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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  4 years and still happy - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Satified Owner - October 18 - 6:50 pm

  I bought my 3.5 SE new in 2005. I only have 28000 miles but I have had very few problems. The car has only been in the shop for routine maintenance. However, in march of 2009 I had to replace my battery. I have heard of others with this problem. Overall I am happy. The 3.5 engine has a lot of power. This is fun at stop lights and has gotten me out of a few jams on the freeway. The complaints about the road noise (esp in the back), turning radius, and cheap interior are valid. They are not prohibitive however. I live in DC now so the turning radius is more pronounced. I have taking this car on 400 mile trips (I can get 33 mpg on the highway) and have been completely satisfied.

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  Great little car! - 2001 Nissan Sentra
  By bmmwcs - October 18 - 8:57 am

  I bought my sentra new. Very reliable. Good feel. Great control on snowy roads. Easy to service. Had the car for 8 years. Had to let this car go after it got t-boned. But even in the accident, the structure of the car held up extremely well. Id buy one again if I had the opportunity. Only negative, for nissans in general, is that they use cheap brakes and tires that need to be swapped out after 2 years.

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  Extremely Reliable - 1995 Nissan 200SX
  By wiphillyfan - October 18 - 2:00 am

  Great, reliable car. Only regular maintenance has been done. Bought it with around 5k miles in 1996 and it now has 84k. Altenator went bad after 5 years, but that is all. Have always changed oil every 3k miles. I expect this baby to give me another 100k miles.

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  worth every penny - 1999 Nissan Maxima
  By phil ct - October 18 - 2:00 am

  i bought my max a 99 se gle combo a yr ago its the best model you can order every option is installed and i have put 48,000 hard slave driving miles on it everyday. and the speedo doesnt lye nissan says it tops out at a max speed of 149 mph and i can vouch for that! guys like it girls like it better so what are you waiting for go get yours !!!!

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  go get one! - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By kyler - October 18 - 2:00 am

  ive had this car over a year now. it is one great small car. the interior design , the best ive seen in any compact car. one reliable car!

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  Best Bang for the Buck - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By Rory Bellows - October 18 - 2:00 am

  The Spec-V sets the standard that Honda Civic Si hasnt followed. Design - sleeker; performance - more HP; handling - tighter; price - cheaper. Why would anybody even buy a Honda Civic. And the only minor issue was torque steer which I understand has been rectified on the 2003 model. I wouldnt trade my Spec for 10 Civic Sis.

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  all the bells, w/o the stupid whistles - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By LLDavis - October 17 - 6:16 am

  I really like this car. I drove a similar, but smaller model in Spain and was thrilled to see that Nissan was putting out a subcompact in the USA. I was looking for a car that rode a little higher than the average sedan, but still got good gas mileage, and didnt cost too much. I got all those things in the Versa, and I havent been disappointed in any of its quirks (e.g. audible shifting noises, loose handling, flimsy velcro attachment for the hatch cover). Plus, I love the upholstery (microfibery), the tire pressure monitoring system, the touch- sensitive hatch lifter, and the interior room with an adorable, easy to park exterior.

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  Nice truck from Nissan - 2000 Nissan Frontier
  By Peterd1987 - October 17 - 5:26 am

  Switched from a 21 year old Nissan Hardbody D21 to a 2000 Frontier Desert Runner. Bought with 60,000 miles. I like the tough look of the Desert Runner, it looks tough. No major maintenance other than replaced brake pads and rotors. Exhaust heat shields rattle at 1500 RPM and rear slider and other windows rattle. Other than those minor things, I love the truck. Nice acceleration and power, comfortable, and great visibility. The only major design problem is the horrible 5th gear. 3000 RPM at 70 MPH... could be much lower, especially with the V6 to get better gas mileage.

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  No Lemons Here - 2002 Nissan Xterra
  By LISSANNE - October 17 - 4:03 am

  At least, not from the beautifully designed Nissan Xterra that I purchased last year. I only wish I could say the same for the dealership that I bought it from. I financed the truck in June 2004 from I am still having problems with my dealership today. After my monthly payment being raised three times and the harrassing phone calls at work for more money I was almost fed up enough to just give up. All it takes though is a short drive in Xterra and the world is a much brighter and more exciting place. So I urge yall to proceed w/caution when it comes to Nissan dealers.

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  Best Minivan in the class - 2012 Nissan Quest
  By scfisher1 - October 16 - 11:55 am

  When we came to the point where we pretty much needed a minivan due to two young boys, it wasnt a hard choice once we looked around. Sure the Odyssey has more vans on the road, but one look on the outside of the Quest and my wife wanted it. Inside sealed it for me. Its plush, quiet comfortable, and all the features you could want in a minivan, save the Bose radio we passed on. Priced next to a similarly equipped Honda and we saved thousands. The kids just love it, they have room and are not on top of each other.