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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  performance - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By Vickie Tubner - February 13 - 5:50 pm

  This has been a exceptional good car. I havent had any major problems and the vehicle has close to 120 thousands miles.

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  Maximum for this Maxima - 2017 Nissan Maxima
  By Frank Moon - February 13 - 1:53 am

  I have been a repeat customer of MLady for about the last eight years or so for both mine and my wifes vehicles. Theyve always been fair and respectful in our negotiations and that certainly did not change last night. Very satisfied with our lease deal last evening with the Maxima Platinum edition. I came in to acquire the gun metallic SR midnight edition but ended up leaving with the Platinum edition listed for 2K more but for the same deal because they had just sold the SR midnight. The sales guys are awesome!

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  Greatest Car - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Rhonda - February 12 - 11:33 pm

  Not only does this car look great it is fun to drive. Plenty of get up and go. Has all the advantages of an SUV without the poor gas milage.

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  9-year Review - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By romans10nine - February 12 - 10:22 am

  2005 Nissan Altima 2.5 S, White with Black interior, 5-speed manual. Purchased new in October, 2004. Current mileage: 68,000. I have only needed one repair, and that was a crankshaft positioning sensor, which was discovered by the service engine light coming on. I have used Mobile 1 full synthetic from the beginning. The car literally drives like new.

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  Slam dunk family vehicle - 2008 Nissan Quest
  By forgetfl - February 12 - 4:33 am

  We just bought our Quest SE model after months of looking at the other minivans, including the new chrysler and looking at the GM crossover vehicles Acadia and Outlook. You just cant beat the interior volume in the Quest and the beautifully finished interior. The Mazda CX9 interior may be the best in the crossover market, but in our opinion the Quest is a close second. The Sienna interior is a bit long in the tooth and the Odyssey is nice, but doesnt have the skylights or the factory trailering option which is key for us because of our hitch mounted bike trailer and cargo carrier. The other minivan hitches significantly reduce ground clearance.

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  All survived a roll - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By Jessi - February 11 - 10:36 pm

  I dont have too much to say as I only had the car about 3 weeks..BUT Just yesterday me and two other people went off an embankment and rolled my 2005 Xterra, two huge rocks impacted to car, one right above the drivers head. we walked away with only scratches and bruises. I know the official safety star rating is 4 stars, but I give it 5...and Ill be getting another one

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  2003 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab - 2003 Nissan Frontier
  By bucc19 - February 11 - 9:50 pm

  Ive owned this truck for 2 years and Ive had NO problems. Traded my Tacoma in on this with no regrets. It has a better ride, more comfort and much better looks. Im now a Nissan guy.

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  Am I driving on a Cloud??? - 2007 Nissan Murano
  By Von Hall - February 11 - 4:30 pm

  Well, after testing the market for a new automobile I chose the Nissan Murano SL. The suspension as well as the transmission is extremely smooth and feels as though were driving on a cloud. The stylish fashion definitely has the "it" as we travel down the road and people break necks to have a look! I chose the glacier white pearl and tinted the two front windows to match the rest of the Murano. This just tops it off on the looks and gives added protection from the hot Texas sun. If you want an automobile that exceeds expectations with an affordable price, look no further. You will not be unhappy with this selection, I guarantee you!

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  Versa rides bigger than it looks - 2008 Nissan Versa
  By Marty - February 11 - 7:06 am

  I was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable the seats are and the roominess of my Versa, as well as how well it rides and responds to my foot. The car rides and responds like a much bigger car. They could have placed the side mirror controls in a better location so that you do not have to bend and reach to make adjustments. Other than that, my wife and I really enjoy driving this car.

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  We love our Murano!! - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By molly11 - February 10 - 2:00 am

  Weve had our Murano for just a week now and our absolutely loving it. The ride is smooth and car-like. The CVT transmission is awesome...still getting used to not feeling the shifting. We used our Murano to pick up a piece of furniture the first day and found the seats very easy to fold flat, and the cargo area spacious. We also considered the Highlander, the Pilot, the Pathfinder and the Sorrento. After seeing and then driving the Murano, though, the decision was easy. This is the SUV to buy if you want to turn some heads!