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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  finally got a suv we liked - 2001 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Pal - November 13 - 2:00 am

  after reviewing suvs the pathfinder had the stuff we were looking for.

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  Silver Bullet! - 2004 Nissan Altima
  By LiquidSilver - November 13 - 2:00 am

  I have had my eye on the Altima and took the opportunity to buy one of my own when my 99 Ford with less than 80K miles needed a new engine! I love this car, it is beautiful and fun to drive. Very smooth shifting and ride. Very low road noise. I wanted an 05 but got a much better interest rate on the 04, and I dont regret my decision. No more American junk for me!

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  Fun, reliable, and cheap!! - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By nismon00b - November 13 - 2:00 am

  I love my Spec-V! Though I have left it unmodified so far, it is still great to drive. The huge engine has plenty of low-end grunt, making passing a breeze even without a downshift. The suspension and Brembo brake system are top notch, especially considering the price. I paid 16,980 USD! All in all, for the money there is no car that can compete.

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  More Fun than an Adult Should be Allowed - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By pab0830 - November 13 - 2:00 am

  I ordered this car to specs last August and received it in January. I have had more fun with this car then any I have owned to date. The clutch is pretty tight and it can turn on a dime. Very responsive and on the open road you feel every bit of the 287 hp. While the word "minimalist" comes to mind for the interior, some of the features make up for it. The DVD navigation system is terrific. There are many different compartments to help make up for the lack of space. The stereo is perfect. There is not enough good I can say about this car. It is more fun than an adult should be allowed to have!

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  Great - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By Gatorduke - November 13 - 2:00 am

  Great Car!!

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  More Sport than Sedan - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By RussoDad - November 13 - 2:00 am

  Great car to drive...Turns Heads...Solid on the road...quiet inside...Lots of room...fast acceleration...smooth trans...comfortable and smartly designed interior...power to spare...Whats left?

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  LOVE IT - LOVE IT - 2007 Nissan Murano
  By Carol - November 12 - 3:20 pm

  I wrote before but I still become more impressed with it every time I drive it. Very responsive steering - braking dependable. Rides as good if not better than the Avalons I had. Leather is a nice soft leather. During bright daylight the instrument panels are easy to read unlike from my trade in- 2006 RAV 4 and a 2003 Highlander. For the money this is a great buy. I thought a Lexus might be in my future at some point - maybe not.

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  Luv My GLE - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By DWS56 - November 12 - 10:00 am

  Bought the 2003 GLE in July. The test drive sold me. This car is fun to drive!! Im impressed with its acceleration in the 40-70 MPH range. Great for interstate driving. Hang on if youre going to drop the hammer on this baby. Solid Solid car. My wife loves it.

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  Its a good SUV - 2012 Nissan Rogue
  By Mike - November 11 - 11:28 pm

  I have bought my 2012 Nissan rogue used, in 2014 with 10,000 miles on it. I have had it over 1 year now, and happy with it. Its good on gas, rides well and for a 4 cylinder 170 hp engine, I dont have any problem to accelerate to get onto the highway. Im in New York, and this past winter we had a lot of snow, and it rode well in the snow without any problems.

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  Tank - 2006 Nissan Armada
  By derejohn01 - November 11 - 8:46 am

  Absolute Tank, Wife was rear ended 3 months after purchased. Armada 1 - Mini Van 0. Mini Van towed away and totaled, Armada, little fender damage. Gas mileage not as bad as you think and it has every comfort you could ever need.