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 off road vehicle - 2006 Nissan Xterra
  By Sid Byers - March 3 - 7:30 pm

  Ive been getting 18 mpg for the first 1200+ miles overall. Seats are very comfortable, control layout is excellent. Transmission shifts perfectly, and the ratios are spot on. The traction control while off road really works great, you just keep going forward with very little wheel slip. Id buy this vehicle again!

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  Super Yellow Truck - 2002 Nissan Frontier
  By street2nerz - March 3 - 5:53 am

  Overall, this is THE BEST truck I have ever owned! Absolutely NO mechanical issues AT since new. About the only thing I wish were different are the Front seats, they have no lumbar support. and the addition of a footrest would have been great. Other than that, this is a great truck. I particularly like the styling over the newer nismos as well. Its just better! Oh, one last item, the brakes are good, but easily could have been much better, when are the manufactures gonna get wise about slapping some bremboson their sport trucks! WHEN!!..Id easily pay the difference. I am not easy on my vehicles but this one has really done a great job. Break in your engine and change the oil often!

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  Great Car - 2015 Nissan Rogue
  By bobjob - March 2 - 7:00 pm

  Coming from a family with only Toyota Rav4s the Rogue is 100x more premium. Mom owns a 2014 Toyota Rav4, the difference in quality is pretty astounding. Although I think the Rav4 engine is a bit more peppy initially, the Rogue seems to have more power on tap to accelerate once your already going. The car is great. I got the Sv with Premium Package, (unfortunately did not get the sunroof because of a great deal) and I could not be happier. The sunroof would have been nice to have, but the noise and heat beaming on my head isnt missed either. 1500$ for a sunroof alone is a rip off anyway. All the features are great and the around view camera is something all my future cars will need to have.

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  Pleased with my purchase - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Kuulie - March 2 - 3:53 pm

  I was in the market for an SUV style because I needed a more room...I discovered the Murano inadvertantly. The more I looked at it the more appealing it was to me...Id describe it as very comfortable to drive and it is easy to access...no stooping or climbing to get in...I am very happy with the colors I chose for the interior/exterior. The mileage is not too bad either...I have an 80 mi/day commute and I figured Id have to sacrifice a little bit in order to get what I wanted, but it really hasnt been too much of a sacrafice afterall. It is a sturdy and very reliable car and I would definately recommend it to anyone in need of room/comfort without the typical SUV/Truck automobile feel.

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  Very nice truck for the money!!! - 2006 Nissan Armada
  By FLGardner - March 2 - 10:50 am

  Very nicely apportioned vehicle. Quite a bit less in price than the Infiniti QX56 with all the bells and whistles. Very well put together and comfortable. Spacious interior very well put together.

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  Love it! - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Andrea - March 2 - 7:13 am

  This was a birthday gift from my husband. My first new car! Love the interior. The iPod hook up is perfect! The homelink is awesome. No more clunky garage door opener. The power isnt as good as my old Ponitac GTP, but this gets twice the gas mileage! Overall I am very, very happy with the vehicle. Stylish and young looking, yet its a great family sedan.

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  Update from Sept 17/06 - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By The Ice Man - March 1 - 7:10 am

  My wife and I took a two week trip to Vegas, Phoenix then back to Canada. We put on over 4,000 miles. In all areas the car performed very well. Handling and performance threw the mountains was great. The car accelerated very well on the long climbs and it cruised at 75-80 mph very nicely and a quiet ride. We found the seats surprisingly very comfortable on the long trip. Over all we are very pleased with this purchase. The only thing I noticed during this trip was that the speedometer appeared to read incorrectly. After several checks it was determined that it was out by 6.6%. I took it to the dealer when I got back and they ordered a new gear for it. Note: I would have yours checked.

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  The Best Full Size - 2008 Nissan Titan
  By W. Smith - March 1 - 3:16 am

  Smooth and quiet, great handling, very comfortable cabin. Drove all the competition and this wins by a landslide.

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  I love the Murano - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By willajay - March 1 - 2:00 am

  The AWD Murano performs well in ice and snow conditions. The unique transmission takes some getting used to but is a joy to drive once you have mastered it. The exterior styling makes people notice you.

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  Great Truck - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By liquidexistence - March 1 - 2:00 am

  The Titan is a great truck. It performs very well and the handling is unbelieveable for a full-sized truck. The Titan is a bargain when compared to the competitors with similar features, and the Titan will outshine them all while acheiving similar fuel economy. The interior is very well thought out and the utility package makes the bed even more functional.