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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  Awesome Car - 2017 Nissan Maxima
  By AW - April 7 - 10:12 pm

  Luxury car without luxury price

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  Awesome Car - 2017 Nissan Maxima
  By AW - April 7 - 10:12 pm

  Luxury car without luxury price

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  great Car - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By Mike - April 7 - 2:43 pm

  I have had the versa for 45 days. I love the way it drives its so quite and I love the cvt transmission. Traded my Honda Pilot to save money dont miss it much the Versa is a great car I would recommend it to anyone. So far Im getting 28-29 mpg combined city & HWY, not as good as I expected but it only has 500 miles maybe it will get better mileage once its broken in. The keyless entry and bluetooth are worth the extra money. Great Car and very economical.

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  What a car! - 2009 Nissan Maxima
  By hutch1 - April 6 - 8:26 pm

  Traded in my 2nd Camry for my first Nissan, and I have to say Im thrilled with the purchase. Basically have now found what it means to have a sports sedan instead of a family cruiser and I will not be looking back! Test drove approximately 10 cars and never really found that perfect fit of sports sedan, luxury, good looks and reliability for a great price until now.

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  Keeping Fingers Crossed - 2010 Nissan 370Z
  By 2MMEZZZ - April 6 - 10:00 am

  This is my first Z since high school. Traded in my S Class Mercedes. Love the fun of it and hopefully will continue to adjust to the road noise and sports car ride. That being said, like others backing up and changing lanes is an adventure. All the controls are at your fingertips and very comfortable seats. My husband is 6 ft. 5 in. so not for him but its mine anyway.

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  2010 le 4x4 with nav - 2010 Nissan Pathfinder
  By rpe1 - April 6 - 10:00 am

  I drive mainly in the city, and it has all the power that I need. It uses some gas, but i think 15 miles per gallon is good in the city. I have owned the pathfinder for 4 weeks and it meets all of my expectations.

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  Mixed Review - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By rgc - April 6 - 10:00 am

  My Altima was a previous rental with 17,000 miles on it. I loved it until recently. There has been a problem with the transmission, I have already had it replaced twice in less than 14 months! Also the stereo has had to be replaced due to buttons not functioning and the lights flickering on the screen and not the new one is starting to do the same thing :( Thankfully it was all covered under warranty. I will most likely sell the car before the warranty expires so that I will not have to fund these expenses next year when the transmission needs to be replaced AGAIN.

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  Love this van!! - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Erin - April 6 - 5:43 am

  I have previously owned a Dodge Caravan and a Toyota Sienna but love this van with its many features, comfortable ride, new body style and great acceleration. It drives more like a car than a van. I am very happy with my purchase.

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  Great Mid-Size SUV - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By TBONE - April 5 - 10:56 am

  With a little over a year of ownership and some serious use, not a single problem. I tow a 4,700 lb camper just fine. I looked for a mid-size SUV that could handle my camper but still deliver decent mpg during most of its life without the camper. I am averaging 15-16 mpg around town and get 10 mpg when towing at highway speeds. Ive looked at getting a bigger camper and up-sizing in vehicles, but I just cant find another SUV that utilizes interior space a well as the Nissan. The fold flat 3rd row and thoughtful storage gives the Nissan more useful space than SUVs much larger. Overall it is a good blend of full-size capability with mid-size driving characteristics and fuel economy.

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  reliable - 2001 Nissan Sentra
  By stewart - April 5 - 2:46 am

  u must buy the se 2.0, handles very well and fun to drive. this car is the most reliable car i ever had. i have 150,000 miles on it and didnt put more then 1000 dollars in it in 6 yrs