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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  MY NEW NISSAN - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By CHRISTY - December 1 - 10:00 am

  MY EXPERIENCE WITH MY NEW ALTIMA HAS BEEN A VERY GOOD ONE.I FEEL THAT I MADE A GOOD CHOICE BY BUYING IT.IT IS A 3.5 WHICH MAKES IT THAT MUCH MORE FUN TO DRIVE AND LET ME TALL YA IT HAS THE POWER TO MOVE AND HANDLES THE ROAD VERY WELL.TO ME THE ALTIMA HAS COME ALONG WAY I FEEL LIKE IM DRIVING A SPORTS CAR.

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  fast - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By power train - December 1 - 10:00 am

  best thing i done in a while, the car handles great, compared to the lincoln 2001 LS i let go not even close

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  I would buy it again - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By Jim - November 30 - 5:10 pm

  This is a work truck for me and I spend a lot of time on the road. The seats are comfortable and the layout of the interior is very clean. It has plenty of power, starts and runs smooth. I have been getting around 18.3MPG in town and 22MPG Highway. The only problem I have had was a rattle noise from the engine. I took the truck in, there was a TSB for the noise, they ordered the part and the truck was fixed.

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  Very happy so far! - 2007 Nissan Murano
  By James - November 30 - 9:50 am

  I have been researching SUVs for the past year and a half and finally decided that the Murano was the best choice for me. I love the sleek design of the exterior. I wanted something with plenty of power, comfort, reliability and great resale value. I think the Murano meets all of my expectations! It is replacing a 2000 GMC sierra X-cab 4x4 pickup. The murano has more zip than the truck had. I only have about 600 miles on it so far and am getting 21 mpg in mixed driving. Im sure Ill get the 24 on the highway that they suggest. I love the CVT. It is always at the perfect rpm for the condition. The bose stereo is not as awesome as I thought it would be, but it sounds pretty good. Im very pleased.

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  Better every mile. - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By BSmith - November 30 - 7:56 am

  The 1st suv that really rides like a sedan. Great pick up in town and on Hwy. We avg. about 27 mpg Hwy and 20 mpg city. ( After breakin period of 1500 miles.) Merlot was the color of choice. Very eye catching vehicle. Great for couple who want style performance and comfort. We have the S model, which come with alot of standard equipment. The safty rating is awesome it has front and side curtain airbag (Big Plus for us, we have kids.) Another thing great interior space for adults front or rear. My wife and I have enough leg space in the front know we have two kids in carseats behind us. And they even have leg space to spare. The AWD is great kick in when needed nough said. Iloveit,but its her

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  Great Midsize SUV - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By damavr - November 30 - 5:23 am

  We bought the Pathfinder LE 4x4 with Navi on Saturday. What a great SUV, room for seven, lots of power, descent mileage, great looks. I have noticed that heads turn when your drive this SUV. The top of the line LE that we have purchased is loaded with everything you will ever need, leather heated seats, memory sits, 4 12v outlets, 3 zone AC/Heat, BOSE 9 speaker 6 cd chager, storage room, 17 inch wheels. Until now everything is working great and looks great.

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  New Surprise - 2009 Nissan Altima
  By G Peterson - November 30 - 3:16 am

  I own a 2003 Nissan Pathfinder that now has 125,000 miles. It is my baby that I love but since moving to SC from NJ I wanted a car with good mileage for our travels. While only owning the car for a few months I find it fun to drive, mileage is good and I love the way it handles. It is almost like a sports car. In two weeks it will be taken on a drive to Florida and I cant wait to get it on 95 where I can really see the mileage it gets. For a 4 cylinder its has great pick-up.

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  Highly Recommended - 2010 Nissan Rogue
  By Girakul - November 28 - 5:03 am

  I love this car, this is my first SUV ever, and I am not disappointed at all! It rides very smoothly, can barely feel the bumps on the road, comfort level is high, before this car I was driving a Cadillac CTS 2006, and I dont see any comfort reduction level. Visibility is very nice on this car, and gas millage is pretty good too. I get about 17 mpg on average which is less from what the manufacturer states, but in my area there are a lot of stop signs, and traffic, so it is reasonable. The mileage on this SUV is better than my previous car which was a Sedan. AWD responds very well, and the insurance is cheap for this car because it is safe and reliable.

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  Wow nissan frontier 06 - 2006 Nissan Frontier
  By Joe Busbee - November 27 - 8:40 pm

  Best truck you can buy for the money. Reliable, stout, tuff looking, overall awesome truck.

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  Excellent SUV - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Jason - November 27 - 5:53 am

  Excellent SUV. I have had many different SUVs and this by far outperforms any of them. When I first went to Nissan, I was interested in a Murano. However, the Murano did not have a lot of power compared to the Pathfinder. The Pathfinder sounds mean. That is great. It also has an agressive looking exterior. The interior is very well designed and user friendly. The Bose stereo system is excellent. The Pathfinder drives great and is very comfortable. This was an excellent purchase and I would recommend it to everyone.