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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  Have always owned Nissan... - 2009 Nissan Altima
  By L. Virginia - October 8 - 12:33 am

  This new Altima is a very nice car. I sold a 96 that just wore out after 215000 miles. I always buy Nissan, as they are $2 to 5k cheaper than Toyota and the fit, finish and quality are comparable. I love this car and it is fun to drive. Love the Keyless entry and push button starter. Trunk is very nice. All around, I think this car, in Dark slate and charcoal interior looks very classy, and can compete with next model up lines.

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  Two years and running strong - 2007 Nissan Xterra
  By Robert - October 7 - 11:43 pm

  I wrote a note a while ago about my Xterra. We moved to Germany and the X has performed perfectly. The only issue I have with it is the trans. It is very difficult to shift into second gear. It sometimes makes a grinding noise as well. But it is not that serious of a problem yet. Over all a great vehicle and the size is perfect!

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  Great Vehicle - 2000 Nissan Frontier
  By Jim Taylor - October 7 - 10:26 pm

  My 2000 Nissan Frontier has been a very reliable vehicle. I have 103,500 miles on it, and it shows no sign off ailing. I honestly feel the vehicle will go another 80,000 to 100,000 miles easily. So if youre looking for a reliable vehicle, you shouldnt go wrong with this one.

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  Best car Ive ever owned - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Jason - October 7 - 7:43 am

  I love this car. I think that the best way to describe just how great this car is to tell you what my dad said. He just bought the new Lexus sports car and he says that if he could do it all over again he would have gotten the 08 Altima Coupe because it drives almost as well and looks sharper on the outside, is more comfortable, and when you factor in that it is half the price its a no brainer.

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  So far so flippin fabulous! - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By JENN213 - October 7 - 2:00 am

  I just traded in my 06 VW Jetta for my Juke and I could not be happier about my decision. This car is sporty, comfortable, is fun to drive and is also a great family car. It handles awesome in compact snow and ice and it heats up quick! It is super whippy, smooth and pretty quick, need to stay focused while driving or I foresee many speeding tickets in the future!

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  Pathfinder Forever - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Sam Dodge - October 6 - 11:40 pm

  I drove a 92 XE pathfinder(5 speed manual) for 13 years, time for a new car with 3 kids. I could not buy a Minivan(not my thing) so a SUV with 3 seats was it. I looked at them all- nothing came close to SE off-Road , it had the best 3rd row seat compared to toyota, volvo and american cars were out of the question. I miss my 92, but once a pathfinder owner I guess, always a pathfinder owner

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  what the... - 2008 Nissan Frontier
  By truck&cat - October 6 - 10:43 pm

  After 11 months and 32K replaced transmission. (bad synchronizers. Other than that plastic is tacky, A/C fan is getting louder and louder, windows rattle. Plenty of room for a field serviceman for tools and whatever you need for 4-5 day trips. Gas mileage is reasonable, 23mpg on hwy if you dont go over 70mph. Tried all grades, the best results with 89 octanes. Turning radius could be better.

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  Ride On - 2017 Nissan Armada
  By Javier Solis - October 6 - 7:16 pm

  Spacious and great technology package.

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  2006 Nissan Altima - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By jackie - October 6 - 7:13 pm

  My wife and I love this car. We have the special edition package which provides very useful features. The fuel economy is good with ample interior and trunk space. No problems so far.

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  Awesome Vehicle - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By mikedee - October 6 - 11:50 am

  I dont normally write reviews, but after driving many CUVs including the new Ford Edge, i bought an 03 Murano. It has been a great pleasure to drive, is classy, comfortable and smart on the inside without being snotty, holds cargo roads like a truck but drives like a car (good clearance and AWD for mountain roads, but its no 4Runner). I cant comment on reliability yet, but it had 70k when I got it and was/is running great. if youre looking for a CUV type vehicle, at the very least you should test drive one of these - and dont worry, the initially weird CVT goes unnoticed after getting used to it.