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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  the swiss army knife of the road - 2003 Nissan Pathfinder
  By scottinky - June 9 - 2:00 am

  I just got my truck a week and a half ago, I love it! I went from a Mustang GT to this, and I am not longing for more peformance. This SUV is very comfortable to sit in and drive. It has already proven its worth in some wintery weather. i look forward to having it in the family for a very long time!

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  Move over TAHOE/EXPEDITION - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By yeticc - June 9 - 2:00 am

  I decided on the Armada after driving the Tahoe and the Expedition. I even had put a deposit down on the Tahoe and got it back and went with the Nissan. I like the 5-speed auto compared to the 4-speed. The gated shifter on the floor is great as well. The power is great, the styling unique, the interior room is 2nd to none in the class. The towing capacity is great as well. The Armada is everything you could want in an SUV.

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  Its Time to Rethink the SUV Market - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By Dave & Karen - June 9 - 2:00 am

  Having owned several Suburbans and Expediton we have to say that this is the BEST SUV we have Driven and it is MADE in the USA. Body Style looks RUGGED to go with the vehicle capability. Handling is awesome and takes some getting used to. Not that it lacks, but very much more responsive. Fuel economy is whats expected for an SUV 17.2 (3 Kids and All gear for week in Mountains) Highway 15-16 City. Seating is outstanding. Ease of entry to third row seating is exceptional compared to the others. Cargo area is a bit larger than Expedition but smaller than Suburban. However Storage for everything else Cups, Glasses, Games, etc.is Outstanding.

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  Nissan Altima - 2004 Nissan Altima
  By EN - June 9 - 2:00 am

  Fun to drive. Everything is in the right place. Plenty of amenities on this model. Got the new color ( smoke ) and think it is sharp. Suspension, roominess, and engine are better than the comparables. This 4 door has my 3 sons thinking it is a sports car.

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  Xterra=Xcellence - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By BRNNIMGE - June 9 - 2:00 am

  I own a 2002 (same as 2004) and I really like it. The redone styling lured me in, but it has been its reliabilty that compells me to write a positive review. This is not car. The ride is not harsh ... more bouncy. However it does just fine on the highway and great in sand dirt or rain. It stores a lot more stuff than youd think and holds more than the lil SUVs like the CRV or RAV4. I prefer its styling to the Ford Escape. The Ford has had a few reliablity problems. More tough looking and acting than a Mazda Tribute. Not the best gas milage ... I get about 20mpg. Recommended!

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  ZZZ - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By MLB11 - June 9 - 2:00 am

  The most fun Ive had in a car. I have had some other very nice cars but the looks on this one take the cake and girls!

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  Terrible Experience - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By GregoryZ - June 9 - 2:00 am

  Just traded in my 03 Altima for 03 Accord. I owned 2.5S model and regret the day I bought it. Poor build quality, fuel economy is terrible (due to A/C always working - known issue in all Altimas.), reliability and resale value are low. I used to be a loyal Nissan owner, not any more...

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  Lannys review - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Lanny Phelps - June 9 - 2:00 am

  Nissan keeps building better maximas. The 2004 is the ultimate driving machine. I know it will not let me down.The styling is great, inside and outside. For the price, the maxima is always the best buy. The quality is un- matched. Thank you, Nissan.

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  1999 Nissan Maxima SE 5-speed Manual - 1999 Nissan Maxima
  By jfreilly - June 8 - 10:30 pm

  5-speed manual. Lots of fun with the 5-speed, although friends with the automatic havent complained too much about performance. Fair amount of body lean in corners, but with the right tires and judicious use of the gearbox youre always under control. Great ownership eperience the whole way.

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  Good value, but needs improvement - 2016 Nissan Versa
  By Courtney Kurtenbach - June 8 - 9:54 pm

  Good new car for a low price, but definitely nothing very fun. The car is quite slow, acceleration is terrible (but then again, Im used to driving a car with a turbo engine, so if youre not used to a faster car it might be fine). You can hear the car struggling when trying to speed up. I also found the steering to be pretty bad. Maybe its just different from what Im used to, but the steering seemed to be not very responsive and stiff. I could feel quite a bit of resistance when I tried to turn the wheel. It made it difficult to make small adjustments. Braking was very nice and responsive, though. Interior is very comfortable and roomy. A bit disappointed with the kind I had though, as it had no backup camera or touch screen display. The audio system was actually pretty nice, though. Overall a good car for the price, but personally I would need something a bit nicer in performance if I were going to get a 2016.