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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  Great Value - 2009 Nissan Versa
  By havingfun - June 6 - 12:53 am

  Very happy with this purchase. A 2009 Hatchback S with CD player, AC and automatic for $11,500. The engine is so quiet, enough rev for rush hour traffic. Decent sound system and so much space inside. Its the perfect commuter car plus the space to throw the kids, recyclables, and the pets inside when needed. You wont be disappointed. The mpg quoted around 33 seems exact to me. Remembering my 1995 Altima as the best car ever, hoping Versa picks up the torch.

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  Good car, but too much cabin noise - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Kim - June 5 - 8:56 pm

  I purchased my Nissan after having a lemon of a Chevy. I havent had any problems out of it. It has good kick for a 4 cylinder and Ive been happy with the gas mileage. I was upset to learn they made GPS available, the tires tend to sleep, but sure why with only 40K miles and the cabin noise is really bad. Overall a good car, very reliable.

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  This CAR ROCKS - 2010 Nissan Sentra
  By Tim - June 5 - 2:53 pm

  I had an 2007 Sentra SL and upgraded to the 2010 Sentra SER The steering is so much better, seats really hug you and getting 33mph on highway, not bad for this trim

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  A Note-Worthy Surprise - 2015 Nissan Versa Note
  By notelampasas - June 4 - 9:17 pm

  Having had numerous vehicles over the years, and preferring manual shift for a more engaged driving experience, I decided to drive the CVT Note to see how uninspiring it was, and was wrong. This well designed, quiet vehicle keeps up with traffic, is very economical, and is a pretty decent hauler. After 7,700 miles, my city/country average is 35.5, and average highway is 38.8, with best long highway trip being 43.3 at 70mph with A/C. The seats are comfortable, and the back seat was able to accommodate a 68" male who was stunned at the backseat room. I had no problem climbing long inclines in Colorado. Certainly one of the surprising cars that has gotten little attention.

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  Id buy another - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By Aaron - June 4 - 12:20 pm

  Fun to drive. Easy to use dash board electronics. Full of great features.

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  No Regrets! - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By tssawy2 - June 4 - 1:50 am

  I bought my SE 4X4 new and no complaints. Yeah, some people complain about the gas mileage, well, its no Corolla but guess what no true SUV is. If you want great gas mileage, dont buy an SUV. But, I cannot say enough good things about this truck. It is good in city driving as well as perfectly capable in off roading situations. I get decent mileage about 19 in city, 25 on highway but I dont drive like a race car driver either. The interior is spare because thats part of the look. If you want luxury and 4X4 buy something else. Overall, I LOVE my Xterra and cannot seriously criticize it!

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  Great rig - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By PathyGuy - June 3 - 7:33 pm

  Bought this new and thought it was fine. After 6 years of only doing minimal maintenance, this thing rocks. With limited slip diff and old fashioned 4x4 (which I prefer), this thing can plow thru any snow and even does better than most others trucks/SUVs in icy conditions. Just get some good aggressive tires for offroading or deep snow.

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  Great SUV - 2006 Nissan Pathfinder
  By shane - June 2 - 8:16 pm

  Without a doubt this SUV is a winner. I have tested many vehicles off-road and I always favored a Pathfinder. My wife wouldnt go for the 4x4, therefore I was forced to live with the 4x2. In my opinion it is the best mid-large SUV for the buck.

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  Best in class, mu opinion - 2010 Nissan Altima
  By Stone - June 2 - 6:06 am

  Just got it. Wanted a decent looking sedan at a good price with great gas mileage. Im very happy so far. Gas mileage is 29.6 in all-around driving, mostly city. I pay attention to how I drive and it seems to help the mileage. Doesnt compare to the Audis Ive owned for years but it costs half as much, has a much better maintenance and reliability record and gets better gas mileage. Im retired now so I had to take a step down but Im very happy with the car. Looking forward to driving it a long time. controls are basic and simple. Easy to get to. Am very pleased with my purchase.

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  2015 Altima - 2015 Nissan Altima
  By laurie russell - June 2 - 2:44 am

  I traded in my 2015 toyota camry hybrid for the altima. The trunk and interior space is rommier. Controls are easier. Ease of getting in and out much better. And the mileage difference is minimal. The only thing better on the toyota was the warranty, but hopefully I wont need that.