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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  Maxima #1 - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By kevmax - March 21 - 10:00 am

  The car rides great and when you need to pass there is no better engine than the Nissan V6. I debated between the Altima V6 and the Maxima, but Im very happy with my decision. The tighter suspension on the Maxima, bigger wheels, the controlled acceleration, along with the safety features, the cars slow depreciation and the cars overall history helped me make a better decision.

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  A great truck - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By Michael Akers - March 21 - 1:33 am

  I have owned my 2004 Titan for a year now and I still have the "new truck thrill". These trucks just plain get it on. I tow my 21 boat with ease, as well as go out for family rides on weekends. I have never regreted purching this truck. My truck is very popular with friends and co-workers and people still comment on my truck (good) even when other new trucks (domestic) appear in parking lot. The only "bug" is that the front brake rotors warped twice. I have full confidence that my dealer will permently fix the defect when the "vented" rotors arrive.I am pleased with the dealer I purchased at too. I did not get the pushed, or swindled in any way. Would buy same exact truck again!

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  So Far So Good - 2006 Nissan Xterra
  By PHISH - March 20 - 10:16 am

  We came within days of buying a Jeep Commander before I just happened to notice this Xterra on a dealers website. We Test drove it and bought it. The first block of the test drive I forgot about the Jeep and never looked back.My wife loves it because she feels safe and likes the look of the truck. I like the fact that it has an endless amount of speed when you need it and handles amazingly well on turns.Were really happy with it. Paid $12,500 for a 2006 with 25,000 miles miles on it. How could we pass that up? We traded in our Montero with all the bells and whistles for the plain jane Xterra. We couldnt be happier!!!!

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  Nice car - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By J M - March 20 - 6:03 am

  I have it for 1 week. I The back seat fits three adults comfortably. The turning radius is unbelievable. Although the seats are extra wide, they are too cushy. The driver seat is already indented and I have it for 1 week. Im looking for a rebuilder that will redo the seat for a few hundred dollars.

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  Great MPG - 2008 Nissan Quest
  By ed - March 20 - 2:13 am

  We needed larger transportation so we checked out Honda, Toyota and Nissan. The Nissan had what we needed and at the right price. We drove 300 miles to the shore the next week and got 29.6 mpg all highway with cruse control. Mixed driving is 21 mpg. Love the tinted glass on the base model. It carries everything you need to take the family on vacation. It is also great for getting on the highway, very good acceleration.

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  Still going strong after 8.5 years - 2002 Nissan Xterra
  By DesignerX - March 19 - 10:00 am

  Im very happy with the Xterra 138k miles and 8.5 years later. All Ive done is regular maintenance (including replacing the timing belt at 105k miles.) Occasionally during the last couple of years Ive had an itch for something new(er) or different but its hard to rationalize giving up the X when it performs without complaints, still looks good and feels just as tight as it did at 65k miles. I do need to get an upholstery shop to fix the headliner, but the seats dont show signs of wear after being a daily driver. This is a followup from my review on 05/18/2007 (same user name).

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  Impressive - 2010 Nissan Maxima
  By DT - March 19 - 10:00 am

  Just traded a 2007 Infiniti G35X for the Max (no Infiniti dealer near to get a 2010 G37), so initially I thought I was taking a slight step backwards. I missed the intelligent cruise control in the Infiniti line, but overall, I have been impressed with the car. Mileage is 26+ on the highway in hills, which is better than the G. Its a bit bigger car and has a larger trunk than the G (but it is still small). Have all the toys on it. Very satisfied.

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  Awesome car - 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By Clifee - March 18 - 10:03 am

  I thought I was going to buy a 2010 Prius. I was just waiting for the right one to become available when I happened upon the Altima Hybrid. What a stroke of luck! It is so much more car for less money, as it turned out. The Altima I got is fully loaded, and is a GREAT car. It drives beautifully, with power when you need it, and little road noise, lots of comfort and great handling. I marvel at the technology that has gone into this car. Truly remarkable. I highly recommend this car to anyone considering a hybrid. At least give it a test drive! The mileage is pretty good (35 mpg so far), and the tax incentives are great $2350 federal, and $1500 state (OR). Nissan is making great deals now.

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  Awesome Truck! - 2007 Nissan Titan
  By Vanessa - March 18 - 1:43 am

  This is the first full size truck I have owned. I set out to buy a Tacoma, but after driving the Titan, I could not turn back. I went from driving a 10 year old Honda Civic that I loved to the Titan. I have not been disappointed. Both of my brothers want one. I drove all of the full size trucks before making my decision on the Titan. The Tundra does seem to have more power, but not enough to make a difference. This truck just stood out from the rest. I drove it 7 times before the purchase. Just had to be sure with the gas mileage.

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  Best Car Yet! - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By redkenrep - March 17 - 6:16 pm

  I have owned many cars including a BMW 3 series, Audi A4, and Honda Accord. This car far out performs all others from Driving, styling, acceleration, and performance. It looks great too!