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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  04 LE KC 4x4 Big Tow - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By mcscjt - December 17 - 2:00 am

  Awesome truck...Killer engine...in your face styling...great Utilitrack system...comfortable seats with power memory and power pedals...a blast to drive and you will stand out from the crowd!

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  Lots of Problems - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Susan - December 16 - 11:56 pm

  The style of this Nissan is great. The kids love the skyview windows, which makes the interior seem very cavernous. It seems like Nissan released this vehicle before the ironed out all the kinks though. Should you decide on the Quest be prepared for many problems, such as sunroof/roof leaks, interior trim breakage, rattles, a very confusing control panel, and power door problems, just to name a few of the common ones. Do your research before purchase!

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  My Drive - 2009 Nissan Cube
  By lars - December 16 - 10:33 pm

  All in all a very good first effort the interior layout is nice and very roomy Im 62 400 pounds and it felt o.k. the controls are nicely laid out but some of the options are pure gimmick so keep them to a minimum .

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  Sporty CSUV - 2016 Nissan Rogue
  By Bedford - December 16 - 4:52 pm

  My Wife was attracted to it and I was slow to warm up to it. Now I find the getting in and out of easy and comfortable ride . Peppy and great fuel economy. the only draw back is the drivers door(windows and locks etc.) are not illuminated. we love it ....were 70 and this is our first SUV because of the ease of enter and exit it.

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  Fun to Drive - 2009 Nissan Cube
  By ann50 - December 16 - 3:53 pm

  Have owned for about a month, so far, I love this vehicle. Decided to downsize from CRV for better gas mileage. I am so far averaging about 26mpg. I do have a lead foot, so this may affect the numbers. Love the sound system, keyless starter. Very roomy. Some wind noise at higher speeds on hwy. This car is so much fun to drive that the small negatives are outweighed.

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  06 Sentra SE-R Spec V - 2006 Nissan Sentra
  By Alex - December 16 - 12:50 pm

  I bought a yellow SE R Spec V in February, I love how it stuck out in the lot. In fact, the day I bought it I got a speeding ticket. I love the car, its so much fun to drive. Doesnt go too well in the snow with those little tires but thats okay. Everything else works great and it has been very reliable. It would be nice to have audio controls on the steering wheel, and would like to have better gas mileage. Overall the car is excellent.

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  Pleasant Surprise - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Mr Blue - December 16 - 8:13 am

  I found the 2005 Pathfinder to be much more than the vehicle to tote the groceries and luggage. I thought I was purchasing a utility car that my wife and I could use to move things including our three year old daughter and her crew. Ive found myself grabbing the keys to go out on the town or to buisness meeting leaving our very nice luxury car at home. It has the power and gets gas mileage that I cant complain about. And it has enough space where I can sit comfortably and drive without cramping the passenger behind me.

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  HOW DOES THIS EVEN HAPPEN? - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By mpf2007 - December 16 - 3:10 am

  okay so I received a 2007 Nissan Versa for christmas in 2006 - nice gift huh? WRONG. I drove the car to the grocery store and was dropping my fiance off at the house. He grabbed the bags & when he shut the door ALL OF THE AIRBAGS IN MYCAR DEPLOYED IN MY FACE! I was pissed went to the nissan dealership & it took 9 MONTHS TO FIX IT To make matters even worse when I got to the nissan dealership they tried to hand me the bill & make me pay it when the corporate office said it was warrantied add that to the jacked up transmission horrible quality of the plastic & metal,broken tire pressure sensor & o2 sensor brake light wiring issues and nissan & theyre cheap car can go to you know where

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  Awesome! - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By jerry - December 15 - 11:20 pm

  This car is the best car I have ever owned! The styling is great. The fuel economy is superb. I love everything about this vehicle. Basically this vehicle out performs camry, accord, and any other sedan in its class by a long shot. If you are considering a Altima, quit thinking and go get you the best sedan ever built!

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  New Maxima Fun to drive - 2010 Nissan Maxima
  By Gary Cook - December 15 - 6:26 am

  Just purchased new 2010 Maxima 3.5SV with all the bells and whistles. Drives Smooth and quiet. Very good acceleration. Some controls are in tight places and hard to get to. Seats are comfortable and the navigation system is easy to use. Fuel Efficiency is fantastic. 28.5 mpg at 75 mph on highway. Gets 22 around town.