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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  Excellent used car - 2001 Nissan Maxima
  By Ken - March 28 - 6:53 pm

  Purchased at 73,000 miles and driven 4,000 in 4 months during one of the harshest winter in Chicago. The car started every time and everything worked great. The engine is very quite and the ride is very comfortable. Fuel economy is worse than expected as it has been consistently getting about 18 MPG in the city but it jumps to 22 MPG on highways. Still very stylish after all these years.

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  GOOD SUBCOMPACT OVERALL - 2008 Nissan Versa
  By TD - March 28 - 4:10 pm

  Good gas mileage, 26 city, 33 hwy. Wanted a manual but not available on sl sedan so I decided to try the CVT and I like it. Performance is excellent with this trans. Unfortunately it is my understanding that you cannot get the CVT in the SL sedan any longer, it is only available in the hatchback. The only available trans on the SL sedan is the 4 Speed auto, as such gas mileage will suffer. The Versa has ABS and 6 airbags. The bluetooth works great and the radio with XM and 6 cd offers great listening flexibility.

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  Fun to Drive - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By Fever - March 28 - 11:23 am

  I have owned her since October. I just rolled 10,000 miles. She is fun to drive and is very obedient. Driving requests are fulfilled flawlessly. Steering is very responsive, as are braking and accelerating. CVT pulls hard under acceleration, making interstate merging quite easy. Very nimble in traffic, yet comfortable on the highway. Entry and exit very comfortable, as is the unlimited fan speed selector. Great move Nissan. Had two airbag service appts but all fixed up now. You have to expect small hicups with a brand new model.

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  Best Value for the Money - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Mike C - March 28 - 4:23 am

  This isnt the most fun thing in the world to drive, but it has decent enough power and the front/rear stabilizer bars make it good for cornering except that the seat bolsters are too wide and dont offer much support. The creature comforts are great, the styling is classy, the interior is simple yet refined, and plenty of storage space.

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  So much better than my Ford Explorer - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By David - March 28 - 2:53 am

  I have always been a Ford man, never driving an "import". Finally the resale value of Fords turned me to products by Nissan & Toyota. I have to say I am glad I made the switch. The overall quality of my Nissan Pathfinder is so much better than I have learned to live with. It is loaded with extras, has more power than I know what to do with and has a new powerful look to it. No wonder Nissan has one of the highest resale values on the market.

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  Saved My Life - 1999 Nissan Altima
  By Marlene - March 28 - 2:33 am

  Ive owned this car since purchased and loved it. A few minor improvements to the model would have been nice but overall an excellent car. I rolled it down a hill last week and totalled it. I crawled out virtually unscathed. A few bruises but nothing major. The safety features in this car saved my life.

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  Nice car! - 2001 Nissan Altima
  By 2001 Altima SE - March 27 - 9:50 pm

  Strong engine. Transmission pretty smooth. Both exterior and interior size somewhat smaller than other midsize cars but bigger than compact size cars. Ride is comfortable but not luxury. I owned it since new had no problem so far-86K now. Mine is sportier version with spoiler, alloy wheels, sport suspension and etc. When it was new, better value than accord or camry I felt but resale value is poorer. No timbing belt in this car. It has chain which does not requre replacement at 60k. Overall, Nice car!

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  Incredible! - 2009 Nissan Maxima
  By HSEinPhila - March 27 - 2:03 pm

  Wow, what a great car. Just got an 09 with sports package, truly lust at first drive. Incredible power, throaty exhaust note, handles/corners well. Eye catching styling. Comfy seats hug and support. Well designed cockpit, easy to see gauges and controls. Having a lot of fun with this one.

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  A Reliable Gem - 1996 Nissan Altima
  By Hot shot - March 27 - 10:00 am

  This is a great little car. Its fun to drive and highly reliable. The gas mileage isnt bad, either. I like it so much this is my second one; the first one was hit from both front and rear but the body integrity was such that all four doors opened and shut soundly after the car was totaled!

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  Great Car to buy used - 1997 Nissan Altima
  By GP - March 27 - 10:00 am

  Really good car to buy used. Engine is peppiest among this group. Real fun to drive. Buy extended warranty.