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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  Good car to commute! - 2001 Nissan Altima
  By Mustafa - November 9 - 2:05 pm

  I like that car so much. It has 143k miles on it, still no gasket and/or transmission problems. Besides, it is a great DIY car. There are bunch of videos on YouTube about that car, and the replacement parts are not expensive. Installing the replacements are easy as hell! I have driven that car non-stop 450 miles. The only I would concern about that car is the gas consumption. It consumes a lot for a 2.4 4 cyl car (16/22mpg). You have to be aware of a point: 98-99 and 00-01 altimas are not completely identical (the interior as well); some of the replacements are different, such as shocks.

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  Great Vehicle - 2005 Nissan Armada
  By MARK W - November 8 - 9:06 pm

  Very little to complain about. I have switched over from a series of Dodge Ram trucks and will never go back. This SUV is superior to any other large truck or SUV I have ever driven. The only complaints would be that the power seat controls tend to accidentally adjust while getting in and out of the vehicle and laying the seats flat for storage is not a completely simple task. Besides that, it is fun, big, smooth and more powerful than even necessary. Highly reccomend this truck.

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  Love my Xterra - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By april804 - November 8 - 8:03 am

  I really love my Xterra. The only fault I see with this truck is gas mileage! I have had all of my service done on time, but gas mileage continues to diminish. We drove this vehicle on a 500 mile trip and got 11 miles to the gallon highway. I hate to get rid of my truck, but Im gonna have to. It has been parked for 2 months because of the gas mileage. Its hard to pay for something you cant afford to drive. The major problem I am having is finding something that I like as much or better than my Xterra. Theres not much out there.

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  Rogue . . . So-So - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By MPATTER - November 8 - 2:23 am

  Ive been driving my Rogue for 3 wks. now. It has a comfortable ride, but the int. ergonomics are terrible. I believe it must have been designed for someone with the arm length of a veloco-raptor. The window switches are set back about 4 inches too far. The center armrest is also back too far. The cup holders are too close together and are also set back a bit far. The side mirrors are nice and large. This is good because the rear window is the same size as the rear view mirror. Performance wise, it is not bad. Smooth ride, with OK pickup for a 4 cyl. engine. It does have an unusual resonance when at 40 MPH. Must be the CVT trying to find a sweet spot. MPG is between 21-23.5

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  Fast & Furious - If that is ALL you want - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By overlord - November 6 - 4:06 am

  I bought mine new in mid 04 so I actually got the 2004.5 model with the softer suspension. Its been traded in thanks to the cops. It was my 3rd Z car. Downsides: very expensive insurance, NO CARGO SPACE AT ALL. I totally hated the car for that as I am a musician so just forget taking ANYTHING with you. Oh lets not forget unnecessary razzing by the cops (got me jail time!). Interior was well put together, and thought out but littered with cheap plastic. When I traded it in after 3.5 years no one wanted it, and those that did wanted to give me $14k when I paid $40k! Car was in the shop a few with bad rear bearings, leaky rear fluid, tire problems, check engine light, & 2 sets of brakes.

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  What a vehicle!!! - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By Ross - November 6 - 3:00 am

  This truck is smooth, powerful and can tow your house. What a value compared to the rest of the class. Nissan quality shines through. I highly recommend this vehicle.

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  My new ..S.U.V.From Maine:United states. - 2004 Nissan Pathfinder
  By MR.NORRIS_UK - November 4 - 4:33 pm

  My new nissan s.U.V. 4X4 does a pretty good job when im going in the deep woods of maine and it can go through some pretty deep puddles of water about 3 feet deep in some areas maybe 3 -4 feet on a few of the puddles i went through!!!!!I was definitely impressed with how the vehicle performed in four wheel drive,i went over some pretty good sized rocks slowly @ first,and of course being gentle because i wouldnt want to damage the truck for it "looks" sharp when it is in good conditon,but it did o.K. For rocks up to about"4- 6""high i hit a couple bigger than that about 12" high and it made the truck bounce a little more then you probably want it to bounce,but it did o.K.

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  Every day its better - 1997 Nissan Maxima
  By wollomombi - November 4 - 10:00 am

  This car is probably the best equation for a car out there courteousy of the VQ power plant. I found the clutch differnt (used to eurpoean) but once you compensate for that, it is a joy to drive. It really does accelerate to 60 in around 7 seconds and doesnt have any nasty surprises on dirt, snow or mud. Best tyre combo: Michelin Alpine (excellent with this chassis) Suspension is easy to stiffen and if you are a Mod nut you can go with the 267hp turbo kit. Last note, My wife drives this car better than I can and I had to teach her stick and Ill be shooping for a new engine before a new car with this one.

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  Former Nissan Owner - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By Ang - November 4 - 10:00 am

  I have driven every SUV there is. The MDX, RX 300, Mercedes, BMW etc...I just turned in my 2000 pathfinder. I have chosen this for its price and sporty feel. I wanted a car/suv and this fit the picture. I drove the SE and it was alot tighter and bumpier than the SL. The AWD and the 2WD drove the same, not much different in handling. The dash looks a little mini van like and the style sort of resembles a raised Pt Cruiser. But overall the inside is awsomely futuristic and I love the Chrome accents on the outside of the car. The 18" wheels are cool as heck! This car has the most features for the buck. Worth looking into.

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  Great SUV - 2011 Nissan Xterra
  By moose72690 - November 1 - 1:48 pm

  Great SUV!!! I have the 2011 Xterra S Black. I put a NISMO cold air intake on it and it sounds fantastic! It feels safe with all the features and how high you sit up. The only complaint is that it gets 19mpg at best and there is no AUX port????