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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  Dependable, but not exceptional - 2010 Nissan Pathfinder
  By bconeseven - April 12 - 4:28 am

  I purchased this vehicle new in April of 2010 as a replacement for my 2005 Chevy Trailblazer which was becoming undependable mechanically. It was important to me to get a nice “cockpit fit” with comfort and electronics, and a dependable vehicle. My first observation is that I had to buy a much more pricey vehicle than what I really wanted in order to get just a few options that I found important. That would not be all that bad, if those features worked as promised. The day I drove the vehicle off the lot, it had two deficiencies: The Bluetooth connection for the phone did not sound good and the windshield was improperly installed, causing an awful noise in the wind and at high speeds. After much effort and loss of use (mostly the fault of Faulkner Nissan in Harrisburg, PA and not Nissan itself other than allowing the actual defect to leave the factory), the noise is fixed. The Bluetooth issue appears to be a result of poor design and is not fixable. I’ve owned several vehicles with a built in cell connection of some type and I frequently rent vehicles for work travel so I have a lot of vehicles to compare this one to. The extremes: Talking on my phone in the Trailblazer was like being in a sound booth; simply perfect, connected via OnStar with a Verizon account—I even got better reception than I did with the cell phone itself. The Pathfinder is the absolute worst I have ever experienced. It is almost bearable if the vehicle is not in motion, but it is impossible to carry on a normal phone conversation when at speed. So, if you are looking for only intermittent emergency use of the Bluetooth/cell feature, this might get the job done for you. If you are looking to return calls and conduct business while on the move, I suggest you look elsewhere. I should also note that the Bluetooth in this vehicle is only for the phone. If you want to play music from your iPhone, you’ll need to use an RCA cable (coupled with the fact that you need to charge your phone then from one of the 12V power outlets, you’ll have at least two wires running around your vehicle. Beyond these issues (which are obviously important to me), the vehicle is average. 18.4 MPG, almost no matter what I am doing. It is a good dog transported as I leave the 3rd row set down all the time so the space in back is bigger. My pooch likes the rear A/C. The 2nd row of seating looks big to me and I imagine it is fine for kids, but my workmates tell me there is no leg room when we go to lunch. I get it serviced on time and there have been no significant mechanical issues beyond those I have already mentioned. You could do worse. Just don’t buy from Falkner Nissan in Harrisburg, PA.

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  Objective opinion of 2012 Versa Sedan 1.6S MT - 2012 Nissan Versa
  By versatileauto - April 11 - 9:53 pm

  In my opinion, there is a great deal of misinformation out there on the 2012 Nissan Versa Sedan, and little to no information on the base model 1.6S MT with 5 speed manual transmission. In an effort to inform others, I submit the following. Due to the absence of inventory of the base model, I had to order the car. It took approximately 2 months to arrive, so I advise those looking for the stripped down version of the car to simply go to the dealership and order the car (assuming you have the luxury to wait). Dealers are reluctant to stock the manual transmission model. I give the Versa my highest praise for value & quality on a budget. This is a fine automobile at a very fine price.

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  Good Car with a value for money - 2016 Nissan Altima
  By Eldin - April 10 - 9:32 pm

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  Solid Two Person Tripper - 2013 Nissan Juke
  By Charlie - April 10 - 9:44 am

  It has sporty aspirations despite its ~180 turbo 4 banger and CVT. Comfortable for two people to take a road trip with their luggage, the back seats don’t fit anyone taller than 6’. Good value and reliability for the price. If I did it all over again I would still buy the car, but there are better choices if you can spare an extra $5-$10 grand.

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  SUV satisfaction - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By jmkf - April 10 - 2:00 am

  We got the full 4-square treatment, but still paid close to Edmunds TMV at the time (around 30k). We have had very few problems and mechanically have had to just do the usual oil changes and regular service. My wife is the main driver of this vehicle and she was dead set on getting an SUV. We looked around at a number of them - Jimmy (unsupportive seats and mushy handling), Tahoe (too big), Passport (buzzy interior), Cherokee (this one was used and too old) - and found what we wanted in the Pathfinder.

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  Ultima 2002/2003 - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By ayh822 - April 10 - 2:00 am

  I am a first time Nissan owner. I have always purchased Hondas in the past. I have enjoyed the drive on the new Ultima. Its handling is great, I like that it has more power considering its a 4 cylinder vehicle. I bought it for its sleek new lines and of course the color. Its definitely a fun drive on the open road.

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  Reliable ride for 3 years - 2000 Nissan Pathfinder
  By lajla - April 9 - 11:47 pm

  Bought this Nissan with 99.000 km (Canada), sold it 3 years later with 143.000 km. No issues whatsoever, absolutely reliable, rattle free, firm ride, no squeaks. Started every time in any temperature without any hesitation. Only dislike I had was underpowered engine and Pathfinders feature of not locking the torque converter until the engine is hot. When you get on the hwy with cold engine, it seems like the 4th gear wont shift in. I actually thought first that its a bad tranny :-) Other than that, awesome vehicle. Oh - gas milage is poor - got 15 mpg in city, maybe 16 on hwy, light foot. My 04 4Runner has better milage and more power, but not as smooth ride like Pathfinder

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  Bad Front End Struts - 2016 Nissan Rogue
  By Erin Tull - April 9 - 8:13 am

  I had a Nissan Altima before getting the Rouge and I generally really liked that car but also had the problems with my 2005 front end struts making squeaking noises, but thought it was just a rare issue. At about 500 miles, my 2016 Rogue started making a popping noise in the front wheels area when I turn the steering wheel. Nissan states it is a manufacturing defect in the struts and they a working on a solution. I already had the one of the front struts replaced and it is now much worse than the original one. Right now I am looking at an average of a new front strut every 1k miles. I was told they know it is annoying but it is not a safety issue. That tells me they are not overly concerned with finding a solution. The paint scars and scratches easily as the paint on the wheels starting coming off within the first month. I am glad that I leased the vehicle instead of buying the Nissan so that I will only have it a few years. Im sure if I tried to sale this Rogue, no one would even drive it out of my driveway the way it is popping.

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  Beautiful but engine blown after 68miles - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Allen King - April 9 - 3:06 am

  My silver 3.5SE coupe was a sight to be seen. The interior styling is sleek and modern. The Bose stereo sounds crisp and clear, and is paired to a crisp NAV display. The car drove smooth yet powerful and handled very well. Unfortunately after 20 hours of ownership and 68 miles driven, the engine "blew" (Nissan service centers words). Nissan refuses to replace the car, their final decision is to only replace the engine.

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  Near-Infiniti Quality! - 2009 Nissan Maxima
  By Daniel J. - April 9 - 1:56 am

  As an owner of a 1998 Nissan Maxima, I eagerly awaited the release of the re-designed 2009 Maxima. I purchased the SV with Premium & Technology packages. The car handles very well and rides comfortably in spite of the 18" tires. The interior is inviting but has a mix of quality and inferior looking items. The plastic wood trim is somewhat of an eyesore and seems to detract from the numerous plush features. However, all of the other interior details make up for this shortcoming. The engine is very responsive and the CVT is seamless. You cant even feel the car shift!