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 Crossover SUV by Nissan, A+ - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By equipmentman - September 7 - 2:00 am

  I traded in my 2002 Nissan Pathfinder LE which was a great ride and my new 2003 Z Car for this new Murano. It offers me a single vehicle that has great looks and design coupled with fun to drive performance and comfort in an AWD vehicle. All this plus a vehicle that gets outstanding fuel economy and great room for passengers and the luggage. Nissan and Infiniti are doing a great job coming out with innovative performance products that are exciting to drive.

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  Fun under the Sun - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By The Fontes - September 7 - 2:00 am

  So far, We have driven it for 3 weeks and we love it. It handles like a real car; yet it is powerfull and fuel efficient. The stereo system is great, and the most stripped model comes with cd and sattellite ready stereo.

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  MURANO- AWESOME and THEN SOME - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By bipkas - September 7 - 2:00 am

  GREAT EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR DESIGN. Excellent ride, handling, power, comfort, and fuel economy.

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  A concept car you can own now !!! - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By Printerman - September 7 - 2:00 am

  I traded in a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee . The Jeep was a fine car. The Murano is poetry in motion. It handles well the transmission is super and has excellent passing power. I went from 5.5 to 20.6 MPG on my first long trip. The seating is supportive and very comfortable for my 6 4" body. The car is a change from every other car out there. You have to test drive the car to see how well it is put together. My hats off to Nissan.

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  Stay away - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By fish4life - September 6 - 9:56 pm

  Multiple problems - Brakes problem replaced and then returned - Nissan would not replace again. Transmission Leaks, Oil Cooler leaks, Window switches and motors. Oil pressure is all over the place but Nissan and dealer say it is normal. Of course out of warranty and no help from dealer or Nissan. Now the tire pressure sensors are bad. No more Nissans for me, ever.

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  Expensive Repairs - 2001 Nissan Maxima
  By Richard B - September 6 - 6:46 pm

  Very expensive to repair. Complete brakes over $1000, Alternator $1000, Check engine light, coil, o2 & Knock sensors $1000 and counting. Clock to small and located in the wrong place, Small trunk, seats tear easily. Cant get sticker with check engine light always on.

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  Overall I like it, but have had issues - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Had a few problems - September 6 - 5:16 pm

  I bought this car used with about 36K miles on it. I previously had a 2002 Maxima GLE which I like but wanted the newer body style. I noticed fairly shortly after I purchased this one that the car shifted hard between 1st/2nd and 2nd/3rd gears and much harder during downshifting (automatic trans). I also thought that my older Maxima was better made. This one just looks cheaper inside.

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  Good News; Bad News - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By Beatnoe - September 6 - 5:06 pm

  First the good news: 1. The CVT transmission is fantastic. 2. Abundant interior room. 3. Good sound system. 4. Superb comfort. Now the bad news: 1. There is a serious blind spot caused by the design and slope of the roofline. One must use extreme caution backing out of parking spaces and/or swithching lanes. 2. I have not been able to achieve better than 25 mpg around town or 31 mpg on the highway. This is a major disappointment. 3. At 1,100 miles the low tire warning light malfunctioned and will not go off. I have waited over a month for a replacement module. Will other parts be difficult for my dealer to obtain? Bottom line: My next car will be a Toyota.

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  03 Xterra - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By Brian - September 6 - 2:10 pm

  My Xterra has been a great looking, fun to drive, & reliable SUV. Its the perfect mix of weekend off-road capability and mid week commuting comfort & reliability.

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  The beautifully fickle beast - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Matt - September 6 - 5:30 am

  I bought the car brand new in 4/04 as an 05 model after reading reviews about how much fun it was to drive. They had just refreshed the interior and exterior and added 10 more hp for the v6. Over the 2.5 years I owned it, I had 3 sets of struts replaced, 2 radiators, 1 alternator, and always had the dealership chasing rattles and squeaks. When it wasnt in the shop I loved it, always got compliments and it was a blast to drive. In 09/06 I rolled it on the highway dodging some debris in the road. It slammed into an embankment and rolled twice. The passenger compartment held up very well and my friend and I walked away, but the car was totalled. If nothing else the car is safe.