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 car EXCEPT... - 2010 Nissan Sentra
  By Jesse - September 12 - 2:00 am

  I bought my car two months ago NEW. The miles on the car was from test driving. This past Friday it wouldnt start. Long story short the car has a connector to the battery that gives it the propensity to receive a poor connection and shut down unexpectedly. Unfortunately, my car was towed by a Nissan Roadside assistance towing company to a Nissan dealership and in the process my $200 key was lost. I was approved to have my key paid for by the Nissan consumer affairs but I had to pay up front. I asked that an deferment of my monthly payment request be granted considering that I didnt budget for this and my NEW car broke down & individuals affiliated with NISSAN lost my key. I was denied!

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  Great Truck! - 2010 Nissan Titan
  By glueking - September 11 - 4:32 am

  This truck just turned 100,000 miles. It remains tight & holds the road as well as the day I drove it off the lot. Its never been in the shop for any repairs - only routine maintenance. Quiet, smooth, and outstanding reliability & performance of any truck Ive owned (2009 GMC Sierra, 2002 Chevy Silverado). If youre in the market for a pre-owned truck, consider the 2010 Titan.

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  Rogue can compete with RAV and CRV - 2009 Nissan Rogue
  By ejo1 - September 10 - 4:17 pm

  As said above this car can easily compete with a RAV-4 or CRV. I drove my 09 Rogue SL AWD for 85,000 miles without a problem. As with everycar I own.owned I only use Mobil 1 for oil changes at longer intervals than book recommends for the car. Dealer did all my oil changes and maintenance and cost was overall less than expected. Just changed brakes and rotors all the way around with high quality as they old ones started to "wobble" at 83K miles. I averaged 24mpg with mixed driving. I had long highway drives (72 mph) at 29 mpg but also ones at 23 mpg. City driving is less than stated mpg, but overall a great comfy ride. This car is a great all around CUV that will grow on you.

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  Great Car but....... - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By BC Driver - September 9 - 6:46 pm

  The Maxima is my first Nissan and I was impressed by the performance and list of standard features. Not unlike some of the others reviewers, however, I have also replaced two oxygen sensors, the coils which were disengaging the no slip drive and the brakes also chatter when slowing down from higher speeds and need the rotors turned. For a medium size car the turning circle is also poor and for larger people the back seat has insufficient headroom. On the positive side the car handling is good, the finish was excellent and the gas mileage for longer trips is exceptional. I would certainly consider another Maxima, but am leaning towards the Murano as it has the extra headroom.

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  Great vehicle. Poor auto sliding doors. - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By minivan dad - September 9 - 2:00 am

  Before purchasing the Nissan, we drove the other two logical choices (Toyota, Honda). We found the ride, & handling of the Nissan to be superior. However,we live in the Northeast U.S and discovered that the automatic sliding rear doors do not close when the temperature dips below 30 degrees. Weve been back to the dealer umpteen times for repairs. They still have not corrected the problem. So, unless youre living in Sub-Saharan Africa, do not purchase this vehicle with power sliding doors.

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  1997 Maxima SE - 1997 Nissan Maxima
  By Wesley - September 7 - 10:00 am

  Nice Car. If I had to do it again, I would opt for the Infiniti I30 and get the addl perks at the dealership and more comfort. This Maxima however, has proven to be a reliable car. With all the freeway miles on it, I expect this car to last to at least 150K without any problems. If youre considering buying a used car, you cant go wrong but look into a comparably priced I30. You may get more bang for your buck.

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  Best Car Ive Owned - 1998 Nissan Maxima
  By Best Ever - September 6 - 12:46 pm

  Bought a new 98 Maxima SE 5spd to replace a BMW 525. Ive driven 215k miles and the only non-wear item replaced has been the alternator! Still has the original clutch, second set of spark-plugs, and second set of brake pads. I drive mostly highway and average 26 mpg. It seems to have a perfect blend of economy and performance, and I couldnt be happier!

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  More Pros Than Cons - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By j Hudson - September 5 - 8:30 am

  Saw this car while on vacation in Florida and fell in love with it. Its a very competent road car, with powerful acceleration and a roomy cabin. Styling (other than grille) is top notch. Had to replace front shocks under warranty and now there is a vibration in steering wheel. I hope can be remedied with tire balancing, but have read many complaints in the past about wheel/tire issues related to this. Overall, have been very happy with car and its the best one Ive ever owned.

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  My 4th Nissan - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By M I - September 5 - 1:06 am

  Having owned a 1984 Stanza, 1992 Stanza and 1997 Infiniti, this new Altima has not disappointed. Ride comfort and handling are excellent and the 4 cyl accelerates like a 6 cyl. Looking forward to the reliability and the cheap insurance price.

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  2005 Pathfiner LE - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By atse16 - September 4 - 9:23 pm

  I have had the new pathfiner for over a month now. I had the 2001 for 4 years. I like the extra power and room from the 2005 and all the luxury features the LE offers. I have no complains so far except for the squeaky brakes when Im in reverse. I will have to take it back to the dealer to inspection.