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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  la creme de la creme - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By the viking - November 21 - 9:53 am

  I have taken my time to sit inside the new pathfinder to explore it at first then test drove it for at least half an hour. I realize its the best to buy this season because it offers any and everything you desire in a vehicle .contrary to the old nissan vehicles, the inside doesnt look cheap any longer and the power for a 6 cylinder cant be outmeasured .Its the best out there.

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  la creme de la creme - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Eric the red - November 20 - 7:26 pm

  I have taken my time to sit inside the new pathfinder to explore it at first then test drove it for at least half an hour. I realize its the best to buy this season because it offers any and everything you desire in a vehicle .contrary to the old nissan vehicles, the inside doesnt look cheap any longer and the power for a 6 cylinder cant be outmeasured .Its the best out there.

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  4th Pathy - 2009 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Tony V - November 20 - 1:36 pm

  This is my 4th Pathfinder and the best one yet! Great power and smooth ride. Just returned from long road trip from NY to Florida. Seats were comfortable and handling was superb. MPG is in line with other trucks this size. 22-23 mpg on highway with regular unleaded.

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  Better Than Honda, Toyota or VW - 2009 Nissan Maxima
  By agraff - November 20 - 11:40 am

  We test drove Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, VW Passat and Audi A4 and we were blown away with the new Nissan Maxima. The looks inside and out, feel and performance all stand out above the others we drove. This car handles so tight and has so much power that you feel constrained to drive the speed limit. The only negative is the recommended premium fuel and the gas mileage. The dealer really downplays the premium fuel, in fact we had to ask about it. We are getting right on the EPA fuel rating of 26-27 highway using regular.

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  Picked Over Accord - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By Trudi - November 19 - 10:00 am

  I was ready to purchase an Accord until I drove the Maxima. Best car I have ever owned. I like the body style and colors offered. More horsepower with the Maxima. Great features. A true luxury car at affordable price. Interior is much more refined than the Altima.

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  Nice car - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By Stazer - November 19 - 10:00 am

  Nice car, except for 3 things that I dont like about it. Back seats are not good for tall people, suspension is Rough on the SE (you feel every bump), making a U-Turn is hard, same with parking spots. Also if you hit the gas and there is bumps on the road you better hold onto the wheel cause it locks up and and jerks really hard.

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  We love it - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Cdnbum - November 19 - 10:00 am

  This is a fun car with a lot of power. It definately is a head-turner. It is nice not to see tooo many on the road, so it still seems to have its aura. This is my first Nissan (Black on Black), We turned in our leased BMW 328 and this car is very comparable in my opinion on all levels.

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  Proud Nissan Owner - 2009 Nissan Frontier
  By Bert - November 18 - 8:33 pm

  Ive only owned this truck for a month but extremely satisfied. Fun to drive, attractive, and roomy for 4 average size people. Fuel economy 16 around town, 21 highway. After thorough research, glad I choose the Frontier over Tacoma. Pros & Cons below.

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  Nissan Max base model is fine - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By ye Stevens - November 17 - 11:23 pm

  Ive read the other reviews and compared to them my experience has been good. I never had to take it back during the warranty period. I can related to comments about occasional rotten egg smell, and very bad turning radius. But its fun to drive and feels solid. Tires very pricey (I ruined one).

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  Quality Materials + Smooth Ride = Great SUV - 2016 Nissan Pathfinder
  By MRK20016 - November 17 - 3:44 am

  This is my 3rd Nissan Pathfinder (2002, 2008, 2014) – and this is by far the best of the bunch. Sure it has lost some of its off road mojo, but since off road to me is driving down a dirt path going apple picking or skiing – I am have little to complain about. First off the truck looks great. Beautiful lines, striking paint job that totally pops, beautiful leather seats and dark and useful window tinting – really a great job by the designers at Nissan. The controls are all well placed and very functional (electronics work very well with wifi and Siri on an iphone) – and as with all Nissans, the climate control rocks. Very cold AC, very warm heat and strong defrost. Seating is comfortable, third row is easy to access even with a child seat in the second row, and when the third row is down – I have a ton of cargo space. I am not sure what kind of driving some of these people are doing, but with a good mix of 50/50 highway and city, I am getting 20.5 MPG – which is very respectable for a truck this size. Could not be happier with my Pathfinder.