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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  Excellent SUV - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By John Springfield - June 2 - 2:46 pm

  Very enjoyable to drive with plenty of power. Engine and transmission very smooth. If you are used to an 8 cylinder you will notice higher RPM engine noise with the V6 engine during takeoff. Second row seating could use some extra leg room. Overall it is a well built SUV with plenty of room for a midsize.

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  My first foreign car - 2005 Nissan Sentra
  By flstfjet - June 2 - 1:13 pm

  This is my first import in 20 years. Traded in my Envoy for this car, and so far I love it! Mileage is excellent, but Im still getting used to the small size. Looked at Hondas, but due to the price and the way I was treated at my local friendly dealership, I wouldnt have a Honda for anything now. I was treated extremely well at the Nissan dealership and plan to make them my first visit for my next car. I love this car!

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  4 Months w/My Frontier - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By Bob DB - June 2 - 6:36 am

  I have had my Frontier since the beginning of February. It is very comfortable, functional, and fun to drive. The mileage is disappointing, only about 14 mpg around town. I added a Roll-n-Lok cover for the bed and its like having a huge trunk.

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  Excellent Truck - 2008 Nissan Frontier
  By CP in STL - June 2 - 5:46 am

  Purchased the Crew Cab 4x4 LE with floor mats, hitch & cloth interior in March 2008. Traded in a 2002 Ranger. Driving position is comfortable and the feel on the road is solid and sturdy. With the 261hp engine, good acceleration and the BF Goodrich OEM tires are good, but not great. The turning circle is a bit too big for the size of the vehicle. I like the covered/weather tight hitch connection. Two glove boxes are nice, but one could be cooled. The steering wheel mounted cruise control buttons are not illuminated at night. The orange dash lights should be blue for easier night vision adjustment.

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  Good Vehicle - 2011 Nissan Rogue
  By navetx - June 1 - 8:19 pm

  My SL Rogue is a very good vehicle. I bought it for a daily driver but wanted it loaded. While it has almost everything, it really needs a home link option, a rubber pad for the left foot rest and a bigger screen for the nav/back up display. Other than those issues, the Rogue delivers. Its very quiet for a small SUV, and cruzes well on the highway. Also, after 10,000 miles in 6 months, Im getting over 25 combined city/highway mileage.

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  Amazed! - 2008 Nissan Titan
  By David B - May 31 - 11:50 pm

  I was looking for a car for my daughter and while I was there, test drove this truck on a whim. I was completely amazed at the ride comfort and features. I traded my Dodge Hemi- Ram Laredo that afternoon. Not a lot of difference in the power but the difference in the ride and handling is like night and day. Finally, a truly functional and capable truck that doesnt ride like a chuck-wagon or handle like a battleship.

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  rental but still reliable - 2005 Nissan Quest
  By barry fredrickson - May 31 - 10:33 am

  i was hesitant about buying a rental, but the dealership and the performance of the vehicle are excellent. i had two minor problems, one a light was out and two the cd player/radio failed, both items were replaced. I had a nissan frontier as a trade in but the cab was two crowded for a man of my size, the van has more than enouth head, leg and overall room for the driver and passenger. The cargo space is very large. The roof racks do not appear to have much use, there isnt any cross bracing to stop the load from shifting front to rear.

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  Buy It! - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By V - May 31 - 1:00 am

  Great styling, great handling, awesome performance, Very reliable (its an import). Everywhere I go people stare. Want a sports car? The Z is "the" sports car. Theres nothing out there like it, Theres nothing out there that performs or handles like it either. Never an issue with it. Also one of the easiest cars to mod.

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  Bad transmission - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By katdunn - May 30 - 11:51 pm

  I initially loved my Versa. I soon found that the quoted mpg was not as quoted, no surprise there. I drive all highway miles to and from work. After I purchased my Versa,I was sent an extended warranty for my transmission which expired at 120,000. This should have been the first clue that there must be a problem with the transmission. Now at 128,000 miles, my transmission starting making loud humming sounds, the car at one point almost wouldnt go in traffic, but once it got past 20 or 30 mph it ran normally. No fluid was leaking and its pretty much a closed system. They didnt take much time to check it out but were very quick to give me a price on a new transmission of $2800.

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  185K and going strong - 2004 Nissan Altima
  By deanriley - May 30 - 5:00 pm

  After 185,000 miles, this car still runs and rides like new. The 2.5 L, 4 sp automatic has plenty of pep and delivers an average of 27 mpg for this daily commuter. The ride is smooth and handling is above average. There is plenty of head and leg room front and back, the seats are comfortable, and the Bose sound system is fantastic. Maintenance has been minimal, replacing the front right wheel bearing at 90K, crankshaft position sensor at 102K, upper motor mount and idler pulley at 135K and rear wheel bearings at 175K. The road noise is the only thing that I can say bad about this car. This car has given us great service.