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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  Fantastic SUV - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By net-merchant1 - October 4 - 2:00 am

  Ive own a ford and a dodge Suvs. They dont even come close to the QUALITY of the Pathfinder.

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  great suv - 2004 Nissan Pathfinder
  By playa - October 4 - 2:00 am

  Great SUV the total package is up there with the best!

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  Love It - 2001 Nissan Frontier
  By Chipchick - October 4 - 2:00 am

  I have driven many different trucks in my time, but Frontier has been the most enjoyable. It can certinaly turn heads and makes to proud to drive it. Gas mileage sucks, but I guess there is a draw back on everything. Ill pay for it.

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  Once you go Japanese you never go back - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By jjln - October 4 - 2:00 am

  This one has get up and go. Interior and exterior styling excellent. Ride is good, front hood shakes a bit on hwy. I like the ride and the look of the vehicle. The v 6 is great however it does det 21 mpg, which relly isnt that bad considering the size and power of vehicle. I will buy again. Plus dealer service is great. Never will I buy an american car again.

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  excellent value - 2004 Nissan Altima
  By relent - October 4 - 2:00 am

  For the money,($22,600 w/sunroof and foglights)you cant find another car as well equiped.The Bose stereo is outstanding,steering wheel controls are nifty and its got nice power for a 4 cylinder(175 HP)Leather seats feel good, not cheap like some companies make. I highly recommend it if you are the sort who likes a luxury like superstar at a great price

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  Car #58! - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By ronco - October 4 - 2:00 am

  This is the 58th car Ive owned and one of the best! While this dippy website dings me for the "seafoam green" color, I still get compliments nearly 2 years after purchase. In fact, I have people tell me theyd buy the same car color as mine but then there would be two in the neighborhood. I test the V6 and said, "what for?" The powerful 175 HP 4 cyl out performs the boring Honda and Camry by far! I added aftermarket wheels and it looks like a much more expensive car.

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  Good car for price/features - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By kvm08091 - October 4 - 2:00 am

  A good car for price to features. Replaced 1994.4 Limited edition 5spd with this one. Looks like old car has better fuel economy and back seat legroom! Recommend to anyone looking for a a good commute car OR First time buyer.

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  IT - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By nathan101 - October 4 - 2:00 am

  It has a navigation and it gets to speed very fast and it is a VERY NICE CAR!

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  Perfect Vehicle - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By RoAr - October 4 - 2:00 am

  This car is amazing! It has everything you need. I just took it to the snow and it handled beautifully. And its the 2WD model. It has a great ride and it is very powerful when passing others on the highway. Ive also received many complements on the design. I highly recommend it. I payed $29,000 for the SL 2WD with Sunroof package, floor mats, and wind deflector.

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  Murano Wins me over - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By DerekD - October 4 - 2:00 am

  Mostly a car guy and moving into this SUV seg took a good leap of faith for me. My needs are performance, handling, and decent gas mileage. The Murano meets all my pesky criteria and coming from my 02 Maxima it does even a better job at some things that the Max did poorly.