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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  Old reliable - 1996 Nissan Sentra
  By Chris - March 28 - 6:23 am

  Bought this car new, and as of 2007 its still going. I got it when money was tight, and have never regretted it. Its not fast, but it can be fun to drive. At 183,000 miles, its not perfect. I replaced the ECU (computer) early on, and its needed 2 alternators for some reason. I got a clutch at 150,000. I replaced the shocks around 120,000. Other than that its just oil changes and brake pads. The seats are worn, the bodys dinged, the paints worn off the wipers and a few other spots, the rear defrost turns itself off, the headlight lenses are dim, the radio display is spotty, and the buttons are sticky from the poorly-placed cup holder, but it starts every morning and off we go!

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  More good than bad but bumpy. - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By lira10315 - March 28 - 3:16 am

  The biggest disappointment has been in the ride. Worst car of comfort ride ever. Also the visor covers half of the rear view mirror when down for sun protection. Love the features, stereo, steering column buttons and the placement of the shift selector. So far mileage is looking good, avg 29 mph. Dont know how long I will keep this because of the bumpy ride.

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  works for me - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By 03 murano - March 25 - 6:26 pm

  Its been a good car, I am not impressed with nissan as a company but I would recommend this vehicle.

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  Armada LE - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By rasimmons1 - March 24 - 2:00 am

  Excellent tow vehical. Good office.

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  its all in the details - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By 14u2env - March 24 - 2:00 am

  Overall not satisfied with the 04Z. IÂ’ve owned two Hondas brand new and a Lexus that was pre-owned. The style and engine on the Z is terrific. The details however need more than lots of help. IÂ’ve been to the dealership 3x for defective parts or craftsmanship, plus 3X for regular mnt. itÂ’s only been 3 months. IÂ’m ready for the next round of defective repairs, knocking when breaking, squeaking breaks, and tattooing under the paint + orange peeling. Windshield looks like it was sprayed with pebbles. Fabric is all ready wearing where you get in and out of your vehicle. If youÂ’re a busy person youÂ’ll need to hire someone to keep track of the defective parts.

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  90% BMW @ 50% price - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Xpditor - March 24 - 2:00 am

  Shockingly quick with occasional tugs- of-war with torque steer. My third Maxima (86,90). The 90 was problem free and pristine after 14 years. Depreciation less than $1k/yr. It took a while to get comfortable on trip until I got lumbar right. Dash and console are kinda cheesey. Armrest is flimsy. Lotsa plastic. LCD display has low resolution and monotone. Outdated technology. Gimme a break with the trendy 3 pod and look of aluminum. The grille should be covered around women and children. Its ooogly. Finally a 5 speed auto on the SL. A steal at the price theyre going for. Sprachen sie Japonese? You bet!

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  Love the maxima - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By Maximadriver - March 22 - 10:00 am

  After driving a Grand Am for 5 years I decided to break down and buy a new car. I can really say I love the Maxima, it has plenty of power for an automatic transmission driven sedan and despite a few minor problems with paint, it has been extremely reliable for me.

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  Room for Improvement - 1998 Nissan Frontier
  By TKH - March 22 - 10:00 am

  Truck has been pretty reliable. Appealing exterior. Interior layout is paractical. Right (passenger side) window rattles terribly, especially with driver side window down. Lost radior light at 45,000 mi. Lost radio volume control at 49,000 mi. Service engine light at 51,000. Diagnostic incomplete, requiring a return trip.

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  Underrated Sentra - 2017 Nissan Sentra
  By Kathy - March 22 - 1:20 am

  I was going to replace my older Altima with a new one, but ended up buying a Sentra instead. The handling is great (better than my Altima) and actually feels sporty. Vehicle is so quiet in the cabin you cant tell its running. Trunk space is good too for its class. Only thing I miss with the Altima is the large gas tank which can get about 600 miles on one tank and the wider interior. I bought a manual (I prefer to drive stick) so cant comment on the acceleration with the CVT. For a compact car, Im very happy with this purchase, and think the low ratings from car critics arent that accurate.

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  Oh, My Murano... - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By Melissa - March 21 - 2:56 pm

  I absolutely love my Murano. Im kind of bummed at the moment though, because apparently my timing chain needs to be replaced, and the shop I got it priced at is wanting to charge me a whopping $2,100... (And of course this happened a convenient 900 miles AFTER the warranty expired). Great car, but horrible fixing costs.. And of course every Nissan dealership Ive ever been to has the most money-hungry people Ive ever met.