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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  Styling, & performance to match - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Steve - November 17 - 7:03 pm

  Considered buying Explorer & Grand Cherokee. Pathfinder wins hands down in terms of value for your your money. Best compromise of engine power and gas mileage (for an SUV). Love the unique styling, which hints at the power under the hood. Have 3,700 miles on the truck, no issues so far (except for an exterior molding piece falling off roof rack). Solid construction, excellent power & handling, great suspension feel. I couldnt be happier with the truck. Im tempted to keep the secret to myself, but if youre considering a mid-size SUV, this is a great truck.

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  Great Value - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By Great Value - November 17 - 2:23 pm

  Traded 04 Murano with 104k miles Loved the style of the Rogue and the value proposition. 1300 miles in and Im more satisfied with the purchase every day. Drive 25-30k+ annually and feel the Rogue is up to the task

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  Great SUV - 2000 Nissan Pathfinder
  By KevinGA - November 17 - 10:00 am

  Great SUV and a great look on the road. Underpowered for 2000, but they fixed that in later years. Rear springs are a bit light for holding anything heavy in the back. Seems to have held its value VERY well. Especially considering all the rebates we got on it. All in all, a great SUV.

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  Love at First Sight! - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By Granny G - November 17 - 9:03 am

  As a senior citizen formerly driving a Toyota Corolla, I wanted something a little different for probably my last car. I was considering a Tucson or CR-V, but the minute I saw the Rogue in Venom Red it was love at first sight! I love it so far, though I am still trying to figure out some of the (many) bells & whistles. It is fun to drive, and I believe Nissans are very reliable, also.

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  Kellys Versa SL Hatchback - 2009 Nissan Versa
  By Kelly - November 16 - 7:30 pm

  I have had my Versa less than a month. But so far I have been completely satisfied. I do a mixture of city and highway driving and am getting 30-31 MPG. No mechanical problems of any sort. I love the Intelligent Key and the Bluetooth. They were so worth the money. This is my first Nissan, but I have nothing but praise for it. The Sapphire Blue is gorgeous and I have gotten several compliments. I wish the interior was a bit lighter in color as it shows every spec of dirt. But that is minor. The CVT has a lot of get up and go and I have no problems on the highway. Love this car.

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  Best Van in the WORLD - 2005 Nissan Quest
  By Linda - November 16 - 2:10 pm

  I have only had it a couple of months, but so far it has been terrific. We took a trip in it to Disney World and everyone had plenty of room for stretching out and we got a lot of thumbs up from passersby at the sleek design. I get asked a lot about it at gas stations. I am really enjoying this beautiful van.

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  2017 Pathfinder Platinum - 2017 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Brian - November 16 - 5:51 am

  Ive had the 2017 pathfinder for a few weeks now and I am really enjoying it. I have the platinum package with the entertainment system in the rear seats. Overall I am very pleased with the quality especially the interior which is comparable to a luxury vehicle. I checked out most competitors to include the Mazda and Toyota. The pathfinder had the most features I wanted such as cooled seats, panoramic roof and DVD system for rear seats. Something my daughter loves, she love looking out the roof and watching the monitors. The ride is nice and firm, just how I like it, the transmission is smooth and engine strong. What sold me on the pathfinder is the amount of features it includes such as safety features and the fact Nissan is aleauvs willing to make a deal to sell car. Toyota wanted to knock off 2500 off sticker on a 2016 while Nissan knocked off about 7k on a 2017 which was just unloaded and still wrapped in plastic. For 41k or thereabouts the pathfinder wins hands down

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  Great Nissan Product - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By Matze - November 15 - 6:10 am

  Purchased this SUV in December of 2009. Bought it because of its looks and the great price that the dealership was asking for it. Also that it has a full warranty. The Xterra has 70,000 miles on it and drives like a new car. I get great mileage averages about 24 to 25 mpg. Also love its rugged looks. Get many compliments when driving around in this vehicle. Have also spoken with many other Xterra Owners about their Cars. Everyone I have spoken with Love this Vehicle and would buy it again. Well done Nissan Product. Only thing I hope: Is that the Car will last me for many years to come.

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  Love my van! - 1999 Nissan Quest
  By hot minivan momma - November 15 - 1:13 am

  My van is the GLE...all the bells and whistles, plus the sunroof. I love that this van drives like a car. We drove some other vans and all drove like trucks. Handling is great. We do reg. maintenance and have had very few problems. Now at 120k mi. We just had a new radiator put in; must also replace cv boots soon and the struts. This is normal at this mileage. Wonderful car with family. Kids love the t.v. I can leave back seat pushed up against middle row most of the time and then push it right back when I have extra passengers. Car has lots of vroom vroom.

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  Worth the money - 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By lloyd123 - November 14 - 1:53 pm

  Great car for the money. I purchased the base model - only option was the floor mats - and the only thing I miss from the Passat I traded in is the heated seats. Drives smoothly, accelerates well, stops are controlled and handles OK considreing the extra weight. I like the idea of having the tested Toyota hybrid system in the stylish Altima - best of both worlds.