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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  ugly xterra - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By johnson - March 19 - 3:06 am

  my wife and her female friends really like it...the 265 hp v6 performs strong, its an odd (unattractive) vehicle, cheap plastic interior, the ride reminds me of a mid 70s cj-5 i had years ago, too high price for as cheap as this X is constructed, would not recommend this vehicle.......

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  Noisy Nissan Altima - 2015 Nissan Altima
  By Sandra Mulla - March 19 - 12:43 am

  I bought a 2015 Nissan Altima in January 2015. Like the car, but its very noisy! High pitched whining noise is coming from the power steering pump. Streater Smith Conroe said they couldnt fix it. We brought it to Fred Haas in Tomball and they tried fixing it by replacing the steering pump. It help some, but the noise is getting louder by the day. Nissan does not have a fix for it. I hate driving the car because its so noisy. A man in parking lot heard it walking by and asked what that noise was under the hood! Lots of wind noise. Gas mileage is great, but would rather lose a couple mpg to ride in a quiet car! Very disappointed with Nissan for not helping further with this issue.

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  Great SUV - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By A Fox - March 18 - 1:30 pm

  Ive had this 2 years. The main pros are the excellent comfort, handling and reliability. It handles like a car, or the 4-runner. Checked out the Explorer, and this feels a lot safer cornering. Looks are very good, the Bose Sound system is excellent and it never has any issues. Mileage is average at 17 MPG for me. It has plenty power for overtaking, and is always just big enough to fit bikes, and camping gear or furniture. Overall - My only complaint is the gas mileage, which has improved on the newer model. This is a great SUV, and a lot better value than the 4-runner which enjoys somewhat of a cult status. Well worth the money.

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  Awesome car - 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By Clifee - March 18 - 10:03 am

  I thought I was going to buy a 2010 Prius. I was just waiting for the right one to become available when I happened upon the Altima Hybrid. What a stroke of luck! It is so much more car for less money, as it turned out. The Altima I got is fully loaded, and is a GREAT car. It drives beautifully, with power when you need it, and little road noise, lots of comfort and great handling. I marvel at the technology that has gone into this car. Truly remarkable. I highly recommend this car to anyone considering a hybrid. At least give it a test drive! The mileage is pretty good (35 mpg so far), and the tax incentives are great $2350 federal, and $1500 state (OR). Nissan is making great deals now.

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  Lemon - 2000 Nissan Sentra
  By HRDEDD - March 18 - 5:03 am

  I bought this car used and had a great time for maybe the first year. My check engine light has been on for years. It says my catalytic converter needs to be replaced. I paid for an expensive fix getting a new catalytic converter and the check engine light is still on and still reading the same thing. My uncle didnt even believe it was my catalytic converter because there was not burning hot air coming out of my muffler. The car seems to run fine with the check engine light always on so after many trips to various auto repair shops I have basically given up and just drive it as is. The car is small which was great for me back in college but having a family in the car is hard.

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  Love it so far - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By Matt - March 18 - 3:03 am

  I am really enjoying my 2.0SL. The car is surprisingly large inside and everything is well laid out. My previous car was an Accord, and the fit and finish on the Nissan are just not up to that standard, but the Sentra is lower on the scale than an Accord. Even though, I really love the styling, how high-up it sits, how quiet the engine is, the regular stereo sounds great and overall I am really enjoying it.

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  COULD BE BETTER. - 2009 Nissan Maxima
  By carlo - March 18 - 2:03 am

  This Model has a very nice body style. Priced right and fun to drive. Until you make turns, when i make left or right turns into a small dip or driveway at speeds of no more then 2 mph. The struts make a ugly sound they dont take the impact at all. I went back to the dealer 3 times , a rep from Nissan took a look at it. For their fix they went to Home Depot brought a clear PVC tubing and weaved it through the struts to help with the bang. I still here the bang, and this is the best they can do after 35K.

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  Awesome Truck! - 2007 Nissan Titan
  By Vanessa - March 18 - 1:43 am

  This is the first full size truck I have owned. I set out to buy a Tacoma, but after driving the Titan, I could not turn back. I went from driving a 10 year old Honda Civic that I loved to the Titan. I have not been disappointed. Both of my brothers want one. I drove all of the full size trucks before making my decision on the Titan. The Tundra does seem to have more power, but not enough to make a difference. This truck just stood out from the rest. I drove it 7 times before the purchase. Just had to be sure with the gas mileage.

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  Best Car Yet! - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By redkenrep - March 17 - 6:16 pm

  I have owned many cars including a BMW 3 series, Audi A4, and Honda Accord. This car far out performs all others from Driving, styling, acceleration, and performance. It looks great too!

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  Excellent Value for Money - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By Todd - March 16 - 9:53 pm

  Value for money, I dont think this car can be beat. I own the SL version (with optional CVT) and have been very impressed with every aspect of this car. It has just about every safety feature as standard equipment. The seats are large and comfortable. And theres actually a lot of space in the trunk area - even without the rear seats down. We were considering the Honda Fit but found it uncomfortable. The Fits shorter wheelbase, smaller tires and thinner seats made for a jarring ride at times.