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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  a REAL review - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By ThomMorales - January 2 - 10:00 am

  Wow, I just read a review of the Murano and for the most part it is accurate...accept when it comes to power in traffic. Oh my GOSH, they are WAY off base. Who on Earth test-drove the vehicle? My Murano blasts through traffic,up hills, into fastlanes, and more with LOADS of power! Did I just get a unique Murano? I think the guy that testdrove it was sleeping. And then when you shift it to the right, zooooommm! It blasts all the cars off the road...yup, I raced and WON! FYI, against a BMW, FX, and a few other cheap cars. HA!!! There should be a re-test of the SUV. Or give that guy that drove it originally some No-Doz!

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  Murano Is Ultimate SUV - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By Michelle Bozzini - January 2 - 10:00 am

  I have been driving in my new Murano for four months and I can honestly say Im in love! I have an SL that is completely loaded and it can rival any luxury SUV that is priced $10,000 more (Lexus RX330, Infiniti FX35, etc). The styling is unique and sexy; and boy does it turn heads. The interior is extremely spacious and comfortable and the Bose sterio system kicks butt! I often forget Im driving an SUV because the handling is so smooth and fast. The CVT engine is a nice feature and adds to the SUVs performance.

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  Really fun car just poor mpg - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By srb986 - January 2 - 10:00 am

  This is a very good car better than any other suv for the money, good feature of having AWD only when you need it then jumps to 2WD to increase mpg.

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  As advertised - 2004 Nissan Frontier
  By jd1026jd - January 2 - 10:00 am

  I believe this compact truck is the best I have driven. Our vacation this summer consisted of 2900 miles, from flat lands to climbing Pikes Peak. Had wife and daughter and packed with camping gear. Plenty of power, gas mileage averaged 17.6 mpg, from cruising 75mph on interstates to mountain driving. Plenty of get-up and go. VERY smooth ride, quiet, no road noise. Solid built little truck. Have had many positive comments on style and performance of the truck. Plenty of room in long bed, even with a Tonneau top. AC was great.

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  Love it! - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By Shawacky - January 2 - 10:00 am

  Ive never owned a truck before. I almost bought the Tundra, but glad I didnt. After shopping around, I believe the Titan is by far the best deal. I walked out of the dealership paying only $31k and some change and the only options I didnt get were the DVD and NAV. The only thing Ive hauled is the family so far and there was plenty of room for the five of us. The wife loves driving it also. I let her drive it for a week while her sister was in town. She called me at work and said she loved my truck. Thank goodness she still called it my truck :-)

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  STREET HUGGER - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By ZROCOOL - January 2 - 10:00 am

  FASTER THAN IT LOOKS, ALOT OF FUN TO ADD AND BUILD WITH NISMO, THE WAY THE TOP OPENS IS UNTOUCHABLE!!! A TRUE COMPACT AFFORDABLE SPORTS CAR.

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  2003 3.5SE Altima Review - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By sllewis73 - January 2 - 10:00 am

  Great Car! Fast, fun to drive, very roomy for a big guy (64, 300lbs.)

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  Love this car - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By marc89 - January 2 - 10:00 am

  Ive had this car for 1 1/2 years and nothing but praise! I drive for a living and have just returned from a road trip to Florida...this car is awesome. Plenty of power, very smooth, and no problems whatsoever. Best choice I could have made.

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  Great Vehicle - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Vinny D - January 2 - 10:00 am

  This is my second Maxima in two years and I will likely purchase a third in the future. The new body style is eye catching and the performance is everything I expected. Shop this car against the TL, IS300, and BMW325 and you will buy it. The interior is cavernous and the gauges are just sporty enough without looking like a teenagers car.

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  FAST and Fun To Drive! - 2009 Nissan Rogue
  By Robert - January 2 - 3:03 am

  Wow! I got this car because I loved the transmission this car carries the same engine, and same transmission as the Nissan Altima. 2.5L 170 hrs 175 torque. It faster, saves more gas, more reliable engine then the RV4 or Cr-V. Nissan Rogue won. On the turns it has better control and a smoother ride and a better suspension system for a smoother ride. If you hit a pot hole your steering wheal wont move. Its awesome!