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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  New car Nightmare - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By Bruce - October 1 - 1:13 am

  On, April 9, 2005 I purchased a New Nissan Maxium. On April 22, 2005 the nightmare begun and is still going on as we speak. A mouse chewed on the transmission harness and this has caused the transmission to blow. The car has been in the shop since April 22, with no end of the nightmare in site. Nissan claims they are not responsible for the flaw in the transmission that can destroyed by a critter. This is my first and it will be my last Nissan Product EVER!

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  Never buy Nissan again - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By mtello - September 30 - 10:46 pm

  so disappointed in this vehicle, this was my first time buying Nissan, I had heard Nissan was a great and reliable car, so I went for it, big mistake! should of gone with Toyota or Honda, my mother has a Toyota and it has 174,000 miles! my 2013 Nissan Altima has 62,000 and the transmission just went out, its going to cost me $3,750 to replace the transmission, REALLY!! what a joke of a car! they need to recall the transmissions ASAP!! and take responsibility for faulty CVT transmissions. Save yourselves the headache and DO NOT BUY!

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  noise and vibration when accelerating - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By teach13 - September 30 - 10:40 pm

  We have had our car to the dealer three times and called the Nissan Customer Service to register a complaint. Customer Service says the car is running normal and that they have not received any complaints. This car makes a lot of noise and vibration when accelerating from a stopped position. It sounds like an old car. Also, the car was recalled once and soon will be recalled a second time because the light keeps coming on saying the passenger seat air bag is off. Do not buy this car!!!

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  Beware of Design Defect - 2009 Nissan Rogue
  By Perk - September 30 - 12:06 pm

  On the 2009 AWD SL the dash passenger & driver side trim around the vent reflects into the side mirrors (sunny day or cloudy) and is a huge distraction when looking to change lanes. Going to cause an accident. I brought this to the dealers attentions which the service area blew it off, i called corp and they could care less,the only person that made any effort to help render was the sales person. NISSAN listen up and dont bring out the vent so far on the dash and this will get rid of the problem.

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  98 Pathfinder to 08 Armada - 2008 Nissan Armada
  By Armada - September 30 - 5:46 am

  Put 180k miles on a Pathfinder without ever having one major issue in 10 yrs. Nissan reliability is simply amazing. More than a quarter of those miles were in 4x4 mode on dirt and snow covered roads living in Colorado. After test driving several other large SUVs, I couldnt find anything that was comparable in terms of ride and extras. The engine has good torque for driving up steep grades while carring several people and loads of ski gear. The extra leg room in the back makes for a very comfortable ride for everyone on long road trips. I plan on having this vehicle for a long time.

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  Great budget oriented sport sedan - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By j0ey2 - September 30 - 2:00 am

  This car offers high performance (compared to the competition), and a low price with proven reliability and comfort. My only complaints are about the interior materials and the front wheel drive layout. My other car is an Audi A4, so I know what lengths some manufacturers will go to to surround the driver with lux materials and mechanics in the cockpit, but the Maximas interior is functional. To be more sport oriented, this must switch over to rear or all wheel drive though along with a shorter throw shifter. This engine is definitely a keeper.

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  The Best Car Out Under $30K - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By BIGGRUSS - September 30 - 2:00 am

  This is the best car I have ever owned. I recently traded in my 2000 Camry Le V6 for the 03 Maxima SE. This car screams personality and wants to be driven hard. The V6 in this car deserves every award that it gets. At about 3500 RPM the engine propels the car like a rocket. The handling in this car is indisputed and merging into traffic is a joy coming from the Camry. Do not believe all of the hype about the Altima. Not saying that it is not a good car but the Maxima is a step above. The interior when comparing the two speaks for itself. This is an excellent car with a alot of features that just wants to please the driver.

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  A true 4-door sports car - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By Soopermax02 - September 30 - 2:00 am

  Nissan hit this one just right. One early 90s sales pitch for the Maxima was that it is a sports car with 4- doors. The 2002+ Maxima comes roaring back to that heritage with a potent 3.5L V6 (of note, the same 3.5L powerplant used in the new 350Z sports coupe) and accurate "German" like road feel. The SE is the pinnacle of sports sedans for the price conscious consumer; others beware, the Audi A4 3.0, the BMW 325i, Acura TL-S, and Lexus LS300 are no match for this mighty Maxima. For those seeking a more refined version the GLE comes with such standard amenities as a leather interior and climate control.

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  Altima 2.5 SL - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Afi - September 30 - 2:00 am

  We spend about 1 month looking for a new car. At the end, our choices were Altima and VW Passat. Both Altima and Passat has the same performance (horsepower,legroom,etc). However, Altima is better looking than Passat. We were looking for 3.5SE but the dealer could not find the car we were looking for. We settled for 2.5SL My Altima has 360 miles on it and hopefully it will last as long as (or better) than my first car (Civic 96 -- 160,000 miles -- still going).

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  Love this car - 2016 Nissan Murano
  By Carol Yanity - September 29 - 5:54 pm

  Have owned this car for a month and no complaints. Drives well, good cargo area, quiet interior, looks sharp.