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 family hauler - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By whidby - August 28 - 10:00 am

  This is my 2nd Maxima and they keep getting better. Plenty of room for occupants and a joy to drive on the highways.

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  Better than the 2.5s - 2012 Nissan Altima
  By nismo1234 - August 27 - 12:10 pm

  Not saying a whole lot but This car is not fuel efficient and expensive to drive around town. It cost 19 Gallons to fill up and you can spend a quarter tank just driving to wallmart and back! Not sure about the math but i fill up twice a week 40 Gallons a week.

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  Best All around SUV. - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By DJMacro - August 27 - 5:36 am

  Great in the snow and in the mountains. The gas mileage isnt the best but its a great car for any outdoor enthusiest and its still a great daily driver. It can handle any terrain you put in front of it and you can still get leather, a great stereo and comfortable ride even for long trips.

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  Best All around SUV. - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By DJMacro - August 27 - 5:36 am

  Great in the snow and in the mountains. The gas mileage isnt the best but its a great car for any outdoor enthusiast and its still a great daily driver. It can handle any terrain you put in front of it and you can still get leather, a great stereo and comfortable ride even for long trips.

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  Nissan Titan 2004 - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By KenB12345 - August 27 - 4:53 am

  Plenty of smooth power. Poor stereo reception (dealer replaced entire stereo to fix), otherwise excellent vehicle.

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  Luxury Features - Fits in MY Garage - 1999 Nissan Quest
  By Steve Conslaw - August 26 - 5:16 pm

  I bought my 99 Quest GLE used in 2002. It was significantly cheaper than comparable used Hondas, Toyotas & Dodges. On the other hand, it had more luxury features. More to the point, it fits in MY Garage. Its about 6 inches shorter than current Odysseys & Siennas & Grand Caravans. That means I can squeeze it in the garage behind the lawnmower and bicycles. It still has three usable rows of seats. Great on vacations. The 1999 model had a TV/VCR standard - the kids love it. Surprisingly, the TV reception isnt bad. I had a 1998 Mercury Villager. The 1999 model is much better with side doors on both sides,6 extra inches of room, and the 15 horsepower boost makes performance just fine.

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  2013 Nissan Cube SL - 2013 Nissan Cube
  By RuS - August 25 - 3:51 pm

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  Big Man Happy With Small Car - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By Victor68 - August 25 - 10:00 am

  With gas prices so high,I wanted something smaller but still comfortable for a larger man. Found it in the Sentra.Plenty of room in the front,better gas milege than my bigger car,all this makes a big man happy

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  A great car for a mid range import - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Rich Thorn - August 23 - 5:00 pm

  I have had this car now for about 18 months and I still love it, the fascination of having a new car has not yet worn off after 2 months of owning it like it did when I bought my a new VW Jetta in the year 2000. I have had only one slight problem with the car which Nissan took care of with no problem. The from rotors warped, probably enhanced by my hard driving here in the City of Boston. Also have received a recall notice on the strut housings.

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  2017 Rogue - 2017 Nissan Rogue
  By benito zambrana - August 23 - 12:16 pm

  Initially I was looking for an affordable SUV, a Mitsubishi Outlander 2016 it seem like a good deal and had great safety features. Looked around and happened to visit the Nissan dealer just to see what was available. Looked at a 2016 Rogue, seemed nicer than the Mitsubishi but the 2017 Rogue is much nicer plus is a 2017 after. The interior of the 2017 has a more sportier feel to it even the steering wheel is different plus the color of the vehicle is unique. Finally decided that that the 2017 rogue was the one for me. With the features the vehicles has such as eco mode sport mode is teaches the driver how to drive plus the other safety features it has and luxury features like Bluetooth,Xm Radio TPMS for the tires among other. I feel it is a great investment in my part, there is no need to worry about breaking down on the side of the road any time. Just turn the key and drive.