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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  Love it - 2010 Nissan Xterra
  By sockeye - April 14 - 10:00 am

  I bought this vehicle wanting to have a multipurpose vehicle that could also pull a boat. I looked at the CRV, ford escape, Rav4, 4runner. The first 3 really couldnt do the job of pulling a boat and are really more of a car dressed as an SUV. The 4 runner is nice, but too big to also have in the city and also expensive. So far the Xterra has been perfect. I have taken it on and off road many times and it handles great. Definitely more of a truck ride, but on any half decent road it feels just like any other modern vehicle.

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  Great truck in comparison! - 2010 Nissan Titan
  By Ian - April 14 - 10:00 am

  I was looking for a USED crew cab truck when I stumbled on this NEW Titan. I got an awesome price on it because it was a left over 2010, in fact that price was so good I only paid about $2k more for it then I would have for any of the used trucks I had seen. I previously had a 2007 Chevy Silverado 1500 Reg Cab and the Titan has easily beaten that so far. The Chevy didnt have any real mechanical issues but several annoying things like paint pealing and the decals coming off that just annoyed me on a new truck. Also the interior design of the Chevy was not near as user friendly and compared to even the base model Titan the Chevy was stripped!

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  Love my Maxima - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Helen - April 14 - 10:00 am

  This is my third Nissan and Ive loved them all. I bought this car new and find it totally reliable and wonderful to drive. Ive had no problems with the performance or the quality of the vehicle. Ive replaced nothing and my interior still looks great. The only negative thing I have to say about it is the turning radius is too wide.

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  Uh Huh! - 2010 Nissan Maxima
  By Sport Package - April 14 - 10:00 am

  Just traded-in my Infiniti G35 for the 2010 Maxima. One word: wow! I am 63", and the G35 simply doesnt accommodate a man my size, the Maxima does. The 2010 Maxima is an incredible car - I bought the sport package and love it. I actually look forward to driving.

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  Anyone own a S Model? - 2010 Nissan Murano
  By Anyone own a new S? - April 14 - 10:00 am

  I just purchased a murano 2010 an S model. Its been 2 months but I enjoy my car and feel good driving it, always liked the Nissan.

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  My favorite Maxima - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By Bianca R. - April 14 - 6:00 am

  I bought this car new in July, 2000, and plan to drive it til it drops. Great car and does everything I need - small enough for city use (easy to park), comfortable and roomy enough for highways and vacations. Coils were replaced around 75k miles; other than that this car has been super dependable. Excellent acceleration and a fun car to drive. The exterior styling stands out in a sea of look-alike sedans. I love the curvaceous back end and the round taillights. Very large trunk for this size car, makes it easy to pack for vacations. I bought the trunk liner, useful to keep things clean. Note JD Powers survey; the 2000 Max is more reliable than newer models. Im keeping mine.

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  I Dare You To Find a Better Deal! - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By Dusty - April 14 - 1:26 am

  I had no intentions of replacing my ‘04, paid-for, Murano with an ’09. But, curiosity got to me, so I went to the dealership & drove one. Within minutes, I was buying. The previous Murano was fantastic – a well-built, great looking SUV with plenty of neat features for a reasonable cost. The ’09 improves on virtually every aspect of the previous version: better build, more power, way more features – for less! For looks, I like this one better now, but all-in- all, the first gen was better looking for its time. If you’re considering a Murano: a) drive it, b) ask others who own one, c) do a comparison. This vehicle truly holds its own when compared to vehicles costing $10K more,

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  Great truck overall - 2006 Nissan Armada
  By intechnicolor - April 13 - 7:00 pm

  Rides great, has plenty of power. I pulled a 60 Cadillac with this rig from TN to NJ, figure 7500 lbs with the trailer and she would cruise no problem doing 75 mph. Also, using your high beams and horn its very easy to intimidate other drivers including 18 wheelers. Couple issues with quality control/reliability. Factory radio dies after the 50k warranty was up and was a $500 repair. In addition, the driver door weatherstrip and the trunk weatherstrip are falling apart and the vehicle is only 3 years old.

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  2008 Nissan Maxima - 2008 Nissan Maxima
  By BriGuy - April 13 - 11:50 am

  Wow! I just traded in my 2006 Honda Accord because I was bored out of my mind and sick of getting passed on the highway. Now I do the passing! I say this car is for guys or girls that like a whole lot of performance to go along with their luxury. I got a fully loaded one (minus nav) and it is by far the nicest car I have ever owned. You have to get the leather and the Bose sound system amazing. I know Zoom-Zoom belongs to Mazda but they might have stolen it from Nissan.

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  Defects on Nissan Rogues - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By Kathy Swanger - April 13 - 8:01 am

  I have a 2008 Rogue. Have had for five years. Having acceleration problems. After driving on hwy..then stop at a stop sign..will not go. Very scary!!!! If you put a bad part on a car...they should fix it..no matter what! It had to do with the CVT Transmission