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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  WOW!!! - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By hmberanek - June 2 - 2:00 am

  Bought it yesterday, an SE with 6-speed manual trans and NO OPTIONS. You really dont need to option these up, because they have so much standard equipment. The dealer was anxious to get rid of it because it was a manual with no options, so I got it for $1,700 under list. The car itself is so awesome I cant even put it into words.

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  Great styling, surprising power...WOW! - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Roy Wasson - June 2 - 2:00 am

  I am very pleased with my 2004 Nissan Maxima. I got the buckets seats in the back option and the GPS. Great power, smooth handling...just a superbly made vehicle. Step up to a MAXIMA!!

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  Pleased as can be - 2001 Nissan Sentra
  By Pleased as can be. - June 1 - 10:00 am

  I got this car right before I left for college, brand new. It has been absolutely wonderful. I have had to take it in a couple times for minor, car particular problems (ie cruise control cover came off, drivers side window started acting crazy). I think its a nice looking car and heads above the competition. We looked at Corollas as well and they arent near the car the Sentra is. I love the interior; I think it doesnt look like the inside of a base, economical compact car.

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  01 Nissan Frontier - 2001 Nissan Frontier
  By tdd - June 1 - 10:00 am

  Loved this truck from the day I first saw it! I drove a Toyota to compare, but there really was no comparison. The Nissan handled and rode considerably better and feels better made. The Toyota had a more performance-oriented engine, but the Nissan is more of a workhorse. My truck has almost every feature available for the XE (including V6), and it was thousands cheaper than a comparable Tacoma.

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  Yummie + more.... - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By FriarTuck - June 1 - 10:00 am

  Nice power machine for a price. Recommended to any one whos looking for fun drive for under 20K. Needs restyling of the rear lights. A bit ugly. Overall very fun car to drive. Needs bigger gas tank thou.

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  Excellent - 2001 Nissan Maxima
  By niss - June 1 - 10:00 am

  its excellent. The best hassle free vehicle you can find on road.

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  13 years in the making - 2016 Nissan 370Z
  By Nay Nay, San Diego, CA - May 31 - 7:13 am

  I fell in love with the 2003Z, my mechanic had one. At that time I was a single mom with two daughters to raise. My love for the Z never waivered. Fast forward 13 years to 2016, for my 69th birthday I got my Z. Shes the standard automatic coupe. I decided to lease first because after all I was 69 years old and didnt know, being up in years, if this car was the one for me. Well Ive had her a year and have turned 70 years old this month. When my lease is up I plan to purchase her or lease the 2019. Drove her to Las Vegas and on the open highway she handles the curves like a dream. The Z is simply GREAT EYE CANDY, I get lots of looks and comments. My mechanic says its one of the most reliable sports cars on the market. He went on to say that the Z almost never breaks down and if it is towed its more than likely been in an accident. It roomy to me, back in 2003, weighed almost 300 pounds and have very long legs and I had enough room. Now with the 2016 and weighing only 145 pounds its more than enough room. I have no issues with the trunk space, purchased a coffee table and I got it in the trunk along with several bags of groceries. Would have liked the standard model to have adjustable motorized driver seat. Im retired so the Z was attainable.

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  Love It! - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By REALTOR - May 30 - 7:43 pm

  First time SUV owner... love the space. Like sitting high above the crowd. Extremely comfortable. Great ventilation. Lots of pep. Easy to handle. "They" say: Once youve stepped "UP", youll never come down!

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  LOOKS, POWER, SPACE, RELIABLE - 2007 Nissan Quest
  By Bill C - May 30 - 12:30 pm

  I Must say after reading some of the comments, it appears some of these folks are not educated consumers and are unfairly rating the vehicle. What are they comparing to a sedan? No its a van. This is the 3rd Quest in my family. This model is by far the best. The styling is great, by far more attractive than its peers. Drive? Drives great with plenty of power.I agree the interior is not the finest. Its not the styling, its the plasticy finish. Resale isnt the best with Nissan but youd pay more for an Odyssey or Toyota. If you paid 39k for the van, paid $350 per tire your [violative content deleted]. Shop around I paid no where near these prices. Very reliable car, hwy milage is good,great cargo space. Compare

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  NOT the ugliest car of the year - 2014 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet
  By docentdon - May 30 - 8:59 am

  When the 2011 Cabriolet came out, it garnered horrible reviews. I have watched this different machine through 3 years of a boring lease on another foreign SUV all the time waiting until I could try the Murano Cabriolet. I am now proudly driving my beautiful comfortable 2014 Murano Cabriolet and getting comments like: "Wow, what is it!" "Looks like an SUV on steroids." "Did you sell your house to buy that gorgeous thing?" Easy comfort for 4 people with all the bells and whistles. And, most important, for us old codgers, easy in-and-out which ALL the other convertibles I tried were not. This will probably be my last car purchase and I am sure I will love it for years to come.