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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  The best performance for 18k brand new - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By jeffreyd53 - September 4 - 10:00 am

  I have a 03 spec v and its a great little car for the money. You cant get all the features and all the performance from any other import for even 4 grand more. And honda doesnt even know what torque is.

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  What a engine wheres the rest of the car - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By autow - September 4 - 10:00 am

  I bought an 03 program car. The engine is perfect i never thought nissan could make such a perfect engine with power and torque its great. But where is the thought on the rest of the car the interior needs help short people cannot use the arm rest up or down... The audio system is poor. The road noise is terrible and the se suspension is too rough i enjoy a great handling car and i like to feel the road but i dont like getting beat to death. Take a lesson from acura or bmw their sport pkgs are much much smoother yet handling is crisp. Plus rattles in the doors not sure i have ever had a rattle in japanese car until this one...

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  The worst automobile on the market - 2001 Nissan Maxima
  By Jimmy514 - September 4 - 10:00 am

  You better believe this 2001 SE nissan Maxima is no Acura 3.2 TL. There absolutely no comparison. I purchased my wife a 2000 Acura 3.2 TL and purchased a 2001 Nissan SE maxima for myself. If she would, I would gladly trade the maxima for the Acura. The maxima has been nothing but a source of problems. Tire replacement ever 30,000 MI. at a cost of $1000.00. Brakes and rotors replaced at ever 15,000 MI at a cost of 400.00 per wheel set. Wheel bearing failed under 73,000 MI at a cost of approx $400.00 to replace. The company was contacted and didnt stand benind the automobile.This is a bad vehicle and Nissan will not stand behind it.

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  Great Car - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By spaw - September 4 - 10:00 am

  The styling is fantastic. The ride is smooth and very comfortable. It handles corners and speed superbly. The roomy interior is a great improvement from earlier models. I have more room than cars in higher class.

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  Great Car @ a Great Price - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By GOH_2010 - September 4 - 10:00 am

  This is my second new Altima. I had an 02, and traded it in on an 03. I cannot say enough good things about this car. This is a great car for single folks and families alike. In addition I am 64" and I fit very well into any seat in the car!!!

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  what a beutiful car! - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By birkre - September 4 - 10:00 am

  beautiful style, confortable ride

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  Beware Competition - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Harold Hellekson - September 4 - 10:00 am

  I have worked for the dealership I purchased the car from and have always liked the Maxima better than some of our other lines but,when this came out I bought it after a 3 mile test drive without low interest or any rebates. I am careful with my money and it had to be one heck of a car for me to do this and I couldnt be happier. Now you have a 60 year old man that wont pass up a run from the light.

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  Solid car 4 the $$$ - 2013 Nissan Versa
  By mrfrugal2 - September 4 - 8:34 am

  "Bought an SV model and have close to 200 miles in. Its terrific!! Just what I was looking for. It gets me from point A to point B without spending lots of hard earned cash. If you are looking for luxury then recommend the Acura line, or possibly Honda, but for normal commute, its perfect. Getting about 36 mpg average and loving it. The CVT doesnt bother me so far (based on reviews) - actually it is smoother than most normal tranny cars Ive driven. I did own a Datsun B-210 (manual) and an Altima so I do like Nissan. LOTS of room. My opinion - this cars ingenuity sticks out at me and Im definitely loving it. Take one out for a test drive and youll see. I did, and now I own one!!"

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  Zagnificent 350 - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By SM - September 3 - 1:13 pm

  This is one tight car. From shifting to cornering the 350Z has a dynamic racing feel. Your wish is its command. This is a true sports cars sports car. Highway cruising speeds do not do this car justice. It is extremely smooth and deceiving on the open road and equally capable on curved surfaces. The always illuminated gauges are there to inform you about tire pressure, mpg, temp, speed, rpm max, dte, and more. The practicality of the 350Z is not so much. After all this is a true sports car. It has moderate storage compartments behind the seats and the stabilizing bar in the rear hatch area really reduces your cargo space so pack lite. Bottom line:This is a drivers car that wont dissapoint!

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  Dont regret buying my Frontier - 2007 Nissan Frontier
  By Bob - September 3 - 7:56 am

  I checked out all the midsized trucks and quickly eliminated all the american trucks. I liked the Tacoma and Ridgeline but the Frontier was just as good with more standard equipment and a better price. It rides better than my 2002 Jeep Liberty. It has excellent pickup while averaging 17 mpg.