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 - 2009 Nissan GT-R
  By peter - March 14 - 4:33 pm

  this car is everything that I wanted in a car. There are a few things that can be improve like fuel economy. I am getting about 15 miles per gallon and that is driving at normal speed, going fast maybe about 11 miles per gallon. When starting the car in the manual mode the car transmission sometimes stalls for a fraction of a second because the transmission is calculating the gears.

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  Awesome - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By Pamela0765 - March 14 - 10:00 am

  This thirty-something female has a blast driving my new X-terra.

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  Poor Factory Workmanship - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Bruce Thorne - March 14 - 10:00 am

  Car needed immediate paint touchup upon vehicle receipt due to several paint chips. Car has been back for repairs to sun roof wind deflector which prevented sunroof from closing, multiple visits to dealership to get rear deck speaker buzzing on Bose system fixed - a service bulletin has been issued for this problem and it still has not been corrected. Car scheduled to go in to body shop (approved by Nissan) due to chipped paint in multiple locations all over car due to poor quality factory paint job.

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  05 Titan after 2 years - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By JP - March 14 - 9:33 am

  After two years I still like this truck. Out of the many vehicles I have owned, this is the best. Great power, comfortable, towing is a breeze. If you are in the market for a ½ ton truck that will work like a ¾ ton, I highly recommend driving the Nissan Titan.

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  A need finally met - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By ymink - March 13 - 6:53 pm

  I went 400 miles before filling the gas tank. It is an affordable car that looks like a small car but drives like a sedan. The room inside is great people think its small they get in and almost always say "No Way" because they are comfortable

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  Fun car to drive. - 2008 Nissan Versa
  By dcsounders - March 12 - 8:23 pm

  I just purchased my new Nissan Versa in June of 2007 and I love it. It is fun to drive, it is very comfortable and gets great gas mileage. This is my first new car and I know I made a great choice. I did a lot of comparison shopping with other manufacturers and I feel like, with the options I got, I got more for my money than I would have if I would have purchased a different make.

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  Love It but - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By Broker - March 12 - 6:56 pm

  Got Mine new. Loved it and babied it. Great power, handling and easy to drive and park. No problems at all. Literally NONE. Then.....75K and it fell apart. AC, water pump, differential, belt tensioner, rattles galore. It was like I got into someone elses vehicle. Maintenance was unbelievable. Hoses--- look out, there are a bunch and they COST. Brakes. WOW. Transmission fluid. Unbelievable. Sealed unit and ONLY dealer can get the "special" fluid easily. Nothing is ever in stock and will sit at dealer or even local guys) for days waiting. I still LOVE my baby, but Ford is my next bet.

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  Great car for the price - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Colleen - March 12 - 2:00 pm

  I bought the car then drove from Florida to California and everywhere in between. I logged over 13K miles and no problemo. I was on the road for four months, drove in every kind of weather possible including needing chains to make it through the mountain passes yet, it holds its own without them. I absolutely love this car.

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  Great - 2016 Nissan Altima
  By Deanna sall - March 12 - 9:56 am

  Love my car best car I ever had love it it rides great great gas mileage

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  Best Gas Mileage I Have Ever Seen - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By TimC - March 11 - 3:40 pm

  The car rides better than my Lincoln. The sticker said 25 city/ 33 hwy but I have been watching it and I am getting 38 Hwy and 29 city. This car has it all, style, mpg, ride. Need to look at this. I looked at Honda Fit, Civic, Accord and Toyota Corolla and Camry and Focus and Fusion. Spent 3 weeks shopping. The Sentra is about 3000.00 cheaper but delivers more. Check it out. I am trading my truck in and getting another.