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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  Max Driver - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By Psyko Max Driver - February 24 - 2:00 am

  This car is totally great. The handling on this car is excellent. It is very comfortable and roomy. The seats are wide enough to support those of us who are average in size and above. If you want a practical family car with a wild side, this is the car to get. It can smoke all of its competitors at the line. Accords, Camrys, Monte Carlos, Mustangs (except Cobra and Seline), and many others all ate my dust. This cars only flaw is torque steering because it has too much power. But torque steering isnt too bad and you can live with it. All around this car is great for its price. Get the 2003s while they last.You wont regret it.

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  Everything Else Is A Minima - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By bent - February 24 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned many cars. Hondas. Nissans. Volkwagens. Compared to the Maxima (this is my second)they are all Minimas.

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  Fun car---few problems - 2002 Nissan Xterra
  By nocrv4me - February 24 - 2:00 am

  Very fun to drive...it handles really well off-road and on mud/dirt. I have had a few problems with the quality...I think my speakers are blown in the back- -and I am supposed to have the "premium package." Also, the centerpiece of my wheel (hard to explain)has come off, and I hear things that rattle when I drive???? The dealer is fixing these problems, and I have to say that the customer service has been great.

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  I love my new truck - 2008 Nissan Frontier
  By Eflesher - February 23 - 10:20 pm

  This is my first pickup truck. I looked at a Titan and it was just too big for my needs. I live and work in the city, but snowboard, mountain bike, and haul around kids, dogs, stuff. This truck is a lot of fun to drive and feels really solid.

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  Great car and fun to drive - 2006 Nissan 350Z
  By dinola - February 23 - 2:56 am

  The car is fun to drive and it definitely gets s lot of looks. Even though the car almost five years old it still has a great style. The engine sounds is awesome. I have had few problems with the car except for having to replace the convertible top becasue it was cracking. Fortunately that was under warranty. The other problem has been the tires and the air pressure indicators. I had to replace the tires at 24,000 miles ($1100). The tires are quite pricey. But the most bothersome item is the air pressure indicator. They seem to be on a lot. The dealer has replaced a few of them over the years. But they seem to be always going on and the dealer is the only one that can turn it off.

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  Enjoyable entry sporty sedan - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By bigb996 - February 23 - 1:16 am

  I purchased this car and right away started modding it. I put on all the bolt ons and really noticed a promising gain. The header itself gained 12whp and 11ft/tq. Torque is definatly not a problem in this car. The interior and exterior fit pretty well and you have 4drs+ a trunk for practicallity. They say the suspension is great however i have aftermarket and still am experiencing a lot of body roll. The performance is good but a little more hp couldnt hurt. I dont really see a need for a 6spd but its something different for a car like it at the price. Overall you get what you pay for.

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  Great SUV, good value, poor stereo - 2011 Nissan Xterra
  By tomportland - February 22 - 10:35 pm

  Good, strong SUV. Engine has great performance. Mileage within expected range. Was able to get it for about $5000 under sticker. Stereo is low quality. Sound is horrible--which explains the lack of an Aux input even in the S"S model.

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  2006 NIssan Altims - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By fohne - February 22 - 2:06 pm

  Immediate recall on engine. Replaced within first month. Never was truly happy with car, paint job went bad after 5 yars. 9 years later head cracked, no indicator lights or any prior warning.

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  Very Pleased with 2013 Quest - 2013 Nissan Quest
  By 2013questowner - February 22 - 1:11 pm

  I thought it was only fair to wait several months to do a review on the van. In short, I’m extremely pleased with it. I looked at all the major minivans and would say this is the best. Nissan was giving the best incentives as well. Two tone dash and leather are well done. With a high center of gravity there is a little roll, but the ride is on a par with a full size sedan for smoothness and quiet ride. To get a flat cargo bed you can easily lay down the second and third row seats. You don’t need to take anything out of the van like you do in other models to get a flat surface. The gas mileage seems to be approximately what it is rated at 19 city and 25 on the highway.

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  Great Car - 2008 Nissan Maxima
  By Jada2020 - February 22 - 12:56 pm

  Great car! I really like this car tho it could use some refinement. The CVT is one of the best transmissions out (smooth as silk) I will say that the price tag is a bit much for a fully loaded 3.5SL. All in all, I really like my car and will keep it for a few years!