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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  Nice redesign - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By Morv - November 25 - 1:03 am

  If youre in the market for this size SUV, and have only driven the past version, give this one a shot. The upgraded engine and torque really make this car standout. Its still a truck, make no mistake, but it doesnt feel much like a truck on the road. Outstanding turn radius as well.

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  SE-R not for hot-blooded - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By tico - November 24 - 10:10 am

  This car is not for the meek, you can pass cars without even trying. From standing start car will pull to either side on you if you dont hold steering wheel firmly, but thats the sweet feeling one wants in a 260 hp car. The cars ride is a bit rough at the initial start but once your on the road five to ten minutes its smooth. Passing a big rig or slow cars on a incline is easy. You will get stares & challenges from other drivers guaranteed. One thing I notice is that I dont even care about backups now cause Im riding in one comfortable car. You will be worried about parking between two cars so be prepared to walk farther to the store from the lone parking spot. People move out of the way-sweet!

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  Pathfinder - 2004 Nissan Pathfinder
  By BL2003 - November 22 - 2:00 am

  Ive only had mine for 6 months, but Ive had absolutely no problems. All reviews that Ive read online and discussion boards indicate that the Pathfinder is an extremely reliable vehicle. 3.5 V6 also has tons of power making the vehicle really great to drive. Check with the dealer, mine came down thousands off the sticker price. This is a fantastic underrated vehicle.

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  My Pathfinder - 2003 Nissan Pathfinder
  By CGG - November 22 - 2:00 am

  Overall its been a good driving experience. I noticed that the vehicle is not so smooth on the road though, you feel every little bump.

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  Great SUV for the price - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By Bianchi - November 22 - 2:00 am

  Test drove the Highlander and the Pilot, if you use Viagra those would be great for you!!! The X loaded with all options still came out cheaper than those base models.

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  What a Looker - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By seven Hills Guy - November 22 - 2:00 am

  Everyday people stop me on the street to talk about this car. Best car I ever bought. Its fun to drive as long as your going forward. Backwards cant see too much

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  Not bad so far - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By tripps - November 21 - 10:56 pm

  Ive made a couple other posts on here. Ive had my Titan SE for about 5 months now and still love it. It has some minor issues, but thats to be expected from a new model. Front brake rotors were underdesigned and a kit is coming out soon to replace them. My dealer has been great about taking care of problems. Ive been in twice and rotors were cut and/ or replaced with no questions asked. There is also an issue with the front window switches. Both are on order and being covered by the warranty. Windows are sometimes stubborn to go back up. Other than a few rattles that really cant be heard with the radio on, Ive very pleased and would recommend new buyers at least check it out.

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  Fun vehicle - 2010 Nissan Rogue
  By DanTheMan99 - November 20 - 10:10 pm

  Fun to drive. Averaging only 17.5 mpg. Very disappointing as I havent been racing engine. Ive been purposely slow-starting. But I have the a/c running non-stop and only local driving. Unhappy with drivers seat only adjusting 6 Rather than 8 positions. Im 511" & 275. Stocky. I drive with seat all the way back and wish the base of seat reclined even just a little bit, but it cant. Little drivers legroom as my knee bangs into door handle or steering wheel. Interior & exterior design is great. Love black leather trim. A/c works great. Vents are even cool design. Not a ton of legroom in back seat. Bose is great. Storage is good. Gear shifting nonexistent! Like headlights & keyless!

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  Cool Ride! - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By jrbrad89 - November 19 - 11:18 pm

  Had an 02 Altima 2.5 auto as my first car in 06. Loved it. Found this 3.5 SE with about 95k on it. Great condition. Some minor scratches here and there. Leather interior is sweet. Bose sound system great. Wish it had an MP3 port in the 02. Drove this one from San Diego to upstate NY with no problems. Lowered it 2" for faster handling. Looks cool too. Only thing I dislike is the extensive procedure to change the rear 3 spark plugs. You have to drain the coolant, release the fuel pressure, set the climate control system to a specific settings, remove the intake manifold, replace the spark plugs and replace the intake gaskets. Wheel bearing gone bad now.

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  Great SUV!! - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By JNJWILL - November 19 - 2:23 pm

  I have only had my Pathfinder for 2 weeks now but it has turned out to be a very nice SUV. My wife and I purchased an SE with the comfort and premium packages and we are happy with both. I wanted the BOSE stereo and she wanted the sunroof. We have a 20 months old now and another on the way so we have to get something bigger. The engine pulls very strong and handles well for such a heavy vehicle. We looked at the Honda Pilot and the 4 Runner and we liked the look of the Nissan the best. The Honda did come with more standard saftely features though. Nissan was also ready to deal and we got the vehicle at invoice. I am only getting 16 mpg at the moment though.