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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  Shimmy - 2006 Nissan Maxima
  By madagaro - December 21 - 7:20 am

  On the day of the delivery I experienced steering wheel "shimmy" or vibration at two different speeds and despite 4 trips to the dealership, some improvement but not complete elimination of the problem. I understand steering wheel locks may be an issue (found that on the Edmunds site) and will try that....love the car, dislike the service I experienced.

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  My 3rd Maxima! - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Jack Schoen - December 21 - 7:12 am

  None of my Maximas have had great acceleration; ride could be better given that these are Nissans flagship cars. Otherwise, dependable, comfortable, almost luxurious interiors; great for short or long drives; reasonable mileage; never a major repair - all routine (brakes, tires, wheel barings (after 150 K miles), struts, etc. Very happy with Nissan.

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  Nice truck - 2006 Nissan Xterra
  By Grouch - December 21 - 12:06 am

  Lots of room inside, though difficult to get in and out of rear seats. Confident and sure footed ride. Really enjoying it.

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  Excellent truck - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By Jeff S. - December 20 - 11:10 am

  I purchased this to haul our 4 horse trailer since the standard iterations of the domestic vehicles were not even close towing wise. This truck has exceeded my expectations!! It is able to tow 7500 pounds without a problem. The ride is like a luxury car and the cabin is super quiet. I am looking now at buying another car and they are so loud compared to this thing. It has the most comfortable cab I have been in. The downside is that the brakes did need to be replaced under warranty. The brakes could also be a little more powerful. I see about 15 mpg overall and have seen 17.6 mpg HWY.

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  My 2000 Xterra SE 3.3 liter V6 - 2000 Nissan Xterra
  By jerrymax - December 20 - 8:03 am

  I bought this car almost two years ago and have put 15,000 miles on it. It is great in snow and ice in 4 wheel drive mode. Easy to shift from 2 to 4 wheel drive system. The 3.3 liter V6 is adequate, not fast, but you dont get an SUV for speed. Valve gaskets had to be replaced at 154K. Only complaints; no dashboard clock and dashboard instruments are very dark. On a sunny day if youre wearing sunglasses you cant read them unless dashboard lights are turned on. Vehicle is very rugged. I actually think this 1st generation Xterra looks nicer than the 2nd generation. 4 full doors and great visibility make it more practical than the FJ Cruiser. I would highly recommend this vehicle.

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  Perfect Commuter Car - 2000 Nissan Altima
  By Shayne Sintz - December 20 - 3:46 am

  Purchased 2000 GXE off lease in 2001 with 12K on it. Drives like a smaller car and predictable if pushed. No rattles or squeaks. Economical, but still very able to have fun with. Only had brake pads, serpentine belt, and tires replaced (now with over 85,000). Very reliable. Yup, the body style is bland, but who cares? For a car payment under $240/mo to own, you simply cannot beat it. Plan to drive into the ground (150- 200K+ miles). The A/C is cold and other climate conrols are fine. Literally, the only complaint may be that the e-brake handle protrudes into leg room on larger drivers. Id recommend to anyone looking for a well built commuter car on the cheap.

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  2015 Nissan Altima 2.5 S - 2015 Nissan Altima
  By Nigil Ramotar - December 17 - 11:16 am

  I have owned my Altima for just under 2 years. Bought new. It is a great car, and good value IF you are someone who holds on to cars for a long time (6+ years). The car has 25,000 miles now and I havent had any mechanical or electrical problems with the car. Only 1 recall so far (hood latch). My Nissan dealer gave me 3 years free maintenance when purchased, so I have spent very little on maintenance costs so far. The car drives well, it is a more sporty drive than an Accord or Camry, but doesnt feel as "refined" as the Accord. The best thing about the interior are the front seats, they are very comfortable. Great gas mileage, I do about 90% city 10% and average 31 mpg in summer, 29 mpg in winter. A month after I purchased the car, we took it on a 3,000 mile road trip (Chicago>Orlando>New Orleans>Chicago), for the entire trip we averaged 66 mph, including stopping, in-town driving, etc. and averaged 39.2 mpg (650+ miles/tank of gas), also got the car up to 100 mph and I must say it was fairly easy for this 2.5 engine. The CVT transmission takes some getting used to if you have not drvien a car with CVT before, but you will realize that the car is simply doing what its supposed to do. CVT is the future of the automatic transmission, and the CVT on this generation Altima is much better than the previous gen (my last car was a 2012 Altima). The only negative I have about this car is the resale value is very poor, especially when compared with the Accord and Camry. I wouldnt buy this car new, but look for one that is 2-3 years old. Still highly recommended.

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  Review of my SUV Nissan Rogue - 2017 Nissan Rogue
  By Veenaye - December 16 - 4:33 am

  Test drive and make sure that there is no defect or issues on the vehicle before buying it.

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  Nissan Pathfinder SE - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By JA Leal - December 15 - 2:10 am

  Nice & powerful best describe the redesigned Pathfinder. Nice exterior and handling. Had to take in to the dealer for alignment since it pulled to the right since new and the drivers side windows closes hard when it reached the top, hard enough that im concerned might break the glass. Also I thought I would get better mileage in city driving but it hasnt gone over 15.5 mpg, highway is bettter at 20-21 mpg. Overall it was a good buy. My experience with the dealer is a different story!

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  09 Altima 2.5 with Navigation - 2009 Nissan Altima
  By Dan - December 13 - 9:56 pm

  You get your moneys worth! The 2.5 with navigation has many high end features of luxury brands without the price. I traded in an 07 Audi A4 which had more torque and better cornering but the Altima has a lot more to offer for the price and looks just as sporty. The navigation system with integrated Bluetooth and Bose stereo is great. The fog lights and rear spoiler make the car more sporty. The CVT is great but the engine can be loud when you accelerate quickly. Push button start is a cool and convenient feature. Im happy with my purchase and got a fantastic lease payment!