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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  It iZ what it iZ - 2009 Nissan 370Z
  By Terrence M. Green - January 10 - 11:13 am

  Owned for a month, now 1500 miles on it. It is amaZing! Installed K&N Air filterz and seemed to help with the car breathing better, little more powerful. AC off, drive 55, you can average at 30 mpg or over. Of course up to 70 with AC on I was happy to see 25 on average. Touring Sport pkg/19" wheelz, road noize on smooth blacktop iz reazonably quiet. Texas throwz down that Hot mix surface crap to save money & soundz like Im in a Jet over the enginez. Not Nissans fault the SouthTX roadz are crappy. Road surface makes a difference. Car was made for better roadz. Yes, lots of looks. My favorite DPS officer took a look and granted my 1st speeding ticket in yearz! Have to watch in Z!

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  great truck - 2004 Nissan Frontier
  By jeramy - January 10 - 10:26 am

  I have had this truck for a year and a half. I looked at the other midsized trucks and could not find a better deal. bought for 19k compaired to 26 or 27 for the others. I have driven in all conditions such as 4 feet of snow, dry roads, and some light off road. Never had a problem with the truck getting me where I want to go. I would buy again if I had the chance.

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  370Z is a dream come true - 2009 Nissan 370Z
  By Jeff - January 10 - 9:56 am

  I purchased this vehicle after 6 months of research. I got the sport package which I would recommend due to styling cues and the great rims. I previously owned a 06 350Z. The new design of this vehicle is so much better that the 350Z. The intelligent key is amazing. I recommend reading the owners manual to uncover some great features. The key can roll the windows up and down, but the intelligent key can only roll the windows down. Cruise control is now standard and the syncro-rev works perfectly. It also helps with a smoother upshift. I can not drive any where with out people straining to look. Road noise is acceptable and the ride is smooth for a true sports

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  Pleased with Sentra - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By Marshrat - January 10 - 12:26 am

  I just purchased a 2008 Nissan Sentra, and am very pleased with both the comfort and the performance. The 6-speed manual transmission is very easy to shift, and the ride is very smooth with the 16" wheels. I would recommend this car to a friend.

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  Great Nissan - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Russ - January 9 - 7:56 am

  I ordered this vehicle when it was first introduced. The Maxima has been a great car. The only minor glitches have been some shoddy interior trim pieces; namely the power cord cover and the storage compartment cover below the radio. Performance wise the car is stellar. It has more torque steer than I care for though. All in all a great car and comfortable to drive.

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  Altima 3.5 SE MT w/Tech Pack. - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By Black Pearl - January 8 - 10:26 am

  Bought two weeks ago. Great ride so far. My dealer found one with Technology Pack w/XM with Manual so I went for it. Glad I did! Nav is great and so is phone system. Black on black is truly mean looking. Getting 24 mpg so far on country roads. Waiting for XM to Sirius converter cause Sirius is so much better than XM. Very happy I got the manual trans. Goes like a rocket! Car is roomy and seems solid and safe for my two kids. Car seats fit well. So far so good!

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  I love my car! - 2007 Nissan Armada
  By ejtra - January 8 - 2:20 am

  I wanted an suv that had plenty of room and was safe for my toddler son. After test driving my Armada I knew it was perfect. It is much more accessible than a Tahoe or Yukon. I read many reviews on here to see what everyone else had to say about the Armada and realized that gas was the biggest concern. Safety was my biggest issue so we went ahead and purchased it and are happy that it gets 17 miles to the gallon in the city. It is as big as a house, we have room for days, and the gas mileage is not much worse than a midsize. I am glad I chose an Armada.

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  After 100 miles - 2008 Nissan Xterra
  By Happysofar - January 7 - 5:30 pm

  Wanted the best of both worlds - hauling / towing power, decent fuel economy & off-road ability. Looked at the Toyota FJ which is not a vehicle for a family. Went back to Edmunds and saw the xterra FJ comparison. Bought the X manual 6 spd. It drives very well, its comfortable, great visibility & a fun ride. Interior is more than sufficient for our needs. Not sure what the "cheap plastic" complaint means. I cant see anything wrong with the vehicle - I really like everything about it.

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  Still loving it! - 2008 Nissan Armada
  By Zoomnbyu - January 6 - 10:56 pm

  16,000 miles later and we remain quite impressed overall. The gas mileage average to date is 14.8. A few issues required a trip back to the dealer (rt ft strut blown, bad coolant cap leaking), but everything has been resolved to our satisfaction. One quality note: the alignment from the factory was awful! The truck darted around over bumps and handled horribly at first. I performed an alignment myself. It made a HUGE difference in the trucks composure! The front AND rear suspension is adjustable. Request that all be adjusted and get a final printout! The Armada serves our needs to a "T". I have no reservations in recommending it to anyone needing a large SUV!

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  Nissan Murano - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Rodney Vest - January 6 - 10:26 pm

  The Nissan Murano is a very confortable vehichle that has more leg room in the back than I expected. The Murano is a blast to drive with excellent acceleration. The interior is nicely laid out with user friendly controls. I just drove through a really bad winter storm and it handled very well.