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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  So far so good - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Snoopy62 - March 18 - 12:10 pm

  I have owned this car new since August, 2003 and there have been minor problems all except for the radiator tank cracking and having to be replaced. Minor problems like the hood support rod, whe I put it up to check the oil and snapped the rod into the holder under the hood, the hook part snapped off. Luckily the dealer had them in stock. This was int he cold weather so maybe it was the plastic got too rigiid otherwise I would have to hold up the hood by hand. Computer had to be reprogrammed twice after a recall. The original Continental tires stink and I finally got michelins after the second set of continentals. They only lasted 23k each set. 32 mpg on the highway using Cruise control!

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  DD Armada LE - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By ddburns - March 18 - 10:00 am

  Incredible truck. Great drive, performance and exhaust note. Interior room is excellent, stereo sounds great. Navigation system is a great toy and gets you where you want to go. 2,600 miles since delivery, leaking transfer case and warper rotors. we will see how dealer and manufacturer handle repairs.

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  Fun car to drive - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By jinx - March 17 - 8:40 pm

  Poor cup holder arrangement. Too much torque steer when accelerating, Visibility toward rear corners poor.

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  Poor service - 2006 Nissan Pathfinder
  By bosco1627 - March 13 - 11:40 am

  Two months old and 1400 miles power steering pump stopped working and vehicle was in shop for over a week. Horrible communication with service department. Will not shop there again for any vehicle.

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  Love this car - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By chuckindb - March 13 - 9:00 am

  Bought this car new in Feb 07 and have had only one minor problem. The brakes squeak when I first drive it in the morning, but goes away after the first 5 or so miles. Test drove the Camry first and then the Altima. Hands down the Altima was a better car. All in all great car.

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  hits and misses - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By newnissanbuyer - March 11 - 11:30 pm

  the 2005 pathfinder is great to drive and looks fantastic. you can really feel the power of the engine. the interior is also fairly comfortable with lots of space. having said that, there are some things I need to address. the glovebox does not shut properly and I need to take it back to the dealer to get it fixed. there is also an annoying rattle in the dashboard that comes and goes. there are also odd little creaks and sounds coming from the car which makes me really question the quality of the build. would this happen with a honda or a toyota?

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  3Months - Not Raving but - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By grif_57 - March 11 - 10:26 pm

  Second Review here. After 3500 miles. Here is how we feel about the car. Its very smooth. Period. The CVT is not bad to drive once you get used to pushing the throttle and letting it do its thing. I have had zero problems. Everything is working like day 1. Now a few suggestions. The arm rest stinks and the seat is a little soft but I like the height adjustment. Averaging over 30mpg, but I expected more. The readout on the dash is about 1.5 mpg optimistic. Got better with my VW Passat. The electric power steering feels a little soft. Overall I would still recommend this car.

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  Great Truck - 1999 Nissan Frontier
  By woodworker76 - March 11 - 9:46 pm

  I have had my Frontier for about 1 1/2 months. I love it. The 4WD is dependable and very stable. I have had it in a very soupy cornfield near my house and it pulled out with no problems. The gas mileage leaves something to be desired. I get about 18 mpg on the highway. It is comfortable on short trips, however it is a bit short for my 6 foot frame. The engine is strong and reliable. Nice truck!!!

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  Great Vehicle - 2010 Nissan Rogue
  By jennib31210 - March 10 - 8:25 am

  I actually owned 2 Rogues, and was happy with both. The only reason I got rid of the 1st one (08) was to trade for a new one (2010). I love the SUV feel combined with the great fuel economy of a midsized sedan. I always averaged 27+ MPG, and even got 30MPG on at least one occasion. The seats are comfortable and the interior is fairly roomy for it to be a small SUV/crossover. I had the 2010 for right at a year and put 15k miles on it, including a road trip from GA to OH and back, and never experienced any issues in the time I owned it. I traded it for a 2010 Altima because the Altima is my ultimate dream car :) but I was very pleased with my Rogues & recommend them to anyone!

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  Jackies review - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By Jackie - March 10 - 2:00 am

  This truck was my first car purchase. I have to say, I wanted to buy it for looks, but when I test drove it, I really fell in love. It drives wonderfully and doesnt have the "truck" feel that other SUVs tend to have. I absolutely love my truck and would recommend it to anyone who was looking for a reliable ride. The only bad thing I found about the truck is that how many times I must fill up the gas tank, though I would imagine any SUV or truck is this way. Overall: If I were to trade in my truck today, I would purchase another one, and I have had my truck for over one year.