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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  Almost 1 year and 7500 miles later... - 2003 Nissan Pathfinder
  By bd70 - July 3 - 10:00 am

  Im still enjoying my ride like I did when I purchased it. Leather interior is great. Real wood would be great but the plastic wood still warms up the interior. Put some quality floor mats in and a cargo mat, youre ready to go. I put on the front brush and rear taillight guards and it LOOKS a bit more rugged. I wouldnt count on them for protection. The new 17" rims are a good improvement but are really easy to scratch on the curb. People complain about the rear seat, but Im driving so I dont care, and my passengers never complain. I also like the styling inside and out, even if it is a bit dated on the outside. Still a good-looking vehicle.

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  Whata fun car to driv e - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By gschechter - July 3 - 10:00 am

  Never have riven a Corvette or any of the $40,000+ cars, but dont think they could be any more fun then this. The handling of the car is great-my only complain is that the convertible top is a single layer of canvas. My first car was a 1966 Pontiac LEmans Convertible and that also had a single layer of canvas-since 1980 I have owned 3 convertibles and they all have had a second layer of insulation-surprised that Nissan didnt realize this. Also just bought 4 Blizzak snow tires because if the car handles on snow anything like my 1986 RX-7, I will need them to keep from detroying the car.

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  Very Nice Car - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By jmil1 - July 3 - 10:00 am

  I was very superised after I purchased this vehicle.I knew I like the Outside of the car, but the inside is extremely nice. They did a really nice job with this automobile.

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  Terrific car - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Tom in Dallas - July 3 - 10:00 am

  Ive had the car a month and just love driving it. Its peppy and handles great. Good gas mileage. Many terrific features (See Favorite features). This is my second Maxima; I base the reliability on my previous (95) auto.

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  Zippy and agile - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By California_Poppy - July 2 - 5:10 pm

  I drove a manual 1991 Maxima that got totaled after 219,000 miles, so I bought the manual 2000 right after. Its zippy, agile, smooth, and quiet. My commute is an hour a day, so Im happy to have a comfortable and reliable car. I get about 300-330 miles per tank. I bought my car in 2007 from a guy who took very good care of it. But in the past three years, Ive had to replace the front wheel axle boot, the clutch hydraulic line, and the clutch itself. After ten years, the last didnt surprise me. The O2 sensor gives false readings and has had to be re-set. A friend of mine says to expect to pay about $100 in repairs for each year the car is old, and so far, thats right on target

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  Still really like it! - 2014 Nissan Altima
  By greatcarz - July 2 - 12:47 pm

  I took delivery of my new 2014 Nissan Altima SV back in November of 2013, so Ive now had it for a little over a year. After 17,000 miles of highway and city driving I can still recommend it as one of the nicest and best looking cars on the road, especially for the money. From the factory remote start, which I originally thought I wouldnt use very much to the great display in the dash, Nissan incorporated a lot of very usable technology in this 4-door mid-size sedan. The CVT transmission is very smooth and the sport mode is fun when you feel like merging onto the highway with a bit more performance. My fuel mileage has been fantastic, getting the highway rating of 38 mpg.

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  Great Car; large engine=a bit lower mpg - 2009 Nissan Maxima
  By baroja - July 1 - 7:56 am

  This is my third Max; had the first one in 1989, and 2000. Love Consumer Reports, but they are dead wrong complaining about light steering at low speeds. THAT is one of the features that enables this car to maneuver easily. Driving around town,however, I am only getting about 19.5 (avg of -30 mph). Started to go cheap, but when compared, the features of the SV far outweigh the S for the $. Had a 2006 VW Passat Sports6, and while the Max doesnt drive as tight as that, it is far more comfy, and I dont anticipate living at the dealers service facility for minor stuff that = a thousand cuts.

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  It stole a Toyota buyer!!! - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Mike - July 1 - 2:36 am

  I really love this SUV. We researched them all and this was the best "value". The ride is extremely comfortable. I took it to work in the snow on our third day with it and was completely impressed. The VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) was tested out extensively and I was amazed at how well it performed. I couldnt make it go into an uncontrolled slide. Youll feel comfortable with your family riding in it. I compared the SE to the Off road and the off-road had a little bit stiffer feel but not in a bad way. I think the regular SE might have been a little soft to take on the dirt.

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  Dependable Nissan Frontier - 2004 Nissan Frontier
  By Marky Mark - June 30 - 8:10 pm

  I first saw this truck. The body shape was very unique especially the front end kinda liked the look. When I test drove it the engine sounded very quite. The price was in my range. I didnt have to spend an arm and leg. Powerwise acceleration is pretty weak, But as long as it get me to point A to point B its all good. Shifting is not too smooth, a bit jerky with the clutch. I had to really go easy with the clutch when releasing it back. The ride was too bumpy on streets and highways where I live. Gas mileage pretty good cant complain. Im a light truck user when hauling and going camping. Having a truck is a must. Overall very dependable and reliable truck. Mostly I got it at a good deal!

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  Best Mini-Van by Far - 2005 Nissan Quest
  By dlsturdevant - June 30 - 3:13 pm

  We liked everything about this rig better than the competitors. We havent been disapointed one bit. My wife loves the admiring looks we get from other mini-van owners and the incredible responsiveness of the engine. This thing drives like a sports car.