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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  Smooooth... - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Tony253 - September 24 - 10:00 am

  This car does everything smooth...Acceleration, braking, steering and appearance. The Maxima has attitude under the hood clear back to the twin dual pipes. A similarly equipped Audi A4 would be about $5K more without the "cool" factor. Ive never owned a car that gets stared at so often.

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  Excellent truck so far - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By bosox - September 23 - 3:23 am

  Overall the truck is great and I love it.There are a few annoyances though. One is the passenger side jump seat flops down under hard braking or bumpy conditions (Still happens periodically even with the upgraded seat locks from Nissan).Second there are some squeaks, rattles, and vibrations, especially around my rear sliding window when it is open. Third and most annoying is that if Im coasting in neutral or I have the clutch pushed in the transmission rattles when going over bumps. Its really anoying on the trail and rough dirt roads. My dealer supposedly tested another manual frontier and said it was normal. Fourth is that the front of the truck picks up lots of bugs in the summer.

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  I love my Murano - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By Patricia Pollock - September 23 - 2:36 am

  I attend the auto show every year and when I say the 2003 Murano for the first time I knew this was the vehicle for me. I wanted an SUV this time. I had a Toyota Camry XLE for ten years I brought new. I loved that car but, when I say the Murano I wanted it. It has style, pick up and looks. I have had my vehicle for over a year now and I am completely satisfied except for gas mileage is not quite what I would like it to be, but you cant have everything.

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  Great Car - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By Bill - September 21 - 2:53 pm

  The car handles great. I drive in NYC and it handles the rough road with no problems.

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  2008 Xterra Off Road Auto - 2008 Nissan Xterra
  By DaPir8 - September 21 - 4:20 am

  Initial impressions - well built, impressive engine. So far so good. Having come from an original 1998 Frontier I realize how many advancements have occurred in 10 years. This vehicle gives confidence on and off road - something my old truck lacked. Looked at the FJ but the Xterra is the better value.

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  Its a MACHINE! - 2008 Nissan 350Z
  By Ross - September 21 - 12:53 am

  I bought this car in July and put appx 3300 miles on since. I just gave it my first oil change. This car is a complete MACHINE! Feels great on the road. Great fuel economy, outstanding performance off the line and from 60+. Its the enthusiast version so it has the limited slip and traction control. Really sticks to the road. Very maneuverable. I test drove the 2008 Mustang GT, Chevy Cobalt SS supercharged, Mazda rx8, Mitsubishi eclipse GT. The 08 350Z Enthusiast just blew them all away. Might have only 2 seats and room for golf bags, but in the end, no one can really fit in the "4 seater sports cars" anyway. Best car I have driven to date. Very happy.

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  Great car - 2001 Nissan Maxima
  By Michael Smith - September 20 - 8:03 pm

  Ive had this car for 4 yrs and 4 months. Very few problems and only regular maintenance required. Outstanding reliability, comfort, and performance. I think the styling still holds up today. Its been the best car I have ever owned!

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  Everything the SE wasnt - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Scott Thatcher - September 20 - 2:56 pm

  BMW experience in a Nissan. Great exhaust sound, great improvements over the 3.5SE. Beyond the obvious stats differences, the windows are faster, horn lock sound is quieter, you cant make it squeel a tire from sideways G force. Interior is new GTO-ish. Doors seem heavier than the 3.5SE. 18" Forged aluminum wheels easy to clean due to wheel design. Better shift logic for city driving than the 3.5SE. I hear it has the Maxima transmission, havent cnofirmed. More of a head turner than I expected. People just turn/gawk/change their direction to see what this is. The cost/performance/style/MPG balance just cant be matched/beat in my opinion.

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  Pathfinder = WINNER! - 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
  By reigninslayer - September 20 - 4:47 am

  This is my 4th Nissan vehicle since 2003 and my first purchase. The previous three vehicles were leases and I enjoyed them all. I picked the 13 PF PL over the competitors for many reasons including: Nissan reliability, Nissans CVT is the best among the others out there, brand loyalty, standard features, ride quality, cargo space and technology. I have just over 1200 miles so the vehicle is over the break-in period. I am averaging 23.6 MPG with a 66 mile round-trip daily commute consisting of 90% highway and 10% city. I have not experienced one issue and thoroughly enjoy my new 13 PF. Build date is April 2013.

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  2007 Nissan Sentra S Is A Winner! - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By Open Roads - September 20 - 3:03 am

  It is a great little car, roomy for its class, good mileage, fun to drive. The BlueTooth and Intelligent Key - How did we do without them, before we had them. They are great functions and work as intended. It is one of the most enjoyable cars we have had. We test drove many in its class, but the Sentra stood out on its own. The Dealer did not sell this car. The car sold itself. We test drove several Sentras and Versas, and had a difficult time selecting. The Sentra won out for value for the dollar and the extra interior room made the final decision easy. A quality car in its class. Wish I had two of them.