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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  Great little every day car. - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Rick M. - April 22 - 12:50 am

  This is my first Altima and it is a good little car. Its reliable and looks good. If you need a quality car that handles fairly well for a stock vehicle and would like a reasonable price, this is your car. If you are looking for massive power, dont look to this car. Go up to the Maxima which is also a great car.

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  KWs - 2000 Nissan Xterra
  By Kathy Williams - April 21 - 11:56 pm

  I really have enjoyed the car these past 5 years, but it can be a little noisy on the highway. If it could be soundproofed some more it would be great

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  Great Car - 1998 Nissan Altima
  By Brendan - April 21 - 4:43 am

  This is the best car I have ever owned. I have had it 10 years and other than gas, wiper blades, tires etc. I have only replaced the front brake pads once. So non routine maintenance for this car in 10 years has been under $200. I have other vehicles now and dont drive it as much as before but it is just too good of a vehicle to get rid of. I will definitely buy another Altima when I am in the market for a car.

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  The Best truck Ive purchased so far !!! - 2006 Nissan Titan
  By ralph - April 19 - 6:53 am

  Awesome truck, lots of power and hauling capability...The inside is very spacious. my little boy fits very comfortably in the back, while his daddy hauls material everyday 6 hours a day...No complaints, Im very happy with the truck!

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  Nice SUV in the segment - 2001 Nissan Pathfinder
  By alexeyd - April 19 - 2:00 am

  I bought my PF 01 in June 2000 and put 62K+ miles on it. I had one problem with the Heating/AC fan that was fixed by dealer. The CD changer stopped working recently, probably due hot climate in Arizona. The car is a perfect midsize SUV. I have driven it offroad and deep snow (Colorado). I put many highway miles on it too.

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  Excellent - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By staceykoz - April 19 - 2:00 am

  Fun car to drive. Beautiful design. No problems at all.

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  Excellent value for the money - 2014 Nissan Pathfinder
  By nettech - April 18 - 10:27 pm

  So, far weve been very impressed with our SL Pathfinder. The Tech Package seems like a worthwhile option with the Navigation as well as the Bose Waveguide system. The SUV drives like a car; extremely smooth and capable. Some reviews take a shot at the Pathfinders V6 as being sluggish, but let me tell you, the car has no problems accelerating quickly up to 80mph when passing; its very responsive. Front and back seat room is ample, and the cargo area isnt shabby either. The leather seating and surfaces are soft, and supple. Im not a fan of some of the plastics used, but hey, its not an Infiniti. Provided the car holds up mechanically, the Pathfinder will be ours for years to come.

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  Excellent in Mid Size SUV Category - 2006 Nissan Pathfinder
  By sylvesterson - April 18 - 5:53 am

  Its been a great joy to drive this vehicle. Good response to the throttle. Awesome power you wont even feel that you are driving a vehicle. Good size of tires. Vehicle appearance is very good.

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  This is an awesome truck! - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By gator - April 17 - 3:23 pm

  This thing is powerful, fast, comfortable, good-looking, I could go on and on. I tested a 2004 Silverado SS for a weekend and was turned off by the fuel economy and premium gas requirement. I then ruled out trucks for over 7 months, but I needed one so I went back to researching them. The Titan had everything I was looking for, and a console shift to boot. On top of everything else it has going for it, it will run on regular gas and get an average mixed economy of 16 - 17 mpg.

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  mine - 2000 Nissan Quest
  By soupbone38 - April 17 - 2:00 am

  this van rocks! best cheap van out there!