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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  So far, so good! - 2009 Nissan Quest
  By Cliff Biggers - July 4 - 3:40 pm

  The Nissan is the only van Ive ever owned that drives like a well-made SUV rather than like a van. Steering is responsive, the engine seems confident and responsive, and the mushy ride of my prior Sienna & Odyssey is nonexistent here. The seating is more comfortable. The Bose stereo is much better than my two prior vans, making even XM sounds good. Nissan should have gone one step further and designed the second row seats to fold absolutely flat rather than almost flat. The central command console/stack is a bit too large and rounded, intruding slightly into the knee area. An intuitive redesign of climate & sound system would help, as would improved iPod integration.

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  Issues-resolution - 2007 Nissan Quest
  By Issues-resolution - July 4 - 2:43 pm

  The Quest is a great van, I even managed to get 32 miles per gallon, (cruise at 67 miles per hour). On the other hand there are two main problems with the car, first front driver side seat moves. Second the tire bounces, but that is not a Quest problem that is a Goodyear problem, you cannot balance the tires the only way to eliminate this problem is to have the dealership replace the tires. Nissan dealer tested 16 tires before they found 4 good ones – test was called road force, it fails every time. It’s not dangerous it’s only irritating. I also had problems with vibration while braking while driving through hills of West Virginia.

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  Maxima Overdrive - 2007 Nissan Maxima
  By TonyLove - July 4 - 2:00 pm

  I owned my previous car for over 10 years, so it was time to start car shopping, looked at the Maxima SE with the driver package due to its size and highly competitive price for the amount of driver features. I was pleased! I drove from Atlanta, Georgia to the white-knuckle mountains of West Virginia, without stopping until I got to Wythesville, VA, which is ~400 miles from my door without stopping for gas. I only stopped because I was driving for 4 hrs and needed to rest. I averaged 29 MPG with the cruise control set. The XM radio, Bose system, handsfree Bluetooth to my cell talking to the wife and family, etc., all kept me company during the 8.5 hr journey.

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  A lot of car for the money!! - 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By Ali-baba - July 4 - 6:30 am

  Great combination of power, economy, and style for a very reasonable price. Very quiet comfortable ride!! Just put almost a 1000 miles in less than 2 weeks!!

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  7 Year Update - 2000 Nissan Frontier
  By kd7oqc - July 3 - 10:53 pm

  This is an update of my post 3/21/02. Ive kept up on the maintenance. Nothing has broken, unless I have bent or smashed it. ABS doesnt work when you are going backwards down a snow covered hill. K&N air filter helped mileage. Still getting 18.5 average and 20+ on trips. Still no squeaks or rattles, though it sees a fair amount of logging roads. The regulator on the left rear window went out Feb 06 / 88,500 miles. Extended warranty covered it, otherwise it would have been $300. Quoted just under $900, to change the timing belt, seals, water pump, belts and hoses at 105k. It doesnt need hoses or a water pump, but since they are tearing into it, I wont have to worry for another 100k miles.

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  Mans NEW best friend - 2008 Nissan Titan
  By Grench - July 3 - 9:36 pm

  Just as rewarding and fullfilling, but leaves nothing in the house or in the yard for you to step in. Couldnt be happier with the performance. Previous vehicle was 2000 Frontier. Upgrading to this Titan was a great move. Im still getting the hang of parking in close quarters with the long bed. Otherwise, so much fun to drive. LE has all the comforts needed for the road.

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  2nd GLE and love it! - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By 2nd Maxima - July 3 - 10:00 am

  This is my second GLE. I bought it used with 50k, it was a great value for all the perks that the GLE comes with. I love the Bose radio. I beleive that for the money, there isnt a better value out there if you are looking for a high-class car on a middle-income budget. Ive had several clients get into my car and say "nice car!"

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  Power and Comfort in One!!! - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By Pearson - July 3 - 10:00 am

  For the price, this is the best 4 door sports sedan out there. It handles much better than even the most 2 door sports cars on the road to date. You step on it, and that 3.5 liter engine under the hood, throws you into motion so fast, like a fighter jet. Its comfort compares to you being on your living room couch, while taking you to a far away place in no time. ITS FAST!!! Try it, and you will love it.

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  Nissan Murano-comfort and luxury - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By ItsAlberta - July 3 - 10:00 am

  I have been driving the Murano for 3 1/2 months. I love it. It is spacious, luxurious, comfortable, versatile, with great handling. I have never enjoyed a vehicle as much as this. I would recommend this suv to anyone.

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  Most fun Ive had driving - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By lovecars - July 3 - 10:00 am

  We looked at 4 different vehicles, the Honda Pilot, Buick Rendezvous, Toyota Highlander, and Chrysler Pacifica before falling in love with the Nissan Murano. It had everything we wanted, including a ton of options for a great price. What I love most is how many people stare. Often, there are people checking out the Murano when Im leaving the store and asking me what it is.