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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  Great Choice - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By Jugdish - September 9 - 4:10 pm

  I almost bought a Maxima, but drove an Altima at the last minute and was sold. This car is a blast to drive with the CVT. The engine is very quiet and interior cabin noise is almost as quiet as my Lexus. The suspension is a bit firmer than Im used to but not overbearing. I immediately traded in the stock tires for Michelin pilot exalto A/Ts and noticed a huge difference in snow performance and a slight increase in ride comfort. I am also removing the crap bose speaker system (paper cones) for Orion. Dont really care for the placement of the front dash speakers, makes for an odd sound stage. Overall, for the money.......this is a great vehicle, way to go Nissan.

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  My recent purchase - 2009 Nissan Altima
  By pjrias - September 9 - 5:53 am

  My 2009 Altima 2.5 SL was purchased in early March of 2010. It was a Clearance purchase, and was purchased new. So far I would have to say it was my best purchase in 30 years of buying new cars. Took it on a 200 mile all Highway drive to Montauk Point on long Island and averaged 36 mpg at a average speed of 65. The ride was comfortable and quite. The Radio was excellent. And the power was more than sufficient. Im in love with this car to say the least!

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  Love This Vehicle - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By Rogue - September 7 - 4:16 pm

  I bought the Rogue a little over a month ago and I love it. I have driven it in all kinds of weather so far and it handles well, no matter what. It is very comfortable and hold a lot of stuff. Would recommend it to any woman who shops a lot and wants a comfortable vehicle that is reliable.

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  The BlueZ - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By Derek H. - September 7 - 10:00 am

  While working 7 days per week in multiple locations, nothing makes me happier than driving this car from place to place. It feels solid, yet quickly responsive. The power and precision of the steering allow me to escape other drivers who pay less attention to driving.

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  Great purchase!! - 1997 Nissan Pathfinder
  By shburch - September 7 - 10:00 am

  This is the first new vehicle Ive bought in years, and weve been thrilled. Our Pathfinder has endured dogs, kids and long trips, while serving as the main family vehicle for almost 6 years. We have never had a single problem with it and it has performed beautifully. We chose the Pathfinder at the time because it had the most car-like ride of any mid-size SUV we test drove and because of Nissans strong reliability record. It has fulfilled all the demands weve placed on it.

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  The best car to-date I have owned. - 1998 Nissan Maxima
  By Rick Martinez - September 7 - 10:00 am

  Excellent all-around vehicle. Great for all kinds of drivers whether you like speed, comfort, ride, performance, efficiency, comfort and quality. No manufacturer problems and smooth engine without surprises no matter how fast you drive it. The speed governor was unwelcome but I guess it helps bring down the price of insurance.

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  Pathfinder SE 4WD 2003 - 2003 Nissan Pathfinder
  By raybob - September 7 - 10:00 am

  has the best combination of luxury & sport for the price. there is no comparison with my prior 2 ford explorers.

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  best car purchase ever!!! - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By Ws6Teresa - September 7 - 10:00 am

  This car is great! It is ultra quiet. The car has a very smooth ride. I was planning on buying a bmw x5. After I test drove this car. I went back to test drive it again. I decided to buy it. I have no regrets about it. The car has been great on gas mileage. The seats are very comfortable. This car has so many options available. My only problem is dealing with the dealer. I feel that the sales people were not throughly trained on every aspect of this vehicle. I would definitly recommend this vehicle 100 times over!

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  First Nissan and I love it! - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By Daniel - September 7 - 6:10 am

  Ive owned Chevy SUVs in the past but had not driven one (SUV) for several years until the Xterra. I wanted one for awhile but the engine choices just seemed too limited and the design was almost there until the new style and engine of 2005. This is the most fun vehicle to drive ever! The fuel economy, while not the greatest, is admirable. I drive 90% on the highway and get about 21 mpg, however, you dont buy one of these for great mileage but for everything else this baby has to offer, and the list is huge. What a great experience this has been, of course Ive only had it a few months so hopefully Ill still be singing praises in a couple of years!

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  Bought used 2015 for $9300 and love it - 2015 Nissan Leaf
  By Mike - September 7 - 12:04 am

  I have been looking at the Leaf for several months. We just wanted one for our local driver (4-6K miles a year) to replace our 15 year-old Camry. I first considered buying new for $20,000 off MSRP ($10,000 Fed/State tax credit and $10,000 dealer discount) bringing an SV or SL model down to $16 - $18K, but that was really more than I wanted to pay for a light local driver. I never found a $33K S model listed for $10,000 off MSRP, otherwise I may have bought a 2017 for $13K. In the end, I opted for a one owner, off lease, 2015, with 27,000 miles, 12 bars, and certified by the dealer. The car is indistinguishable from new and cost $9300. I bought it for my wife, but find I have been driving it a lot more than her, even though I am a big guy (6 4", 235) and love my 2013 Toyota Highlander Limited. I love the value, the power, and mostly that it doesnt have a tailpipe. We have seen the future.