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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  Buy a Titan - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By harold Baker - November 11 - 8:46 am

  Exceptional ride quality and workmanship. Ive had almost no problems, mainly recalls for seat belts.

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  Love This Auto! - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Lynn Juillerat - November 11 - 7:30 am

  This auto is comfortabale, handles great, is roomy, gets great gas mileage and looks great. I have owned several vehicles in my 30+ years of driving, and for the money - this is by far the best purchase I have ever made. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for an SUV.

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  The truth about the MPGs - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By VersaVersaVersa - November 10 - 11:30 pm

  Weve had our 07 Versa S Hatchback for 7 months now and couldnt be happier. I keep detailed mpg records and so far weve averaged 28.8 mpg driving 1000 mi/month of about 40% hwy, 60% city. When we get out on the highway for a long trip, we always get at least 31-32 mpg and thats driving it 70+ mph. We had one fill-up of almost all city driving during the winter and still got 27 mpg! If you get less than 27, its broken!

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  Happy driver - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By GRACE - November 10 - 2:50 pm

  Im handicapped so i need a car thats reliable so i can make it to my doctor every month and hes 5 hours away. I also need a smooth ride. I have the grille gaurd and the bars on my headlights.This makes me feel safe. Just recently i was smushed between 2 cars.Everyone elses car was bent horribly. They were amazed that my car was barely scratched. Thank you for making my life a little easier.God bless!

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  Love our Rogue! - 2010 Nissan Rogue
  By GOBLUE80 - November 10 - 1:30 am

  Weve had our Rogue for 2 months now and love it. The fuel economy has been great, 27-30 mpg (FWD model). The room inside is more than adequate for a compact SUV. There is plenty of storage in the huge glovebox and center console, but I wish there were bottle holders in the doors. Also, the fuel gauge is digital and hard to read. The visibility takes a little getting used to, but really isnt that bad and worth it for the great styling. Also love the 2-tone interior with the light gray leather. It handles great, but the ride suffers a bit. There is also a lot of road noise from the rear, especially on wet roads. Weve had a few rattles, but nothing major. Overall we love it!

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  Quite a luxury ride! - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By Kenny - November 9 - 5:10 am

  Bought our 2009 Murano SL FWD one year old used with 18K miles on it. Came loaded with leather package and a dvd system. Gotta say, it is obnoxiously luxurious. Power everything! Dont even need to get my keys out of my pocket to start the car! Imagine when the wife cant find the keys in her purse. No longer a problem! The key fob is smart enough to do everything without having to actually use it. Just gotta be near the car to unlock and start the car! Fantastic driving, very quick acceleration and handling. Rear view camera is cool. Only things I dont like is small rear window and fuel usage. Very nice to have power lift gate for groceries!

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  This Truck Holds Up - 1997 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Dave - November 9 - 1:00 am

  I purchased this Pathfinder off-lease at 36,000 miles and have since racked up 115,000 miles. I have absolutely hammered this thing. 4 cross country trips, some serious off roading, living above 8,000 ft in the Utah mountains, and lots of 4WD driving in snow. She has never let me down, always starting right up. I have had the front rotors turned(they became warped) at 45,000 miles and a new Throttle Position Sensor. No other repairs other than normal wear and tear. This is not a fast vehicle, but it gets you wherever you need to go. Fuel economy is not great, but it is an SUV. K&N air filter and Platinum plugs help. Still drives well, I expect to put 250k on her.

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  40K car for 25K - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By Vineyard - November 8 - 12:10 pm

  Superb car. Very smooth. Very fast. Very comfortable. A tremendous bang for the buck. I would choose it over my Boston car; a 99 Mitsu Eclipse GSX.

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  Buy an Xterra!!! - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By Eddie Huerta - November 8 - 12:20 am

  I traded my 2000 Xterra in for the new 2005 Xterra. I think Nissan did a great job redesigning and adding more power to the "X". To me, acceleration was the only issue with my old one. I love my new Truck, I would never own any other car or truck if it wasnt a Nissan.

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  A love affair with my Maxima SE - 1996 Nissan Maxima
  By mspitt - November 7 - 11:19 pm

  I bought this car new and it is still "New" to me. Everyday I get pleasure driving it. I had to do absolutely nothing to this car (except regular maintenance) until 2006 when my mothers dog chewed some wires in two. Now at 180,000 miles, the only thing my husband has done is replace the struts. This car is what all car makers should strive for. Its reliability is unmatched and it is a joy to drive. I would buy another Nissan, but I prefer to keep my Maxima, fixing whatever goes wrong, and just keep driving it. I am convinced this is the "BEST" car on the road.