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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  Reliable, no-frills truck - 1998 Nissan Frontier
  By RingusMaximus - January 21 - 2:00 am

  Good, reliable no-frills truck. My only complaint is the black paint has faded a bit and lost its shine. Other than that a good truck. I have actually used this as a truck, not a pimped-out ghetto cruizer. Ive hauled heavy loads, towed a 1500+ pound wood-chipper with the bumper hitch, driven a ton of miles, and never any problems. Previously I had a new 1998 Dodge Dakota xtra cab 4x4, and that was the biggest lemon Ive ever owned. In my opinion, you cant go wrong with any imported truck.

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  great truck - 2001 Nissan Frontier
  By david stark - January 21 - 2:00 am

  it has been a very good truck , great dealer service iat mossy nissan el cojon, 4 wheel drive has worked great in the snow witer times would buy again.

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  Trendy! - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By ctyger - January 21 - 2:00 am

  I LOVE my little Xterra! I bought it because I needed towing capacity but didnt want a huge SUV or a pick-up. My camper weighs approx. 3500 pounds fully loaded and it tows my camper like a dream. It uses far too much gas however. The first time my teenage granddaughters saw it they said, "Wow, Grandma - thats so trendy!" I feel like the coolest person on the road when I am driving it!

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  test drive - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By bigrich - January 21 - 2:00 am

  all in all a nice car...terrible in snow, even with awd. takes much to long to get up to speed, even at full trottle

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  After Two Years.... - 2007 Nissan Murano
  By Drew - January 20 - 3:43 am

  I must admit I have been pleasantly surprised by Nissans build quality and reliability. This was my first Nissan and I can say with some confidence that I would purchase another at this point. The gas mileage has been averaging around 21, with city getting around 18 and highway about 23. The AWD comes in handy for Tahoe trips and the cargo space is plenty for most hauls. The only thing that I just never liked is the CVT. I canÂ’t get used to the way it feels when pressing on the gas. Other than that, the sucker is fast for a SUV. And it handles surprisingly well and is very comfy on long trips. Wear and tear has been minimal.

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  Look for another van - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By logan19 - January 19 - 12:30 pm

  We got this van because it didnt look like your typical minivan. I should have done more research. First of all I have had to replace both sets of brakes twice with only 52,000 miles. My mechanic told me that they would have to be replaced every 20,000 miles. The van is very heavy. After needing new tires, I found out that Goodyear is the only one who makes this size tire. So I had to buy them. The tire pressure indicator goes off when the outside temp drops below 70 degrees. The dealer tells me there is nothing wrong with it and just resets it. So I am in there within a week doing the same thing. I will never know when I flat tire. I am now looking at the Hondas.

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  Already traded it in - 2008 Nissan Maxima
  By Katprielle - January 19 - 3:10 am

  Traded in 99 Altima for 2008 Maxima, loaded w/everything but nav system. I missed my Altima. Battery went out within a year. Not prepared for how low it sat (my fault, its a sports sedan). I scraped the front bumper (visible damage) on the curb of a parking space within a month and had a hard time getting in and out of steep parking lots. The turning radius is horrible and the car is so long that I had a very hard time parking and backing out of tighter spaces. I live in a city where it floods; I kicked myself for two years because the car sits so low I could not really drive in the rain. I traded it in for an AWD Subaru Forrester that sits up high, has great clearance and turns on a dime.

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  Loudest SUV of the bunch - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By No more Nissans - January 18 - 6:06 pm

  Liked the styling and price. Owned a 2001 Pathfinder drove 67K trouble free, quiet and solid miles. Sorry I traded it in. Ive had the new Pathfinder 1 day and it is the loudest car weve owned in decades. Engine and road noise are annoying. The car needs more insulation. Sounds like a 4-wheel pick-up. Nissan better hope no one asks our opinion of the new car.

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  Good car, but needs some improvements - 2008 Nissan Versa
  By DVBs Daughter - January 18 - 9:20 am

  I really enjoy "Scarlet." The car is responsive and easy to handle (except in really strong winds). I like the design. Its quiet inside with the windows closed. The radio is surprisingly good, and the cabin is spacious and roomy. Overall, very satisfied, and the areas of improvement would make it a FANTASTIC car!

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  not too shabby, pros and cons - 2015 Nissan Versa Note
  By bastion74 - January 15 - 10:27 am

  as most people here, i was looking for a decent gas shipper. although im not pleased i had to buy the SV ( 2 levels up from base)to get power windows, still its a nice lil car. havent gotten that advertised 40 mpg yet, i average about 34. riding as a passenger i feel a bit uncomfortable as far as armrests since i end up sharing the drivers. but it does have better rear passenger legroom than most comparable, esp the COTY VWGolf which is $8k more. side window visors/guards a must as the rain water will drip in.be leary of servicing since Nissan chokes you into the CVT only being done at dealership.be smart and budget minded when buying as the normal nickle and dime stuff will pinch the wallet