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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  2000 Max - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By Daddio - July 27 - 2:00 am

  Great car! It may not be for everyone, however. I enjoy a vehicle that handles and performs when pushed a little harder than usual. This Maxima does exactly that! It may not be for everyone because the elements that make it a "drivers car" (upgraded suspension components) make fo a firm ride. Personally, Ill sacrifice ride quality for performance any day. Not that this car is uncomfortable. Im 6 feet tall and, unlike many Japanese- badged cars, the seats are supportive for short or long trips. On the other hand, if you prefer the ride/handling of a Grand Marquis, this may not be the car for you.

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  Love this car - 2000 Nissan Sentra
  By Alyson - July 27 - 2:00 am

  This was my first new car. The choices were either the Sentra or a Civic. The new body style in 2000 is fantastic, great innovation with the engine and interior. My car has been great, very reliable with no problems. Regular maintanance only is required, excellent gas mileage. The only problem is I didnt buy one with a sunroof! I would highly recommend this spacious for a compact, affordable, reliable car with a smooth ride.

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  Love It! - 1999 Nissan Maxima
  By neal - July 27 - 2:00 am

  This is my third Maxima and they only seem to get better every time. I cant wait to see what the next body-style has to offer.

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  nice car - 1999 Nissan Altima
  By jimff - July 27 - 2:00 am

  This was a nice dependable car. The cost was minimal, and the ride was great. No problems whatsoever.

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  Fun car, but could use some work!! - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By Kip - July 27 - 2:00 am

  Over all this car is a good bargin for the bang, nice looking, nice interior, and decent performance. Although they could improve on a few things,second and third gears are a bit crunchy, and my biggest complaint is the traction, i mean, I went from owning a 2002 Ford Mustang Gt, and it had better traction than this car, this cars tires just spin with little gas, and im not trying to fry these tires, thats why i steped down a to a cheaper car, to save money. anyway, what im saying is, if you want a car with good traction in rain or snow, this is not your car, its really bad in the snow, really really bad.

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  New NIssan Altima 2003 - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By PacificDolphin - July 27 - 2:00 am

  just purchased the vehicle. give it style and performance points, but build quality sucks. after driving 50 miles Service Engine Light lights on, replaced fuel sensor/pump unit after taking off back seat/fuel tank cover?? some creaking noise already, probably some interior panel?? Lets see if I bought a lemon here.

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  good buy - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By raza - July 27 - 2:00 am

  well all my friends have commented on all the interior space that it has. The sound system is good. good accelaration despite the size of the car. love the std. features. overall a good deal.

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  Loved it-buying a new one - 1997 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Michael from AR - July 26 - 7:06 pm

  I loved my Pathfinder and when I sold it a few months ago it was still going strong with over 168,000 miles on it. It went through ditches and it handled great in snow/ice covered roads last winter even though it was only a two wheel drive. It even pulled a 1 ton Dodge truck. Im going to buy a new one here in a few weeks. I would recommend the Pathfinder. It was a great truck!

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  Great little car - 2005 Nissan Sentra
  By Kristin - July 26 - 11:00 am

  I recently got in an accident that caused extensive damage to my car from a high-speed, head-on collision. I walked away just fine without any injuries. AMAZING! The crumple zones were created perfectly, and protected me really well. I didnt even come out with a headache. I defintely stand by my vehicle, and will always drive a nissan

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  Fun and fast - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By Jeff - July 26 - 10:10 am

  This is my first Nissan, and although Ive only had it a few days, Im very pleased with the car. Mine is a base 3.5 SE, cloth seats, and a CVT transmission. Although not equipped with any upgrade packages or options (no, not a single one), I still find it nicely equipped. The engine is strong and responsive. The CVT is very smooth, and seems to be well-tuned to different driving conditions and needs. The Intelligent Key and pushbutton start are quite convenient, as well as a great topic of conversation. The interior seems to be put together nicely, and the controls intuitive. The basic radio/CD player may not be premium, but it sounds great to me.