot of fun to drive. It has a lot of spunk and it handles better than my previous car, a Vette C5. At higher speeds it handles incredibly well. It grabs the road like no other car Ive ever driven. The finish on the interior lacks luxury and the seats are not as comfortable as one would like. The interior has a few cubby spaces that are not easily accessible and therefor are useless. It definitely is a much improved model compared to previous Z models Ive had, 280ZX and 300ZX. The interior in comparison to previous Zs in my opinion, has become less comfortable and less plush. Overall I think its a great car for the dollar.

• 

  2004 Max - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Amandas Max - September 27 - 2:00 am

  The 2004 maxima has great handling and a high level of comfort. Sports performance coupled with luxory, in my opinion, give this car the highest rating in its class. Ive been driving this car for 8 months now and I havent found one inconsistency. I have other drivers in beamerz and benzs doing double takes. I love this car!