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 first car - 1996 Nissan Altima
  By Nathan - September 16 - 1:06 am

  I got this car in August 2013 at about 183,000 miles and is at 210,000 currently and its been great have had no problems with it yet. If you want a cheap reliable car with very little to no maintenance than pick this car up.

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  Nissan > Toyota - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By Glenn - September 15 - 12:36 pm

  XE 5 speed...no frills but great gas saver Got newspaper ad special...so this way dealership cant stick you. Remember, the dealerships make a killing on those nice options you like. Dont forget to bring the ad with you. My new truck with zero miles cost less than a used truck (few years old) with 40 -60 K.

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  I love it - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By meo - September 15 - 3:53 am

  The car is fun to drive. Only thing my wife doesnt like about it is no glove box. Go figure. It Put the fun back in driving. Very stable at high speeds. Seem to be very solid car.

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  Great! - 2007 Nissan 350Z
  By sonyb1 - September 15 - 3:03 am

  I bought a 6spd "z", but didnt want the hassle of shifting in traffic; returned it for the automatic. It is just as exciting, Great looks, plenty of power, looks and drives like it should cost more, excellent value!

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  happy camper - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By mdukes - September 14 - 3:46 pm

  i love my Xterra, i had a pathfinder and wanted the Xterra as soon as they came out on the market and have never regretted it. reliable, comfy, and surpasses my expectations....

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  Too many problems - its a lemon! - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Completely UNSAT! - September 14 - 5:43 am

  Currently going through the process of getting van bought back by Nissan through LEMON LAW. Been in for service 9 times (27 total days in shop)! SLIDING DOORS rattle, squeek, shake, grind and do not open, close, align, or latch properly. Sliding doors are extremely UNSAFE. Van has had 6 RECALLS performed, along with the entire drivers side REPAINTED due to rock chips since doors were misaligned. Nissan extended OEM warranty to 5yrs/60k miles, but that doesnt account for the POOR BUILD QUALITY. Vehicle pulled to the left, transmission pan leaked, CV boot ripped, sun visor label fell off, left rear quarterpanel loose - PROBLEMS are too many to list. Buy a HONDA or TOYOTA!!!

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  Lovely, but too small for family! - 2001 Nissan Quest
  By Nove - September 14 - 1:06 am

  This vehicle is smooth to drive, has decent pickup speed, handles well, and has every bell and whistle you can imagine - the sunroof is a nice touch! But the interior is very small, with very little leg and head room. The cargo area is equally lacking - and for a family of five, its a tight fit for a long drive. Overall, an excellent choice for a small family or adults who just want a few extra seats available - but not for larger families who do a lot of traveling.

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  Great Car! - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By Dave - September 13 - 9:50 am

  Ive only had my Altima for about 3 weeks, but I already love it. The ride is firm, but not too harsh. Its comfortable and stylish. The Bluetooth feature is very cool. What I love about the car: the style, the performance and how well things seem to be laid out. What I dont love about the car: the stereo puts out too much bass, the gas mileage is less than I thought itd be (Im getting about 20 mpg), and the air conditioning is a bit weak. Ive already had it in the shop due to a faulty fuel canister (leak).

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  Great Car If You Can Afford It - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Ryan - September 13 - 9:20 am

  Besides overpaying $2,000 on the car, I love the car. It definitely has LOTS of power. Torque steer is very evident when flooring it from a stand still. Crusing at 80mph on the freeway feels like your going 30. Leather seats are nice, but take awhile to warm up. Stereo is pretty nice. Suspension is really stiff, which makes freeway driving a little bumpy. Average about 17mpg in the city with a heavy foot so thats pretty good. The navigation system tells you your current fuel usage and mpg, distance to empty, distance to next maintance...etc. Overall a very fun car to drive! Just dont get ripped off at the dealer!

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  Fun to drive - 2009 Nissan 370Z
  By Dee - September 13 - 9:10 am

  Fun to drive, awesome acceleration, eye candy. Getting in and out takes getting used to. Be aware of blind spots and limited rear view visibility. Bucket seats somewhat uncomfortable, the raised sides excessively squeeze my legs, I am only 170lb so I can only imagine how uncomfortable that might feel for someone of a bigger posture. AC seems to be slow to kick in... Navigation hard to read on sunny days.