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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  are you kidding me? - 2009 Nissan Maxima
  By p. morris - August 26 - 6:43 am

  This car is awesome. I have had this car for exactly one day. I dont need more to write this review. I know something about cars; have owned and driven mercedes, audi, bmw, infinity, and most of the rest. They do not touch this car. It is beautiful, inside and out (subjective of course). Feels like a tank but drives like (or better than) the 330 I traded up from for about 1/2 the price. All the bells and whistles. Looks and feels great. I dont even care if gas mileage is not great. Please dont buy this car. I want exclusivity on the roads.

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  Great car - 2000 Nissan Sentra
  By Love IT - August 26 - 6:03 am

  In the last year i have driven this car to canada and back from california, down to san diego and back twice and a couple time to reno. NO PROBLEM. This car has never broken down and in the last year i have put about 45000 mile on it.

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  Best car around - 1998 Nissan Maxima
  By mlargie - August 26 - 2:00 am

  the best car i had so far

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  Good and comfortable family vehicle! - 2006 Nissan Quest
  By Tom - August 26 - 2:00 am

  We bought it new and has been a blessing since. It is almost 110,000 klicks now and I have only replaced the battery and brakes once. We take care of the van with scheduled services. We go on road trips three times a year with it and the whole family loves it. It is very gas efficient on the highway and very roomy and comfortable. There is always adequate room for luggage if you know how to pack in an organized fashion. If it is only four of us, we fold the third row and we do not even fold up or stack our luggage. We go on trips with another couple two times a year and they love it too. First comment is always "wow, it is so roomy!!" The engine has a lot of power on the road.

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  "The Juke" -- Freakin Awesome! - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By The Mexican Chick - August 26 - 2:00 am

  I absolutely love my Juke!I got it the month they came out and boy was it hard to get one because they were going fast!Got a red SL and its worth every penny!Love the look, so different from everything else.The ride is so smooth and the 3 drive modes are so awesome.I love everything about this car except its a bit smaller than what Id like but you get over it immediately. I was NEVER a fan of cars.I always thought of a vehicle as something that gets you to and from but this is my pride and joy and everyone whos checked mine out is AMAZED.You have to see one in person to understand.

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  Great Buy - 2011 Nissan Sentra
  By James - August 26 - 2:00 am

  Very happy so far - have had 3 days and put 200 miles on it. Roomiest and most comfortable car in its class and I am 65". Great build quality and features. I love the CVT, though I am still adjusting to. I just filled it up and the the car said 33.8 MPG in combined driving - I calculated 39.8!! I got a great deal, but it did take some back and forth. Also looked at Mazda 3 - no pep/road noise, Ford Focus and Fusion - cheap looking interiors and the Versa. Versa very roomy, but definitely not in the same class.

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  Performance Without A Heavy Price Tag - 2009 Nissan Altima
  By Ken Harris - August 26 - 2:00 am

  I recently traded in a 2009 Honda Accord EXL-4ycl because I was not satisfied with the braking and acceleration. After about 9k miles I started having problems with the rear brakes. I test the drove the Altima and was pleasantly suprised with the performance as compared to the Accord. The Altima has a silky smooth powertrain thanks to the CVT transmission. I prefer a more sporty type vehicle and did not have alot of money to spend. I purchased a used 09 that was in almost showroom condition for 16k. This is the vehicle to purchase if you are seeking performance in a 4 cyl.

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  Nissan Maxima - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By R. BRUCE - August 25 - 11:23 pm

  This car handles very well on road. It is very comfortable sitting. It is very quiet on the road.

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  Great truck - 2011 Nissan Frontier
  By mark383 - August 25 - 4:45 pm

  I bought a new 2006 Toyota Tacoma V6 Prerunner and never really liked it. It was way too sensitive to any wind. It took a tight grip on the steering wheel to keep it on the road on a windy day. If it had been windy the day I test drove it, I would never had bought it. The Frontier drives great on windy days and very little wind noise compared to the Tacoma. It rides better, gets better fuel mileage, better transmission and has more power. The only gripe is the interior scratches easily and the turning radius is not as tight as the Tacoma. I went from a truck I hated to a truck I love to drive. That says it all.

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  Great Family Sedan - 2012 Nissan Altima
  By jravelo - August 25 - 1:26 am

  This car is not very fun to drive, as it is a 4 cylinder with a CVT transmission. Having said that, the manual shifter, steering feel and comfort, make it a very appealing choice. If you dont care about the fun, and want a comfy, reliable, good looking, long lasting family sedan, look no further. The accord dont measure up, the camry of the malibu neither. This car drives great, is very quiet inside, the Bose sound I got on this trim is absolute marvelous, the bluetooth works great, is good on gas (22.5 city, 34 hwy), and overall, you cant go wrong with it at all. Is a veeeeery smooth drive, very smooth.