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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  Just Another Vehicle - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By BH - August 12 - 4:23 am

  I have about 2700 miles on my Armada. The gas mileage (about 11.5 in town; about 14 on the hwy.) and the squeakes, especially from the drivers window, has made this vehicle a bad experience. I took it to my dealer for the window and was told they couldnt fix it and hoped that Nissan would come out with a bulletin on how to fix it. However, I do enjoy the room and comfort of the vehicle.

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  Overall Good - 2007 Nissan Xterra
  By Richard - August 11 - 4:23 pm

  Lots of HP for the gross weight giving the vehicle a lot of pull. Has a good design interior with hooks and tie downs making it very versatile. Love the fold down front passenger seat, the second row has lots of leg room and head room (I am 62"). Very easy to remove the spare, has lots of room between the driver and passenger. Quality built molding, plastics and seat cloth will last. VDC allows it to perform and handle like it has a much lower center of gravity through twists and turns.

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  windshield wiper malfunction! - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By concerned owner - August 11 - 7:30 am

  I have a 08 Nissan altima coupe - V6. My windshield wipers are giving me major problems. They will work and then all of a sudden will stop working. This is a safety concern since they will randomly stop working for about 3-4 minutes and then turn on again. It happened again just this past saturday when it was raining out and I was on the highway. They stopped working a total of 3 times in just a 40 minute drive. I could not see a thing and had to pull over. This has been an ongoing issue pretty much since I purchased the vehicle but been even more problematic these past months.

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  V8 Power! - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By Joe - August 10 - 5:56 am

  When considering this vehicle, the V8 32 valve engine is what convinced me - not to mention the utility of it. Ive put 62,000 miles on it. Love the torque power but have dealt with too much inconsistent quality issues that im considering trading it in. Some of the failures of it were poor brakes (9,000 miles started to shimmy. Dealer repaired it. Not to mention I learned how to repair my brakes afterwards), electrical wiring to a/c blower failed. Door locks froze badly, dealer recall. Differential oil would leak on inner wheel, something not all dealers willing to repair esp. if warranty is up. Gas mpg not accurate to sticker. Ave 12-14. And thats with babying it.

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  2007 Nissan Altima: A+ - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By Nissan Altima 3.5 SE - August 9 - 7:40 pm

  This car is definitely a challenge to all eurosport-type sedans. It definitely belongs to a bavarian autobahn, not NJ turnpike.

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  Gets the job done - 1998 Nissan Frontier
  By ks5guy - August 8 - 8:33 pm

  Purchased new in 98. Engine could make more power. Had a 93 240SX with the same base engine (different intake, computer, etc) and it made much more power. Air Conditionong compressor clutch seems to be on its way into the sunset. Plain styling. Interior is reasonably nice for a $14K truck. With a tonneau on the bed, get 29 MPG on the interstate at 75 mph. Like the 240, this truck does make good power once the engine is running in the top half of the tach.

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  Good Used Truck - 2000 Nissan Frontier
  By Trunks - August 6 - 10:00 am

  Nice reliable truck for my teenager.

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  Wonderful driving experience - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By gnewell - August 6 - 10:00 am

  I test drove the car and I was instantly in love. I traded in my 2000 Honda Accord EX in favor of the 2004 maxima. Be careful, if you test drive the new maxima you may end up leaving with one.

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  Positive feedback - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By Dave - August 6 - 12:56 am

  I purchased my Maxima in 2002 as it was the last year before they changed the style. It has been very easy to drive and I have really enjoyed it. Plus it is several thousand dollars less than its cousin the Infiniti!!

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  Caught off Guard - 2005 Nissan Armada
  By dogteam - August 2 - 4:26 pm

  I was caught off guard that this truck has worked so well. I read a lot of bad reviews and was cautious about this truck. I get compliments on its looks all the time and I can haul my kids and all their stuff with no problem. The power is great and it is geared nice, this big dude can really get on the freeway in a hurry. The backup camera is great and my sons love the DVD. I even watch it while when I have to wait in the truck. The dealership has been good to me also. I ran into the brake shaking problem and they solved it in a few hours at no cost. Other than that, the truck is tough and has run great.