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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  114th Car, One of the best - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By Alive2K - March 3 - 10:00 am

  Ive had a lot of cars (114 to be exact) and owned just about everything but a BMW (Just hasnt interested me). Last sports car was a Lexus SC400. This beats it hands down for value and fun to drive. Ive liked a few cars more than this (most owned when I was a kid, like a 1968 Chevelle SS) but this is certainly in the top 5. I will likely break my record for time owned (currently at 14 months).

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  Great Car - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By husker14 - March 2 - 10:08 pm

  Purchased the 2013 Altima 2.5.SL a week ago. So far the car exceeded all my expectations. Traded in a 2007 Camry Hybrid and very pleased with over all MPG (33.8), only 1 MPG less than the hybrid. Altima also drives much better than the Camry with a very solid feel and tighter steering response. I highly recommend this vehicle to anyone in the market for a midsize sedan. My only complaint is there is no compartment to store loose change.

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  My new 2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE - 2006 Nissan Pathfinder
  By j1021 - March 2 - 7:53 pm

  Overall I really like my new truck. the navigation is nice but like all built in systems its not that easy to navigate around in.

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  I have loved this car. - 2000 Nissan Sentra
  By Happy girl - March 2 - 2:46 pm

  I bought my Nissan in 2002. This car has been more than I could have hoped for. In 8 years of ownership I have only had 1 problem with the alternator going out at 133,000 miles. This car just keeps going and I often say I will drive it till it dies. The interior is a little small if you have a family and the drink holders are awkward but all in all this car has been awesome. Bravo to Nissan.

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  You Will Love This Vehicle - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By SueinCO - March 2 - 8:43 am

  We tested the 2008 Toyota Highlander, Mazda CX-9, Hyundai Veracruz and others and this one was the best. Feel really good about our decision. Rides like a dream. Very quiet and unbelievable comfort. Power is great with the CVT. We got the top of the line with everything except the DVD player for the back, and are glad we did. The interior is great and feels very luxurious. Still learning all the features,but so far they are fairly easy to get familiar with and we love them all. I really like the heated front and rear seats in the LE.

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  Better than expected - 2012 Nissan Sentra
  By bugmanpat - March 1 - 11:11 pm

  The little Sentra is probably overlooked by most people interested in a small car, and that is too bad. It has more interior room than most of its competitors, you sit a little higher off the pavement, and the driving dynamics are good. Add to that some outstanding gas mileage when driven gently - way better than the EPA estimates so far for me. And all of that for a price that is easily as good or better than its competitors. And due to good resale values, you can get really great lease payments - much smarter than buying a 1 or 2 year old used car.

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  Will not buy another Frontier - 2004 Nissan Frontier
  By Scot - March 1 - 11:03 pm

  This truck is very slow. I know it is a 4 cyl, but it has this habit of shifting into the highest gear when I need it the least (going uphill and accelerating). When I need to accelerate, I have to either press the pedal 1/2 way down to shift, or push the Over Drive button on the shift lever. Speaking of which, you cant shift into a lower gear if you have something plugged into the cigarette lighter. The shift lever is in the way. Also, the plastic plug to the cigarette lighter is always falling out. DO NOT DRIVE this truck in the snow. It will not make it up even the slightest of grades. Even with XL tires, the back end is very light and slips everywhere. Dont buy this death trap.

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  Good Pick - 2007 Nissan Frontier
  By Good Pick - March 1 - 10:10 pm

  This is my 4th truck. Looks are awesome. Truck has plenty of power better than my chevy with a 305 V-8. Cargo features are nice. Rides great. Could get a bit better fuel mileage (my average is 18 Miles) but I think Nissan traded performance for fuel economy. Turning radius is not good. Dont try to u-turn with busy traffic. My only complaint was driver side left foot rest took up too much space. I removed it and made a much better flat surface with rubber top - worked great.

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  Numerous Problems - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By PghNissan - March 1 - 11:56 am

  I love the car and driving experience, however, It has been in the shop 3 times now for ticking in the steering wheel and will be going back later this week. Its also had to have the rotors turned. Beware!

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  Best overall sports car value - 2010 Nissan 370Z
  By zedhead - March 1 - 10:00 am

  With the sports package you get great acceleration, great brakes, great handling, way above average reliability and a reasonably comfortable ride, especially for a sports car. Rev matching not a problem if you opt for the sports package which adds the (way) upgraded brakes, 19 inch forged Rays wheels, tasteful rear spoiler and the rev matching feature, which is a great feature.