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 SUV - 2006 Nissan Pathfinder
  By shane - June 2 - 8:16 pm

  Without a doubt this SUV is a winner. I have tested many vehicles off-road and I always favored a Pathfinder. My wife wouldnt go for the 4x4, therefore I was forced to live with the 4x2. In my opinion it is the best mid-large SUV for the buck.

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  Poor manufacturing - 2006 Nissan Sentra
  By SpaceCoastFL - June 2 - 7:53 am

  This vehicle overall is reliable, but there are some major issues that have convinced me to never purchase a Nissan again. 1. Computer failure at under 1000 miles 2. Wheel bearing failure of both rear wheel bearings at under 30000 miles (Dealership tried to get out of warranty repair until I showed them that the wheel bearings were specifically covered under drivetrain warranty) 3. Technical bulletin on the fuel pump that causes a hard start. This fuel pump problem of course failed just past the warranty limitation and costs dearly to replace. I recommend replacing this yourself as I fear Nissan may just replace the fuel pump assembly with another OEM "broken" assembly

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  Best in class, mu opinion - 2010 Nissan Altima
  By Stone - June 2 - 6:06 am

  Just got it. Wanted a decent looking sedan at a good price with great gas mileage. Im very happy so far. Gas mileage is 29.6 in all-around driving, mostly city. I pay attention to how I drive and it seems to help the mileage. Doesnt compare to the Audis Ive owned for years but it costs half as much, has a much better maintenance and reliability record and gets better gas mileage. Im retired now so I had to take a step down but Im very happy with the car. Looking forward to driving it a long time. controls are basic and simple. Easy to get to. Am very pleased with my purchase.

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  A good, safe, fun family sedan - 1999 Nissan Maxima
  By Nij - June 2 - 5:56 am

  Purchased mine when it had 45,000 miles. Have driven it 15,000 miles in less than 10 months and i love the car! Feels steady on the road. Has good power and acceleration. Heated seats are a comfort in the winter. Ive taken this for many long trips and so far this has been my favorite car. Ive owned Honda and Mitsubishi earlier and nothing beats the Nissan Maxima! Overall, a great car for a decent price.

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  2015 Altima - 2015 Nissan Altima
  By laurie russell - June 2 - 2:44 am

  I traded in my 2015 toyota camry hybrid for the altima. The trunk and interior space is rommier. Controls are easier. Ease of getting in and out much better. And the mileage difference is minimal. The only thing better on the toyota was the warranty, but hopefully I wont need that.

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  Pathfinder - 1998 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Firmin - June 2 - 2:00 am

  Very reliable, no warranty claims in nearly six years of ownership. Good paint.

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  AWESOME CAR - 1995 Nissan 200SX
  By rycho2002 - June 2 - 2:00 am

  this car is perfect as a first car and is very affordable

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  Nissan does not care.... - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By kbsig106 - June 2 - 2:00 am

  Tires, suspension, alignment. The big "3" problems facing 2003 350z owners and Nissan has not fully addressed the problem.

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  V6 Crew Cab 4x4 5sp - 2000 Nissan Frontier
  By gforce - June 2 - 2:00 am

  Overall a pretty good truck. Way better quality than my 98 Dodge, but nothing compared to my 95 Audi. Both exhaust manifolds cracked, bumper rusted, driveshaft carrier bearing failed, O2 sensor caused CEL to come on. Fortunately, original owner purchased extended warranty! Post warranty, tailgate decal peeled ($140+!!) and exhaust is rotting. I commute 120mi/day and only get 17mpg on the highway. Great on cross country trips, but could use more rear leg room.

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  the best ride in town - 2004 Nissan Altima
  By tonynavy - June 2 - 2:00 am

  This is the second Altima we ve owned, after an excellent performance by the 2002, that we had for about 2 years, we went browsing and alas, traded in the first (we recd about $11000 trade in value), and came home weith a new one. This is still the best weve had in the many cars (mostly new ones) weve had in our marriage (35years) In a term "The Greatest"