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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  Ill buy another - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By Ron L - September 17 - 5:33 am

  Purchased new. Serviced as needed. Now at 96,000 plus miles and run like a top.

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  Black Beauty - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By Tom - September 17 - 4:36 am

  I traded in a 2004 Mazda3, a car that I loved and have not looked back since. The Altima has it all and more! The look is so sleek and classy and the performance is awesome. I have the 3.5 SE and love the power, with the CVT its the best ride I have ever experienced.

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  Mini Titan is very good at most things - 2006 Nissan Frontier
  By adm77450 - September 16 - 8:23 pm

  Have owned 05 Crew Cab LE 2WD for 2 1/2 months now. Overall very pleased with my purchase. Traded in 04 F150 Crew Cab and even though I gave up lots of interior space this truck is much easier to manuever abound Houston traffic. The bed divider/bed extender is very innovative and comes in handy a lot. Heated leather seats are fairly comfortable and give good support. Truck could handle a little better at highway speeds. Not sure if stability control is offered but would have been a good option to have. Getting about 19mpg combined so far. Has plenty of low end torque and lots of HP for the size.

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  My sleek machine - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By Gini Foreman - September 16 - 7:46 pm

  I absolutely love my Z! Besides being fun to drive, it is one of the finest cars on the road today. A pleasant surprise that contradicted my original opinion was how much the back would hold in luggage, groceries - stuff in general. I drive it 5 minutes to work, but I have also taken it on a couple of long trips and it handles great. I also love the great use of space. Whether I am driving to work, around the city of Houston, or on a trip, it is a great car to have.

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  Nice - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By Menzies - September 15 - 10:36 pm

  Fantastic vehicle. Stylish, fuel efficient, roomy, drives like a much bigger car. Highly recommended for anyone.

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  Like it better than Camry Hybrid - 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By Engineer - September 15 - 5:23 pm

  Have owned a Prius 4 years, wife wanted larger more comfortable hybrid. Drove Camry and Altima. Very close overall, but Altima seemed a little more "user friendly". Liked Altima styling, engine power, displays, controls better. Camry had more cup holders and pockets. Altima seemed to have a more usable trunk, even tho Camry spec listed larger. Love backup camera, sun/moon roof, keyless entry/startup, bluetooth hands free calling. Quiet on highway, excellent handling, acceleration. Got 35 mpg first tank (575 miles), mostly freeway driving. Get the Tech Pkg!

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  2002 Nissan SE 4wd - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Yonna92 - September 15 - 7:23 am

  I love my pathfinder! Very fun to drive, reliable and great performance. Only complaints:1.quality of cloth -- not terribly bad but it getting worn fast. Also, the because beige in color, shows stains. Recommend leather or dark cloth. Always replace brakes at the dealer. I made a mistake of getting brakes at one of those discount stores and their brakes do not hold up well

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  Dont Buy a 2004 Nissan Maxima - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By mortega1 - September 15 - 6:34 am

  In 2007 I began to notice that the “chrome finish” on the front grill was beginning to peel off. This was also beginning to happen on the “chrome” accents that are embedded on the roof of the vehicle. In late 2008 the power window motor located in the driver’s door began to malfunction and now it is not functional at all. In 2009, the power door locks located on the driver’s side (front and rear doors) also began to malfunction. Power to the steering wheel column and the drivers seat have now also failed. I have also experienced issues with the air conditioning system and I have had several leaks in the o-rings that have been addressed several times. Do not purchase a Nissan product!!

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  2nd-Timer - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By pvd47 - September 15 - 2:00 am

  This is my second GLE, and Ive had nothing but great luck and top-end performance from both of them. Im especially keen on the GLEs V-6 engine, which I tested against both the Camry V-6 and the Accord V-6 when I was first looking at the Nissan back in 1998. Honda and Toyota may have ugraded their engine performance in the intervening years, but Id be surprised if either could match the GLE for either power or pickup. A great car, albeit a little pricey and not overly stylish.

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  Satisified Used Truck Owner - 1999 Nissan Frontier
  By ahrivnak - September 15 - 2:00 am

  The Nissan meet all of my expectations and exceeded most. Most of my praise goes to the comfort of the vehicle. The seats are Large enough for a person my size, but my ten year old son has no problem falling asleep in the passenger seet. The controls are easy to reach, understand, and use. If I had to make one complain, it would be about the power of the engine. I expected a bit more power from a V6. Still, there was plenty of power for most tasks. I also think the stlying is superior to any comparable truck (Toyota, Mazda, Chevy, Ford etc) and far superior than the current Nissan frontiers. You will enjoy!!