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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  Excellent third-time buyer. - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By fred - May 2 - 10:00 am

  My 3rd Altima and am devoted. Has power like nothing before. Very comfortable to drive.

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  nissan altima 2003 - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By lisa1972 - May 2 - 10:00 am

  i love this car, i have a 5 speed manual and i have only had the car since march 2003 and the leather in the stick shift got a tear in it, besides that i am happy with it. can you suggest how to get it fixed?

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  traded my lexus gs300 - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By Raven - May 2 - 3:06 am

  it was time to trade and i was tired of paying all the money out for gas, so my wife already owns a 06 nissan quest,and loves driving it more than my lexus, so i went to check out the new sentra and was blown away by it compared to the 06 model. i have clocked 38 miles to gallon at 65 miles an hour--but to 75 and got around 34-love it.

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  I love nissans - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By 05thumpinpathy - May 2 - 1:46 am

  i actually have not one bad thing to say about this truck...i have owned it since march of 05 and havent had one prob. yet i have gotten nothing but compliments on it and continue to get them daily...i wouldnt drive anything else after owning a nissan...i have done so much modifications to it and the sound system was also upgraded...very easily may i add... but the stock bose system is def. a fav...

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  this car is 5 stars - 2009 Nissan Versa
  By senojdr2 - May 1 - 3:50 pm

  For the price this car wont be equaled, any time soon. I have tested mileage, and got 32.5 city, 33.5 with both. I am sure of even higher mileage on highway. Any one looking for great quality comfort ride wont be disappointed! The sedan I now drive is the overall best car I have ever owned. I am 75, and have seen my share of cars. Try and buy.

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  Joy To Drive and Own 4Cyl Drives Like V6 - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Jason - May 1 - 3:10 pm

  I have now owned this vehicle for approximately 1 year and my experience has been fully satisfactory. I cannot think of a better sedan that offers this much power, style, great handling - all at a reasonable price! ENGINE: This vehicle handles like a V6 sedan, but uses gas like a 4CYL. It still surprises me that this 4CYL CVT engine can produce 175HP with powerful torque, and gets about 27MPG combined city highway driving - translates to about 530 miles to 20GAL tank (600MI all highway). HANDLING: When taking tight curves on the road, I have no fear to take them even faster, as the steering is responsive and accurate. >>> Extremely happy with my first purchase of any car! Highly recommended.

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  I Miss my Sentra - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By lkt82961 - May 1 - 10:07 am

  I bought my Sentra new in 2003. It was a great car, but since I live in the north, I found out the first winter that it needed snow tires, and after getting those it was a great winter car. I live in a town with steep hills so great traction is really important. Although the car rode a little low, it never got stuck in snow. The cluster that controls the gauges failed in about the 5th year, and luckily my extended warranty covered it. I recently traded it for a very low mile 2007 Toyota Corolla and regret it so far. The Toyota has horrible road noise and handling. I am going to replace the tires and hope that helps.

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  Super Big Truck - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By stanley e. brown - May 1 - 8:46 am

  The workmanship and quality of my 2004 Titan pickup is superb. It is by far the best truck that I have owned. I have owned 20 trucks so far in my life and I am 73 years old. I drive it up the mountain to our cabin every week end and it performs very well up and down. My mileage is nearly 16 miles per gallon in the city. That is using the air and regular gas. The performance on the Hiway is excellent and get nearly 23 mpg, traveling 70-75 mph using the AC. It has a very comfortable ride, even on long trips. Plenty of storage room for luggage and supplies when we go up to our cabin in the mtns. (7000 feet) Good performance in the cool weather, even when there is snow on the road.

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  My Best Truck So Far - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By Norm - May 1 - 7:40 am

  This is my third truck to own and first Nissan after having a Ford and Chevy. I love the truck. The engine sounds a bit loud on accerations, but I quickly got used to it and no long notice it. Driving is a lot smoother than the Ford truck I test drove. The captains chairs kind of wrap around you and are very comfortable on a long drive. City mileage is only 14 mpg, but it is a truck. The only problem I have had was with the brakes. I was expecting this after reading the other reviews. Nissan came thru, by "upgrading" the brakes and giving me a 3 year/36000 mile warranty on them. The Big Tow Package I got is a good option if you pull a trailer.

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  Very Pleased, so far - 2009 Nissan Altima
  By Brad - April 30 - 10:20 pm

  I switched from the Murano (which I loved)to the Altima, due to gas prices. I avg.30.5 per gal. and cant believe how far I can go on a full tank. I do miss the storage room, although its generally good. The nav stinks compared to a Garmin at a fraction of the price. The design of the black console is just ok. On long drives my leg leans against the center console and becomes uncomfortable. Generally though, its a nice drive. The car should have a rear wiper.It does have a Great sound system.