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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  Best under $30 sports sedan - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By BAW - August 23 - 10:00 am

  Lets face it - there is no other sports sedan of this caliber under $30K. Nissan tried it with the Altima and that thing is sooo cheap its scary. The only real downside is that it has more power than the handling permits - you need to toss the tires right away as a start.

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  So far, so good. Wanted something SMALL - 2012 Nissan Juke
  By juraszek - August 22 - 11:52 am

  Have had this car for about two months now. I purchased this auto because it is very easy to steer and also has the AWD feature. It is very easy to maneuver & park. The turbo really provides bursts of energy, especially when using the "Sport" mode. I am getting around 29 to 31 MPG in town. Havent yet taken it on a long drive, but figure I will get more MPG using the "economy" mode. I love the looks, the handling, & the weight of it. I was looking to replace a 2000 VW Beetle. Interior could be nicer, but it does have heated seats. They need to add an "auto down" button for passenger seat and add electric adjustable drivers seat. I wanted something quick and nimble & easy to drive.

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  Nice Car, Interior needs upgrade - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Scott - August 22 - 12:36 am

  I have 16k on my vehicle. Zero problems mechanically or other. This is definitely an excellent car especially on the 24 month lease special Nissan was running. I tend to get tired of cars quickly and that was a nice change of pace. My only real complaint after 16k is that the interior is just plain boring and a few pieces of the interior pop out (fairly easy to pop them back in). The exterior has excitement, the interior is a bit drab. All in all, an excellent competitor overall. I would say this is a good bet for buying used as well. Compare pricing on both new and used though, because the used models seem to be hovering close to what you can buy new for. Hope this helps!

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  1st month review - 09 Altima Hybrid (NAH - 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By Golf4 - August 20 - 1:43 am

  Bought new 09 NAH. Plan is to keep the car for roughly 8 years so chose the best value considering cost over that time frame (gas, maintenance, tax credit, rebates/incentives, invoice). Toyota Camry-H (TCH) and NAH were top contenders. $2350 tax credit pushed NAH ahead and Nissan was aggressive in rebates - chose NAH (fully loaded). Engine shifts to gas very quickly during acceleration. The car doesnt go to hybrid mode quickly when the engine is cold even on a hot sunny day after work. Adjusting my driving (longer brakes, slow acceleration, maintain cruising longer - I get about 33-38mpg. aggressive driving 24-28, normal driving 28-30mpg in city (25mph-55mph roads), freeway about 35mpg

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  Great Car, BUT... - 2009 Nissan Maxima
  By nmorrisasu - August 19 - 2:13 pm

  IÂ’ve owned many Maximas and all were good cars (94, 97, 98, 2002). But this one is the best Maxima yet! However, with all that there is a down side with this car. As was the case with my old 2002 MAX, this one seems not to have a good sense of direction. The steering doesnÂ’t stay straight and tends to wonder around left-right based on the road crown and irregularities. There was also a strong pull to the right that was partially fixed by the dealer swapping the wheels from left to right sides. If I knew that the 09 would have a similar steering issues as my old 2002, I would have gone for a different car. Other than that, I have no complaint so far (5K miles).

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  Nissan Driver - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By Tulsan - August 19 - 8:03 am

  I love Nissans. Maxima was my first NEW car. Loved it! Fell in love with the style of the Armada when it first came out. My biggest fear was that it was manufactured in Canton, MS. I wasnt sure it was going to be dependable. But this SUV is great for large families. I have 3 kids and all 3 car seats fit in the 2nd row with room left over. Nobody smashes fingers trying to get their seat belts hooked.

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  Good Truck/Bad Company - 2008 Nissan Titan
  By John - August 16 - 5:00 am

  Did my homework. I love my Titan with a couple of exceptions. Soon after purchase, it felt like there was a role of quarters in the left side of my seat cushion. To their credit, dealer replaced seat. However, seat is still uncomfortable (should have got the leather I suppose). Also, the truck has no outside temp gauge - I cant believe it. Dealer is no help and emails and calls to Nissan net no response at all. As a result, I will never buy another Nissan product. Other than that, I really do like everything else about this truck. But alas, I hear Nissan is giving up after their first try. I wonder where the Tundra would be if Toyota gave up after just one shot at it?

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  Commuter that fails to be boring... - 1995 Nissan Maxima
  By Vlad - August 15 - 4:03 pm

  After 2 years of ownership, this cars design still looks fresh and not aged. Especially lively this car is with 5 speed transmission, which I was lucky to locate. Just downshift and its famously smooth and juicy VQ30DE V6 engine (rated best V6 for past 10 years) still performs on par with modern V6s. With 136K miles presently, maintenance covers way more parts, like tensioners, sensors, power coils. Yet I never had big issues except broken throw-out bearing that left me stranded 60 miles away from home and a failed injector. However, for its miles this car still holds very solid and I am sure I will easily pass 200K mark still on original transmission and with some minor repairs!

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  Lien holdet - 2009 Nissan Altima
  By Fredrick Cole - August 14 - 3:11 am

  Good running car

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  Excellent car!! - 2000 Nissan Xterra
  By rita1971 - August 14 - 2:19 am

  I purchased this car ten years ago, it now has 354,000 miles on it. Have only replaced transmission once, never had engine problems and now just needs a power steering line. Its very reliable and great for your money. I highly recommend this vehicle for anyone that uses highway miles a lot and desires to put lots of mileage on a car. I have been driving mines forever and I love the car....Its has exceeded its expectations at 354,000 miles...Unbelievable!!! Im passing it down to my son now.