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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  WOW - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By MarkG - June 21 - 2:00 am

  This car is just great to drive. I only have 1000 miles on it right now so I have not taken it to the track but this car is just quick. It puts you in your seat and makes you feel like your flying. When you step on the gas you are in for the ride of your life. Warning to everyone, do not try flooring it around a turn unless you have some mussels to hold the wheel.

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  A Winner - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By Lancer - June 21 - 2:00 am

  I wanted to purchase a wagon to replace a Grand Cherokee Laredo. We considered Volvo XC, Audi A4, Passat V6 and W8. We test drove and bought a Murano SE AWD without the nav. system because it provided everything we were looking for with no compromises. Plenty of space for the dogs. A strong, proven engine. Comfortable interior with plenty of space. An excellent stereo system. The car is fun to drive. It does not handle like my RX7, but it is equal or better then the wagons considered. The CV transmission is fantastic. My hope is the build quality (electronics and trans.) will stand the test of time!

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  wow - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By lukey germyn - June 20 - 11:03 pm

  this auto is great. love to drive it. what fun and power. if you drive it youll love it.

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  We LOVE this car! - 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By Deb - June 20 - 8:36 pm

  My family trades cars about every 2 years. This Altima is a KEEPER. Who would have thought you could get great mileage in a roomy car that doesnt look like a cheese wedge? We are averaging between 35 and 36 mpg. It would probably be higher except that I do stop and go driving. We feel so safe with the front & side airbags. Acceleration is quick and braking dependable. Beautiful lines, quality fit and finish.

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  great first car and good for student - 1996 Nissan Maxima
  By maxima_lover - June 20 - 10:16 am

  So I bought my max with 146k miles on it and it costed me under $4,000 on the road. Also its my first car, its the best and its fun to drive. I drive around 70 miles each day to and from work and to college. Even though I make 15 mile trips each way with driving hard, MPG is about 22-24 and I drive hard.But You never feel underpowered on highways and you never get bored with its audio. I think its the best car for your money. Its reliable, quick, cheap, fun to drive. My dad has 98 camry v6 and compare to my 96 maxima , its not as breathtaking to drive a camry as my maxima. Its VQ engine is the best- very smooth and quick-you can outrun more than 75% of the vehicles on the road.

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  2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid - 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By Dan - June 19 - 10:36 pm

  I purchased a Toyota Highlander for my wife a few years back and felt the only new car for me was Toyota. I was so close to buying the Camry Hybrid but after reading reviews here, I tested the Altima. Sold! I’m a big guy at 6’4” 230 lbs and the comfort in the Altima is far superior to the Camry. Gas mileage is great at 38. And I think it looks much better than the Camry.

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  Dont pay MSRP! Great mid-size SUV. - 2006 Nissan Xterra
  By Jon, So. Texas - June 19 - 9:03 pm

  Just bought (4/06) my 2006 white X- Terra SE, pretty much loaded, including the Side Airbags and Tow Package (options SO1, W94, N93, F10, L92, B10, M10). I bought the wheel drive since Im only on the road. MSRP Sticker was $28,115, I paid $24,650+tax&title after the $1,000 rebate. Maybe I could have done a little bit better on the price, but this was the only X-terra with the side airbags in town, so I went for it! The power is great, which is a trade- off for the so-so milage... I like the power. The SEs options has some additional nice items (17" wheels, interior trim, fog lights, trip computer), but the best one is the 300-watt Rockford Fosgate system. Buy yours $3,500

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  Great deals on 2011 Frontiers right now - 2011 Nissan Frontier
  By eddie_mundy - June 19 - 7:59 pm

  After shopping around and considering everything from a hatchback diesel Golf to a small SUV/crossover, I decided on the Frontier as my primary vehicle for a mix of highway and city commuting. In the end, as for so many others, it came down to the Frontier vs. the Tacoma. Due to several rebates and discounts the 4x4 King Cab V6 with premium package ended up being cheaper than a 4 cylinder regular cab bare bones (not even power windows) Tacoma would have been. So far I love it! Paid $22,700 out the door bottom line price for the King Cab 4x4 V6 with premium package in Night Armor with Graphite interior.

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  Amazing ride for a SUV - 2006 Nissan Murano
  By Wasser - June 19 - 5:46 pm

  I chose the SE for improved handling and cornering and it is amazing. You feel the bumps a bit but this softens over time. I have owned almost every SUV out there and I love this. Amazing acceleration. Great interior. Got it fully loaded for at least 15K less then the RX 400h and FX. I previously owned an RX330 and it was like driving a girls car (boaring) with too much lean. I actually had to wait 3 months for it to be delivered with my specs-exact color, nav, dvd, satellite, backup camera, smartkey. Can downshift even though with the CVT there are really no gears. Mileage would be better then 18- 20 mph but I ride it very aggressively. My wife uses low-octane, I use mid- range. I love it.

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  Great Fun Car - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By Al Johnson - June 19 - 1:10 pm

  A very nice, quality, fun car to drive. It has great looks, great handling, and great quality. I rate it A +.