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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  Family Hot Rod - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By glenn - April 2 - 12:06 pm

  This car is not your boring family car.Plenty of room for everyone and fun to drive. The power is unbelievable. Get compliments on the looks all the time. We have had it for a year and no mechanical problems. No steering or suspension problems as in other reviews.The eagle rsa are cracking on the sidewall with 34,000 mi.Only downsides are torque steer and turning radius.

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  05 Murano - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Kenneth Mueller - April 2 - 11:40 am

  I bought the Murano for my wife for Christmas of 04. The Murano has been perfect for her and our grandson. The ease of use and the way the back doors open wide makes it so nice.

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  Best Car in its Category - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Krishna Singh - April 2 - 12:06 am

  CVT, leather seats, Bose system, keyless start. What else can you ask for at this price point. Fun to drive, very good pickup, excellent looks, nice fuel economy (23 city, 29 highway).

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  My second time around - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By Paul - April 1 - 6:00 am

  This is my 2nd Nissan Altima 3.5 SE. I traded an 05 for an 07. The 05 had more punch off the line at low speeds. Too much torque steer which would keep you very alert while confidently pulling out into a crowded intersection. Having praised the apparent power of the 2005 3.5 SE I am thoroughly impressed with my redesigned 07 Altima 3.5 SE. It does seem a bit slower off the line due to the CVT, But the power is still there with a bit more force applied to the go pedal. Gone is the torque steer. The quality of interior materials is vastly improved. Turning diameter much is much tighter. Can now see the radio display in bright sunlight. I am thrilled with this new Altima. Well Done !

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  Hate minivans---love this one - 2002 Nissan Quest
  By Brand New Daddy - April 1 - 2:00 am

  I have owned Toyotas for the last 6 years. My wife bought a Nissan Maxima a few years back and I realized that Nissan makes a better car for the money. So, when we had our son, we decided we needed more room. We broke down and looked at minivans. Hated everyone I tested, but we got a GREAT deal on the Nissan Quest. Since then, I have really grown to love the car. I have no idea what the editors are thinking--this car blows the Honda and Toyota away. However, I do think the minivan needs restyling (been pretty much the same overall style since mid 90s)...

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  First time Nissan buyer - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By sagid - April 1 - 2:00 am

  The Altima handles nicely and has all the extras I wanted at a price well below what I was going to pay for a Camry. The exterior design makes it look like a much more expensive car.

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  Love this car - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By Mike - March 31 - 6:40 pm

  Love driving this car. Dollar for dollar a much better buy than the CRV or the Rav-4. Handles better, and offers features normally reserved for a higher priced car (XM, Bluetooth). Have a small rattle I cant find but everything else is perfect. Getting about 24-25 mpg.

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  Cant believe I almost DIDNT buy this SUV - 2014 Nissan Pathfinder
  By madagogo - March 31 - 3:41 am

  I have owned my Pathfinder Hybrid SL for over 2 months now, and the more I drive it, the more I love it. It is way more vehicle than I needed (thats why I almost walked away from getting it) but the dealer made me one of those offers that one would be stupid not to take...so I took it! Although the PF got only slightly better gas mileage than my old RAV4 in the beginning, I have discovered that I can get pretty awesome mileage around town by coasting as much as possible, not putting the pedal to the metal so much, and turning OFF the climate control whenever possible!! The first nice-weather day we had here in NY this spring, I had the windows open and got 29.7 mpg!

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  Sold on this baby! - 2006 Nissan Titan
  By NurseBuck - March 30 - 3:53 am

  I have always driven a new Chevy 1500 series 4x4 Z71 for the last 14 years. My mother is a GM retiree, so trading truck every year was a breeze...until the last 2 years. I decided to look at the Titan, since I had nothing to loose except money on another Chevy. I was very impressed with the look and feel of the Titan. It sounds very commanding and will throw you back in your seat when you give it the gas. Its one of the most comfortable cabins I have every ridden or driven in. The shorter front end makes cornering and tight curves very nice. If you drive this truck, you will want one for sure. Yes, the MPG is less but its a real truck..not a car.

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  Highly Recommended - 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By Jeff - March 29 - 3:30 pm

  This car is fantastic, much better looking than the Prius although not as good of gas mileage. We have always owned Nissans and always will. I just wish they would sell them in Oregon so we didnt have to go out of state to buy one.