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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  Still my favorite vehicle - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By fronteeer - August 18 - 1:40 am

  After about a year and a half of owning this truck, I love it even more than when it was new, because Ive had a chance to haul and tow with it, Ive routinely driven it in deep snow, taken it off-road, and loaded and unloaded an ATV and a motorcycle several times. After 47,000 Km (~29,200 mi) Ive really come to appreciate the incredible balance Nissan has struck between car-like handling and performance, and truck-like utility. This is my daily commuter, and I cant say enough about the comfort, handling, versatility, and that incredible engine. Im glad I bought a mid-size. I get great MPG and I can pull a 30ft. camping trailer with an ATV in the back and three passengers with luggage.

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  Great Truck - 2007 Nissan Frontier
  By David D - August 17 - 11:10 pm

  Ive had the truck about one month and so far, I love it. Mine has just about every available option and is really comfortable and attractive. I havent taken it off-road yet, but the highway ride is outstanding. I compared it to the Tacoma, but ended up going with the Frontier for its better ride and more available options. The Frontier also feels more powerful to me, although supposedly the Tacoma is faster. Both are good trucks, I just thought I got more for the money with the Nissan. Bottom line is that I strongly recommend this truck.

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  Im loving this Car! - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By JoHB78 - August 17 - 1:46 pm

  When I first saw a Murano cruising down the freeway I knew I wanted to own one. The Murano mixes class and sportiness all in one package. It almost resembles the Lexus RX type SUVs (My first choice) but cost much less. I use to drive a 2000 Eclipse but thanks to a timing belt problem I ended up driving my very first SUV, my Nissan Murano 04. It drives like a dream and the interior is so comfortable it almost feels like Im driving a Lexus. Im loving this car! I only had a problem with the drivers window automaticaly opening half way after I close it all the way up. This happened on my first day. I immediately brought it to my dealer were it was fixed asap.Did anybody else have this problem?

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  What a van! - 2005 Nissan Quest
  By Bleu50 - August 17 - 7:26 am

  I sold a 2001 Windstar to get this van. Its HUGE inside! It handles and stops like a sports car. It flat flies! Its getting about 3 MPG more than my Windstar! There are no blind spots! The Bose system is worth every penny. The DVD system is excellent. The build quality (fit and finish) is far better than the Windstar. It doesnt look much like a mini-van, it took a while to get used to the center guages, but I kinda like them now. Tons of storage inside, all over the place.

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  I love it so far - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By John - August 17 - 4:33 am

  Ive had my Altima for a couple of months now, and Im very happy so far. Ive read some other reviews where people have one problem after another, but I must be lucky because I have had not a single issue, and I have pushed this car hard. Its a real rush when you hammer it, and the Bose sound system is great.

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  Nice for the price. - 2010 Nissan Altima
  By value_driven - August 17 - 3:33 am

  I bought my Altima new, 13 months & 6200 miles ago. I have not taken it to the dealer for anything but 2 oil changes. This is the first car or truck that I have owned that had no defects! I car shopped for 3 years[2007-2010]. During that time period I drove Accords, Camrys, and Sonatas. I almost bought a 2011 Sonata. My Altima was exactly as I wanted; color, options, price. I got a big discount, $0 down, and 0% financing for 60 months! The V-6 is nice! The controls are easy to use. The speedo and tach are easy to read and nicely illuminated. I enjoy driving it. I would drive it more but my main ride is a 1993 T-100 that I bought new and now has 200,000 miles. I like my Altima a lot!

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  Great comfort with economy - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By Ben - August 16 - 8:50 pm

  Before this Altima, I had an Infiniti Q45 and I am glad I traded it in. This Altima has plenty of room, it performs on the road with plenty of power considering it has only a 4 cylinder engine. I get great gas mileage (22.5 mpg city driving: short trips, 5 miles or less). I love the keyless entry and start. I dont have to look for the keys to enter the car or start it. The only drawback I see is the engine noise when accelerating. I have had this for 5 months already, and I have not had any problems with it. I compared the Altima to the Camry and the Accord, and I consider you get more for your money with the Altima. I love the dual exaust pipes and the exterior look.

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  Great Initial Assessment - 2010 Nissan Altima
  By Archman - August 16 - 5:20 am

  My wife and I were looking for a midsized sedan since we have a grandchild coming in a couple of months. We considered the Altima, Camry, Legacy, Mazda6, & Sonata. It must have the following: good comfortable ride, quiet, good fuel economy, & roomy. That was the dilemma. All of the cars that we considered as noted above can meet those requirements. So we dug deeper. We loved the CVT and the quietness it brought. So it was down to the Subaru and Nissan. Then July 4th weekend sale sealed the deal with the Nissan with up to $2k off with your own financing was great. Additional feature that we love is the smart key and push button start, absolutely wonderful. Highly recommended.

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  so far, so good - 2006 Nissan Murano
  By bob payne - August 16 - 3:10 am

  After 1000 km, my Murano has lived up to the reviews. The drive position is very comfortable and it is a dream to drive. The new color, Merlot, is a real plus. There is not a single rattle, buzz or hum and the CVT transmission is first rate.

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  Get the sports pkg... - 2010 Nissan 370Z
  By ndry_06 - August 16 - 1:37 am

  -Try the sports pkg and then the base. You will notice the difference. The sports hugs the road adding better suspension and sports tires and rims. - This car will get the "you drive a beautiful car" from the girls. - This car will cause cops to slow down or pull to the side as soon as they see you...turning on every bell and whistle to give them a reason to give you a ticket. - Dont buy this car if you are going to be looking at the mpg gauge.