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 NEVER GET ANOTHER SEDAN AGAIN! - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By Taylor2 - December 31 - 2:00 am

  I LOVE MY XTERRA I WOULD NOT EXCHANGE IT FOR THE WORLD. I LOVE TO GO OFF ROADING IN IT AND IT PERFORMS WELL IN THE SNOW. I GOT IT BRAND NEW AS A 17TH BIRTHDAY GIFT IN 2003 AND NOW 18 I WILL NEVER GET ANYTHING ELSE, ASLONG AS NISSAN KEEPS MAKING THE XTERRA NOTHING BUT WONDERFUL THINGS!!! IT WILL GO TO COLLEGE WITH ME IN VERMONT AND I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE SNOW SEASON TO BEGIN!!!

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  Love That Z Car! - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By SusanDaley - December 31 - 2:00 am

  Awesome , fun, exilherating,wouldnt drive anything else! Total control at high speed, corners smooth as silk, and can stop on a dime! Not to mention the one of a kind body style! You feel like and LOOK like aCelebrity in this car! Need I say more!

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  LOOKS, PERFORMANCE, VALUE - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By Timoteo - December 31 - 2:00 am

  This oh-so-picky driver has had an Acura NSX, Chevy Corvette and Audi TT in recent years. For the money, the 350Z passes all of the above--esp. in six-speed manual mode. The addition of ultralight Nismo wheels and oversize Bridgestone Potenzas amplify the roadsters strikingly muscular good looks. So do burnt-orange leather seats (with black "comfort net") and super- black exterior. Bottom line: Z best car to date!

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  I love my 350z - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By ZDriver37 - December 31 - 2:00 am

  When I first sat in the Nissan 350z it was heaven. My plans were to just test drive the Z and get a taste of the vehicles performance. Instead I went against my plans and purchased one that day. The test drive was so much fun I did not want to get out of the car. I knew it had to be mine. Since the day I purchased the Z I look foward everyday to driving the car after work and school. A car that performs excellent at 150mph with no problem, and is priced under $40,000 is an excellent buy.

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  Greatest Driving Machine Ever Produced! - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By Julia Mahre - December 31 - 2:00 am

  My brothers car, the 350z, is an awesome car! Everyone in town thinks so too. Any time I get to ride in it we have quite fun, and we also at the same time feel safe, comfortable, and we know that we look cool!

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  LMs review - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By pawhappy - December 31 - 2:00 am

  I have never before been in a car where anywhere you go heads are turning. This car has and does it all. This is my 5th nissan. Ive owned saabs and toyotas I will never buy anything other than a nissan. They are great cars for a good value.

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  Its a dream - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By JWG - December 31 - 2:00 am

  I have never owned a Nissan before. I am more than pleased with everything about this car. It is got the power, comfort and looks. I could not be more pleased. Well, seoond thought, maybe if it were not as expensive.

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  I love Sally the Sentra - 2000 Nissan Sentra
  By aubreym - December 30 - 9:23 pm

  I bought Sally the Sentra the summer after I graduated high school. It has been 5 years and I have not had one single complaint! It gets excellent gas mileage, it is fun to drive, still peppy even with 100,000 miles on it. There was a recall on it right after I got it, and when it was fixed it got better mileage than the sticker said. I would keep it forever, we just need something a little roomier.

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  Nissan Certified 370Z Touring 6MT - 2009 Nissan 370Z
  By djrelic247 - December 30 - 8:43 pm

  Everything about the vehicles is a positive. Its a REAL sports car so there isnt going to be much of any cargo room. I mean the owners manual doesnt even fit in the glove box. Only Im luke warm about is the initial clutch engagement aka the friction point. It is very high on the clutch pedal and the window from friction point to full engagement is the smallest Ive ever felt. This is the stock clutch. The clutch is very linear as well, so you really need to feel when it bites at first. But there is a cheap fix for it, which is buying a clutch helper spring to replace the OEM one. Better fix is a new clutch assembly which makes it feel like any other car you have driven.

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  The Best with Class. - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By The Kamen Family - December 30 - 2:20 pm

  All I can say is I looked at all the ratings for the Armada. I wanted to by a Toyota Sequoia and found to much hype. The Armada has the power and Features (Standard),Toyota only wish it had. Move over Toyota or get ran over. Armada is the real deal.