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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  Can be fun to drive but no more for me - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By david Hovland - April 27 - 3:46 pm

  Altho there are several good things about this car there are several annoying items.First, when driving this car on a bright sunny day when you look from the road to the speedometer all you see is a black circle. Even with headlights on at dusk there is no illumination. Second it takes a strong guy to raise the hood. No help from lifters, muscle & drop a rod into a hole to hold it up.And it came with a battery that is not maintenance free. buy some distilled h2o. And the air/heater system is horrible. Cant get cool air thru vents as air is heated by engine before entering car. Therefore a/c compressor on most of time. Sorry I ever bought this beast. Hope I saved someone else from my mistake.

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  Very Happy Titan Owner - 2007 Nissan Titan
  By Harold - April 25 - 12:00 am

  I purchased my Titan with the tow package to tow a travel trailer and serve as my main vehicle. The gas mileage around town could be better but it is still fun to drive. I am half way through my second cross country tour towing a 17 travel trailer. Mileage towing 14-15.5 MPG. In the Rocky Mountains I pass RVs and trucks all the time. Not one problem to date.

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  Happy 2005 Pathfinder Owner - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By 2005 Pathfinder - April 24 - 11:26 am

  Love the ride! Smooth, very similiar to a standard ride vs. a truck ride. Although, the traction can be a bit rough over uneven roadways. The 3rd row/7 pass. feature is awesome, the 3rd row is a bit tight for adults. Plenty of room in the second row. Overall, interior is pretty roomy. The 2nd bench/middle seat is nice and roomy with two car seats on either sides.

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  04 Quest SE Pleasure to Drive - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Robert Simon - April 24 - 10:33 am

  We bought this vehicle used with only 25k miles. We have had no major problems mechanically other than a hairline crack in catalytic converter weld unknown cause. Caused Nissan a headache but got us new sensors, fuel injectors, new computer and assorted other fuel savings goodies. We love the entertainment features, navigation system (other than expensive to update it) but other than the Low Tire Pressure Sensor going off when the temp changes more than 10 degrees but its not a big deal once you turn the alarm off and you dont have a real flat. We have driven it from east coast to texas to nevada and back to texas and it drove great and smooth. Nice body style and roomy inside.

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  Very average SUV - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By jcohen1994 - April 24 - 2:00 am

  Xterra is not too big, but carries everything I need. The 4WD goes through anything. Biggest drawback: gas mileage. EPA projected 17/20 for the 5 speed Xterra is a joke. I get 13 around town and 16 on the hwy. If gas mileage is important, pass on this truck. If it doesnt matter, go ahead and buy it. Other negatives: Heater/AC system doesnt work well, the 4WD gets stuck (requiring one to go into reverse to unlock the hubs), and there are no drip rails to keep rain and snow from falling on the seats when you open a door.

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  Beats the Family Truckster - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By lsadams - April 24 - 2:00 am

  A very enjoyable car to pamper and then drive like I was a kid. Tight ride, sneaky fast, but not a Vette off the line. Wish I lived where I could drive it all year round. After all the work and family cars, this is a real kick to drive without cleaning out the bank.

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  A to Z - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By Scooter-ZRD - April 24 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned a lot of cars over the years and my 350Z Roadster is without a doubt the most fun car Ive ever owned and drove! Great acceleration, cornering, and looks to boot! Who could ask for anything more? One area that I would like to see Nissan improve upon is the interior material. More use of leather would be nice.

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  Poor fit and finish. - 2006 Nissan Pathfinder
  By mike575 - April 24 - 12:20 am

  Loved my 2003 Pathfinder, should have bought that off lease instead of re- leasing the new 2006 version. But, with kids, needed the 3rd row. The truck rides nice, but has had fit and finish problems since the day we got it. Tire mounted inproperly, driver door mechanism had to be replaced, brake rotors had to be refinished. All that in the 1st 2 weeks of ownership. Now, the fuel door stays open or locks closed, with no relase lever. And now, the steering feels like it has a small amount of play in it, like you fell in a car that has 80,000 miles, not 3,600! I wrote letters, the dealership is accomidating, but Nissan corporate could care less. Last Nissan I will ever purchase.

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  Better than I expected - 2001 Nissan Frontier
  By James McE - April 23 - 11:30 pm

  This truck has proven itself to be more than I could have expected. Since I put 30k or more miles per year on a vehicle, I didnt expect to keep this truck for more than two years... I have now owned my truck for almost 4 years and it runs just as strong as it did when I bought it. The only negetive points I can think of is the wiring for the license plate lights in the rear and the front headlights. the interior dome light is somewhat dim as well, and the seats have a bit to be desired in the lumbar area, not very forgiving on your lower back on long hauls. Otherwise, this truck has my complete satisfaction, too bad they changed the body style after only 4 years...

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  Almost like my beloved 92 Camry - 2009 Nissan Altima
  By Jim Wainscott - April 23 - 8:42 pm

  Strengths: It is mechanically reliable and when I took the plastic cover off the engine this year to get a better look at it I was surprised at how clean it was. The rubber hoses are holding up well. Good passing acceleration Good overall craftsmanship and sturdiness in the engine compartment, interior, body Paint is durable Stiff suspension on good roads makes for excellent handling. Nice small turning radius for a mid-sized car making it easier to park and maneuver in general Weaknesses: Suspension too stiff in dry weather when road conditions are bumpy, better in rainy weather. Overly sensitive to small changes in tire pressure due to a defective TPMS that had a slow leak for three years since purchase until finally it was properly diagnosed when putting on new tires. Accelerates too suddenly from zero unless you gingerly apply just a little pressure to the gas pedal. Takes some getting used to. Brakes too grabby. You have to ease in on the brake pedal. Takes some getting used to. Audio System has way too much base even at minimum setting of -5. Had to replace original unit one year from purchase because of no display. Audio quality on factory replacement unit is worse on mid-range and base. Had to replace headlights after 4 years for fogging up (improper seal). Though the headlights have good spread for detecting deer the depth of field is weak on distance. Slant of windshield makes for compromised visibility for those wearing glasses because of optic interaction distortion between windshield and prescription glasses. Note - older cars with less slant to windshields have much better visibility. Poor rear view vision out rear windows requires extensive use of side mirrors. Large truck and van drivers probably wont notice but the average car driver will. MPG is less than advertised though that can be attributed to poor road conditions in Wake County NC and poorly timed traffic lights, and lately, drivers distracted by their cell phones. Original tires made for poor handling. After they wore out I bought the Michelin Defender which improved drive-ability drastically, like night verses day.