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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  The Real Deal - 2007 Nissan 350Z
  By Mikes Z - March 12 - 9:33 am

  Waited 37 years since I laid eyes on the 1st Z back in 1970. Owned a 280 and 300, but this is the car of my dreams. Owned almost a year, 8K miles. It has exceeded all my expectations. Few cars outrun it, no cars outclass it. Best described by one car editor as "painfully beautiful". A literal work of art from any angle. Nissan did this right, with a ground-up redesign keeping true to the true spirit of this legendary car. Tame enough for daily commutes, but it turns into a different car when the tach hits 4K. The interior is a cockpit. The power and steering effortless. My hearts skips faster every time I see it.

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  Nissan Altima 2013 3.5 SL - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By brandenmh - March 12 - 5:08 am

  The car shudders at 1500 to 1800 rpms ...had transmission replaced and still shudders...feels like it will stall...very dangerous. ..needs attention ASAP..cant stop driving the car....dealer sends you on way like its ok...

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  good but needs improvement - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By john doe - March 11 - 11:50 pm

  Too much tire,road and engine noise and the roof needs more sound insulation normal rain drops sounds like hail.

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  Fun to drive - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Canady - March 11 - 3:10 pm

  We are having a great time driving our new 2005 Pathfinder. Once you get in it you want to keep on driving. Ours is the SE off road with a great sounding Bose stereo system. This is our second SE Pathfinder, our first, a 1988, carried us for 268,000+ miles with no major problems. We are hoping our new one can fill the shoes of the first one. We hope to get another 268,000+ miles on this one.

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  Disappointed - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By ALL - March 11 - 10:33 am

  I had a 2005 Ford Escape that was only getting around 21 mpg, so I decided to trade for a smaller car. I have always heard good reviews about Nissan, so I decided to purchase the Sentra. The sticker stated 29 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. However, I am only getting around 300 miles on a tank. The owners manual states the tank hold 14.3 gallons of fuel which should get by my estimate around 380. I feel very misled by Nissan. Even though I love the style and performance, I feel taken advantage of due to the price of oil. I am a single mother on a budget, and the whole reason for trading my small SUV was to save money. Last time I buy a Nissan.

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  Awesome SUV - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By Kelly - March 11 - 3:30 am

  This SUV is awesome in many ways. Looks great inside and out, and is fun to drive. It has power, its sporty and its classy. Ive had a lot of vehicles and this one is my favorite.

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  great ride - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By robert - March 10 - 2:50 pm

  The performance of the 350Z is great. The power is there when you need it or it is just a great cruising car. The feel is tight and the car just looks great.

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  Under the Radar Value - 2003 Nissan Frontier
  By rkt440 - March 10 - 10:00 am

  Ive always been aware of the Froniter but I never realized what a value it really is. Quality Japanese craftsmanship, the right features (Alloys, A/C, CD), slightly larger motor and you get a super-cab for the price of a similarly equipped, regular cab Ranger.

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  So Far, Pleased - 1999 Nissan Altima
  By STison - March 10 - 10:00 am

  I went out searching for a new car and didnt particularly like the prices of the brand new selections out there. So, I decided to check out the reasonably priced used cars and researched the ones that had some reliability to them. The best value that I found for the going price was the Nissan Altima. I found it to have substantial reliability from reviews of past consumers along with decent fuel economy. So far, I have been pleased with my purchase.

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  Excellent car for the price - 2001 Nissan Sentra
  By CAC83 - March 10 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car and never had any problem with it.. always serviced at the dealership. goes from 0 - 60 in 9 seconds if it is 5 speed. the fuel economy is around 28 mpg. In your are serious about buying a compact size car this is the way to go. faster than a civic and a jetta cheppear than a Corolla a jetta or civic. Nissan Sentra is your choice.