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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  I LOVE THIS CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By vandalizers - September 26 - 10:00 am

  We just bought our Altima 3.5 SL one week ago. It is loaded with everything except the navigation system, which would be great for some people, but for me it would be to distracting! I have never enjoyed driving a car as much as I do this one! It is comfortable, has a smooth ride and is FAST!! Im afraid I am really going to get in trouble with this car!! I would encourage anyone looking for a new vehicle to take a look at the Altima. I started out looking for a Pathfinder. After I drove the Altima, I knew it was "the one". I cant wait to take a road trip in this car!

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  Great car! - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By Loki - September 26 - 6:26 am

  This is my third Nissan and my first Maxima. My previous car was a 96 Altima and I decided it was time to upgrade. I really like the Maxima! Its a pleasure to drive and quite luxurious for the price. A lot of pick- up and an amazingly quiet drive. I looked at the Acura TL and that was slightly more luxurious, but not worth the extra $3,000 they wanted. I was also very pleased with the dealer (Nissan City in Port Chester NY); no b.s. and very little sales smarminess.

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  Reliable Performer! - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Sherwin - September 25 - 3:46 am

  Agile and reliable with lots of power to spare. Its got Nissans consistent strong design build and reliability. I used to own a Nissan Patrol 4WD which performed excellent on off-road and on the road conditions. Currently also drive a Mitsubishi Montero and against the Nissan Pathfinder, no comparison!

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  Altima - 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By Bridge - September 24 - 8:30 pm

  I just think the car is beautiful, elegant and stylish and on top of that affordable! I dont need to spend money on a Benz or BMW when I can get a car just a nice for much less!

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  Beats the competition - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By roguer08 - September 24 - 10:00 am

  A real nice alternative to the pricier RAV4, CRV, other crossovers, the Rogue is a smooth operator. Nicely appointed interior. Very comfortable car for long trips and the gas mileage on the highway is good. Good leg and headroom. Adequate storage in rear. Only complaint so far is that in town with hills, stoplights, and snow, gas mileage is not so great. But nimble in all weather and a nice, quiet ride.

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  Frustrated with Nissan headquarters - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Frustrated - September 24 - 12:33 am

  I absolutely love this car! This is the first Nissan that I own. I waited about 4 years to get this car and now that I have, the radio went out. Now, with me preferring the factory look, I asked Nissan to back me up with this, obviously, its a defect. Nissan made me wait 3 weeks and then finally told me that they would not replace or even discount a new radio. I think this is crappy since the car is a 2008. This will definitely be the last Nissan that I own, not for the product but for the service! It seems like they would want to back up their products but once you purchase, its in your hands!

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  I <3 my Nissan Sentra - 2006 Nissan Sentra
  By Kiko is a great car - September 23 - 8:20 pm

  This is my first car, and I named her Kiko. I am 5 feet 1 inches tall and a quarter, and this car HAS PLENTY OF LEG ROOM! The only complaint I have about this car is the cup holders in the front (they always turn on a cd player and/or make it impossible to change the cd that I am listening to) I also have fosgate 6 multiple cd changer which sounds awesome. The car is great on gas, only thing to improve this car would be to make it more powerful in the snow, Buffalo Winter snow.

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  Washington Murano - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Terry - September 23 - 1:46 am

  I purchased this vehicle a month before we moved out of state. The drive from San Diego to Vancouver, WA was very enjoyable. We live in a very rural area of WA and mostly drive along a winding river road. The Murano handles very well and I have never found a need for more power. Its a pleasure to drive. Ive owned it now for nine months and still love it every time I get in the car to drive, which is always a minimum of 30 minutes each way. I love the mountain drives where you never feel the transmission shift. Its not sluggish at all to me. I love it!

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  All Trucks Should Be Built This Well - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By Great Truck - September 22 - 11:46 am

  I have had this truck for nine months and it still feels like I just drove it off the dealers lot. This has got to be the best built truck anywhere. I like the roominess, the way it drives, everything. The last time I felt this way about a vehicle, was when I bought a 1968 Camaro SS/RS.

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  I LOVE it! - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By gogo - September 22 - 10:53 am

  I traded in my 2000 Saab 93 convert. because it was just time. My wife has the Murano and we love it and I just needed something to get me to and from the train station everyday. This car has better pick up than my Saab and handles better overall. I used to drive 5 spd for many years so the +/- shift is fun to drive from time to time and I found it works great in the snow/ice to avoid breaking when going down hills. I went real basic on all the features and I dont feel like I am missing anything. The steering is a little loose compared to what I have been driving before (Saab 93 and VW GTI), but it is really a nice car inside and out!! The stereo is pretty good without the bose upgrade.