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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  Great Car/SUV/Wagon versatility - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By Muranoman - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Enjoy the fresh styling from Nissan. The car is comfortable and enjoyable to drive. The navigation system is excellent once you learn how to operate it.

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  What a car! - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By Walls - March 8 - 2:00 am

  If you like this car in pictures, you need to see it and drive it in person!!! THe pictures do it no justice. The ride is really very nice, the quality, while not a Lexus, better than I thought. The styling is, well I dont need to tell you. I have had mine for a few weeks now, and the gas mileage is very good for an SUV. I love it more and more every day!

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  Better value than Honda and Toyota, Pleasantly Impressed! - 2011 Nissan Altima
  By hbgmama - March 7 - 2:00 pm

  I was in the market for a used car because I didnt think we could buy new with our budget. But we stumbled upon the Altima on sale and 0% financing. I love this car and am so happy with our purchase. The maintenance is inexpensive (previously drove a used Suburban). The car drives so nicely and gets great gas mileage. We bought the basic, basic model, but it still has A/C and power windows, which are luxuries in my opinion. The seats are microfiber-ish and after almost 2 years of owning the car, the light grey upholstery is not stained (thank you, OxyClean!) I bought plastic floor mats (a must with kids). We installed our own stereo and 4 speakers. Great job, Nissan!

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  Who needs an Infiniti!!! - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By carnut - March 7 - 9:33 am

  This 09 Murano has all the creature comforts of the Infiniti EX35 at a fraction of the price. We love the redesigned interior and exteriors. They did their homework on this one!

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  I Love xterra - 2006 Nissan Xterra
  By jack russel - March 7 - 2:13 am

  I owned a 2002 xterra and loved it. I was hit by a drunk driver and i was heartbroken. Insurance paid off my loan and I decieded that another xterra would be great. When i picked it up I had a permanent smile on my face. The inside and out has been redesigned and its awesome. i like the sporty interior and the aggressive exterior. Compared to my 2002 the seats are way more comfortable. The new engine is amazing, my old xterra only went 95 before the govener kicked in, this one I have gone up to 115 and boy does it get there fast. over all it handels awesome and rides smooth and i would buy 100 of them if I had the money.

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  styling, power, roomy...i like it - 2006 Nissan Frontier
  By wes - March 5 - 4:06 am

  this is the first truck ive owned, and its beat all my expectations...priced better than toyotas, roomier and more powerful too. nissan doesnt have the reputation of quality like toyota, but in my opinion, nissan is just as good if not better. time will tell, but resale values are improving on nissans because of it. great truck.

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  Best "economy" car - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By Lex - March 5 - 1:13 am

  This is the best car I have ever owned. Previously I drove a 2000 Honda Civic. And Rogue just blew me away, and I did compare it to Rav4 and Honda CRV. It is comfortable to drive for long distance trips. Its acceleration is great. Internal compartments are well thought out: large glove compartment, deep drivers box, upper compartment, etc. It has the amenities of a luxury car (well, almost). Trip calculator, mp3 port, front and back windshield heater, etc. Mileage, however, is not great for city drive. But with cheap gas prices now, I only spend $26 (it was $55) every 220 miles. For long trips, I could get 330 miles

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  My "Tuna Can" - 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By LiaDesiree - March 4 - 7:33 pm

  Well, folks, traded in my Mercedes S Class to go green. Havent regretted it, yet. This car is stylish, has great pickup, and tons of features that my Merz didnt have (XM radio, backup camera). Bought car and immediately drove it to So. California. Found I was doing 85-90 mph and didnt know it. Still got 32 MPG without battery assistance. Looked at Camry also, but Altima won, hands down, for style, comfort and options. Nissan warranties their battery for 150K miles. Got all the bells and whistles on this baby: tech package, etc.

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  Buy one if you can find one! - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By Frontier freak - March 4 - 9:50 am

  I owned a 04 Frontier and traded in for the 05 2.5L/5-speed - well worth it. Bigger everything and still reliable, expect for some body squeaks. The truck never had any mentionable problems but routine main. & a battery (not counting two wrecks which it took like a champ) and its still running and hauling 1,000 lbs. well. I think the interior design and ergonomics are great for a king cab, and the bold exterior design sets it apart from the wimpier Tacoma and domestics. Would like to see a more stroked 4 (or inline 5?) base model - the 2.5 L does great for the weight of this sturdy truck, but acceleration and torque are issues. I hope to get the 4.0 next time.

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  Good value & options for the money! - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By KC - March 3 - 7:50 am

  We average 24-25 MPG in mostly city driving, 26-27 on the interstate at approx 73 MPH!! Excellent! We test drove the RAV4 and CRV for comparison. The Rogue rides and drives better. The seats are more comfortable and the ride not as still as the others.