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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  My Rogue - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By Cecille - September 8 - 4:53 am

  I like everything about this car except for the gas mileage which is not unexpected considering the size of the car, and the gas tank which has no inside release. Anyone can just flip the cover open and uncap the tank cover and siphon my gas away. How did Nissan miss this part? I had to go buy a locking gas cap.

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  Average Vehicle - 2000 Nissan Quest
  By Davethentman - September 8 - 4:43 am

  Overall a pretty good vehicle - gets good mileage (I average about 20-22 mpg) for the kind of vehicle it is. Lots of little interior problems - entertainment center, front cup holder ratchet on both sides broke after only 1 1/2 years, door handle chrome paint is peeling on both sides. Have had to replace 1 fuel injector, and have had to constantly clean them (service engine soon light blinks for short periods and the idle goes very rough - mechanic says its the fuel injectors).

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  Love this car/plane - 2005 Nissan Quest
  By Homemom - September 8 - 12:06 am

  Like flying first class! It gets my family everywhere in comfort.

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  Great Car - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By MuranoGirl - September 7 - 10:30 pm

  My husband and I both love this car. Best purchase weve ever made. I highly recommend. Rides like a luxury car with the convenience of a SUV. Overall great car.

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  Excellent car - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By car enthusiest - September 7 - 3:43 am

  Its a good car with a good engine. Leg room in the back is very small, but overall comfort is good. The avalible features are superb. Safety is good. Maintenance is low due to a new design in transmission.

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  the one thing nissan for got - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By janie - September 7 - 2:26 am

  the big thing that i miss on my murano is a back up sensor i traded my jag for this car and it had a sensor after a while you just get use to having one and backing up at night it would sure help

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  Great Second Car - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By Adrian Pineda - September 7 - 2:10 am

  I bought this car last week. It is going to relieve me from driving my 2007 IS350 out of leased miles. It gives me amazing mpg (28+ mpg @70 mph). It is roomy and well-built. The engine has lots of power and a reasonable amount of torque. The quality of the leather is above average. Its nice to see that all the electric features still work @ 108,000 miles. It shows that prior owner took good care of it. I bought the SE trim so the ride is a little stiff thus noisy but not unlivable. The color is a pearl white and it has aged gracefully. The 02 Maxima is a great solution for people who need to commute but dont like to drive smaller cars and still get high 20s per gallon.

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  Good car Good value - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By imtheedge - September 7 - 2:00 am

  A very good car for the money. Only problem, could not find a manual SE anywhere!!

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  2000 GLE - 2000 Nissan Altima
  By RJ193 - September 7 - 2:00 am

  Great car for the money. Would buy a new one today! Low maintenance cost and reliable. However, only gets 25 MPG on the open road with the automatic. Good pick up and handling. Front brake squeal since day one.

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  we love our murano - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By cirisan - September 7 - 2:00 am

  We just baught the maurano. Its everything that we wanted. Lots of head and leg room. And so very comfortable. The style is very unique and not of the ordinary blend of vehicles that you see on the road today. We love different! Its a 50,000 dollar car for only in the 30,000 range. Excellent value for the buck. Go for it you will like it.