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 with some issues - 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By mmao - October 12 - 3:59 pm

  Its a good car, with excellent MPG - I can get 37/g except in winter. How ever there are some issues. Internal design looks cheap, the Panic button is annoying (its so easy for the horn to shout out). And just got an issue with the ignition switch: I could not start engine some times, and I was told I need $600.0 to get it fixed by the dealer!

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  Nissan Family - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By POCO - October 12 - 2:00 am

  My husband and I purchased this vehicle with high miles because we got a very good deal on it. My husband loves it. We are Nissan owners. All our past Nissans have performed exceptionally well and we hope this one will repeat the same performance. When Im in the drivers seat..Im comfortable, however, when in the passengers seat, Im not as comfortable although, the ride is a smooth one..I like a little more room to stretch. My son loves it. Its stylish and the blue color is just amazing. Its fast on the highway and the ride isnt bumpy at all. Big tires contributes to the smooth ride.

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  Simply Spec V - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By Aldie - October 12 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car in the beginning of 2002. Today is the 2nd year I own this car. This is actually my first brand new car purchase. And in my opinion, this is a very solid car. This car has very good power, quick acceleration, useful accessories, good styling, and good handling. The only complain I have, is that this car has been recalled 4 times already. Hopefully they fix all the problems. Sad to hear but, I will be trading this car for a 2004 Acura RSX Type S.

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  Pleased in Chicago - 2001 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Ronin0975 - October 12 - 2:00 am

  Overall this truck is very solid and reliable. I would have appreciated a suspension that could withstand more rear weight and higher ground clearance. Power is great for this mid- size truck but you also pay for it at the gas pumps. Great 4WD system, have taken it off roading a few times with no problems. Been in service to replace the front power window motor and a few problems with sunroof wind noise and mis-alignment.

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  Very Creaky - 2003 Nissan Pathfinder
  By shira - October 12 - 2:00 am

  This is my third Pathfinder in a row. I have taken it to the dealership 8 times and they can not fix a creaking noise that I hear above my head. Did not have this problem before.

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  Dealers warranty wont be as good suppose - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By Javier125 - October 12 - 2:00 am

  Sentra 04 1.8S automatic, first came with water in the tank and begin to have problem with less than 1/4 tank so dealers told to fill more than 1/2 tank until evaporated the problem gome after 2 month, then the front shock absorbers are not good with the car 1400 miles milleage on it they replace after 2 month of been order. now is running very well no other problems report.

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  Soft Paint Job - 2011 Nissan Cube
  By marty81 - October 11 - 6:22 pm

  I recently purchased a Nissan Cube from a dealer in Toms River, New Jersey. My Cube is parked in my garage each night. I have had the Cube five months now. After a few weeks I noticed scratches by the front left wheel, then some scratches on the hood, and in the back, and so on. Then I got stuck in the recent snow storm here in the northeast (October 2011). My car was covered with several inches of snow and I only had a plastic shovel to clear my car off with. Needless to say my car now has scratches from getting the snow off. There are also several more scratches I cannot attribute to the shovel that I assume were from the highway ride home thru the storm. Unfortunately, the warranty state

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  Sentra CVT good commuter - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By Music Lover - October 9 - 11:03 pm

  With over 20,000 miles on the car, I am very pleased with the Sentra. I use it to commute ~40 miles each way per day. Add to that weekend day trips and one 2,400 mile trip. I drive with a light foot most of the time (engine about 2,500 rpm while accelerating), and I find it smooth and quiet. When driven hard, it can be noisier than some of its peers. It has plenty of power for passing and mountain driving, even fully loaded. It find it very comfortable, even on long trips. I average 34-36 mpg driving the speed limit (65-70) in typical highway commuting, but as low as 27 mpg with mostly short trips. Ive gotten as high as 38 mpg on a tank-full on the open road at 65 mph.

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  MPG takes practice - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By wwChuckDo - October 9 - 1:30 pm

  I bought my Sentra because in my opinion it is the biggest bang for your buck. The CVT takes some getting used to. I get 35 MPG City and 36 MPG Highway. Look up Hypermiling and practice accelerating slowly barely pressing down on the gas. I may annoy some people behind me but I am saving HUGE $$$

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  Im In Limbo - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By evy197531 - October 8 - 7:03 am

  Well I had the 2006 Nissan Sentra and upgraded by way of a car accident to the 2007. I love the style. It is totally different than the 2006 and resembles the Altima. Nice compact size for myself and I am single with no children but bad choice for someone with a family.