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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  Poorly built - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By disappointed - November 17 - 1:13 am

  I should have bought the Civic. Purchased this vehicle Feb. 29, 2008. This vehicle is like a tin can on wheels. The wind noise is prominent and there are numerous rattles from doors and trim. The weather strips around the front doors are coming apart. This is not a luxury drive and the bumps in the road will confirm this; you will feel it in the seat of your pants and can be clearly heard in the cabin. Tap on the panels and trunk and you will get a hollow sound. The fuel economy is way below the advertised rating. The foot pedals are too close and any foot above a size 9 will be in for trouble. The arm rest is more like an elbow rest. This is a terrible car.

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  I Love My Maxima - 1996 Nissan Maxima
  By General - November 14 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned and driven this car for 175,000 miles. The only repair that it needed was a starter. Ive put on two sets of brake pads (genuine Nissan) at 85k and 170k. I put new spark plugs in (genuine Nissan) at 170k also. Thats all Ive done to it besides oil changes! It still doesnt have a rattle or squeak. It sure has treated me well.

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  2002 Nissan Frontier XE CC 4x4 - 2002 Nissan Frontier
  By BrewJeep - November 14 - 2:00 am

  Its a great little truck -- very handy. I purchased the shortbed for ease of handling offroad, but would prefer the longbed for hauling loads. Handling is very nice with less understeer than some of the competitors offerings and better ride than the Tacoma, which I also looked at.

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  The anti-Camry - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By David - November 12 - 3:43 pm

  Bought this car 6 mos. ago with 61k on the odo and in that time I have had no probs with it except i had to force the dealer to replace the trans b/c the car had been previously wrecked on the drivers side and they didnt tell me. Now it has 71k and though im a little weary of the interior rattles I couldnt be more thrilled with the way it gets around town and on the interstate. Everything is done smoothly and competently and the VQ35 is well deserving of its reputation, tho Nissan let it down by not installing a 5sp automatic. Build quality is spotty in some areas, particularly around the hood and headlights, but this is still a solid car that Im planning on keeping for a long time.

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  Very satisfied - 2008 Nissan Titan
  By F. Getter - November 12 - 3:20 pm

  Fun to drive, plenty of power, ease of handling, good visibility, and fair gas mileage.

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  Ill never get rid of it - 1999 Nissan Pathfinder
  By BOB - November 11 - 5:36 am

  I bought this SUV new in 1999 and after 110,000 miles its still going strong. Replaced the front struts at 60k and the timing belt at 107k. The only problem Ive had is the gas tank door breaking from its hinges. When I buy a new car Ill still keep it. It has given me zero problems.

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  2016 nissan rogue SL - more changes please! - 2016 Nissan Rogue
  By BGF - November 10 - 5:24 am

  many positives on the 2016 nissan rogue ... size is perfect (184" long), descent ground clearance, excellent rear storage, sunroof is awesome on the SL trim. The styling of the 2016 rogue i prefer over all (toyota rav4, honda crv, kia sportage, ford escape) ... perf leather seats are very comfortable. usability of the roof rack is awesome! on the negative, heres the changes id like to see: 1. engine is a bit small ... still stay in the 2.5L but up the HP to 190 and TORQUE to 195 2. SL trim bring in ventilated front seats 3. flip rear glass on the rear hatch please (for us dog owners), and just plain old usability features for quick access to the rear 4. CVT ... internet is rampant nissan w/CVT failures ... i keep my vehicles for a LONG time (16+ years, 200k+ miles) ... there are too many internet posts w/regards to nissan CVT failures ... drop the CVT for the 7 speed transmission, or at least provide the option of a manual transmission

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  You get what you pay for... - 2003 Nissan Frontier
  By Sambo - November 9 - 10:00 am

  I wanted something simple with a low overall cost of ownership. So far so good with 9000 miles on the odometer. 4 cylinder is peppy and 5 speed transmission is nicely matched. Mileage is 23 MPG in mixed driving. A/C really sucks the power-I turn it off when I need some speed. Interior is nice. Exterioe styling is great. Made in the USA-I like the idea of keeping those 5800 Americans working hard in Smyrna, TN.

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  Not bad sports car - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By icanluv - November 9 - 10:00 am

  This car has an engine growl that is very distinct and the sound is one of my favs about this vehicle. This car is very fun to drive and very responsive. Lights are cool.

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  Crew Cab - 2002 Nissan Frontier
  By SBB0618 - November 9 - 10:00 am

  All around great truck. The long bed actually makes the truck look better than with the chopped look of the short bed.