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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  Great SUV - 2010 Nissan Murano
  By D Scher - September 17 - 10:00 am

  This is my second Murano & our 39th new vehicle. liked the newer body style so bought. Its a fun to drive nice looking sporty crossover & very quite. Not as luxurious a ride as the wifes Lexus RX350H but just as quite. I like to feel the road not float over it so the Murano is great in that respect. Great handling & gas mileage true to its rating. Had no troubles with my first Murano after 2 years & 18K miles so expect none with this one though Ill probably will be looking for new in a couple years as have throughout my spoiler life.

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  Love the car - but poor rear visibility - 2010 Nissan Altima
  By Peter - September 17 - 10:00 am

  I have owned the car for about 3-months (purchased the vehicle new in June 2010). So far, very pleased. Its very quiet and powerful on the road - and a very smooth transmission. Reliable (so far). As far as handling goes, I noticed the car is not as stable as my 01 maxima. The steering is aggressive, and the brakes are touchy which leads to a jittery drive for your passengers despite trying to drive conservative. The center console storage has a door which is annoying to use and doesnt lock down well (it pops up as you drive). Other than that, seats very comfortable. The rear seat is firm and flat, allowing a passenger to sleep easily if needed on a long trip.

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  2010 Black SV - 2010 Nissan Maxima
  By Jeff - September 17 - 8:33 am

  I leased the 2010 Maxima SV in March. It was the best lease deal I could find after looking at many different cars, including the Buick Lacrosse and Acura TL. After three years in a Cadillac CTS Im overall pleased with the Maxima, but have a few peeves. There is wind noise at highway speeds I assume from the sunroof. The CVT seems to lock in a tall gear around town and causes the drive train to lug. This sends a vibration through the car. With that said, the car is quick when you want to accelerate, and the toys are great. The voice activated navigation and blue tooth blows away the system in the CTS. The Maxima is a well built car that is mostly an enjoyable ride.

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  Just bought, so dont know what I think - 2010 Nissan Altima
  By Mike - September 16 - 11:00 pm

  Just bought a new Altima SL with Conv Pkg, Conv Pkg Plus, Flr Mats, and Splash Grds. I feel I got a decent deal at $23,850 (about $1000 under invoice) and 0% financing. Two bad things happened after paperwork was signed. When I was shown how everything works, the gas door wouldnt open and the low tire pressure light wouldnt go out. Service guys left for the night, so now I have to bring it back to get fixed. Hope thats not a bad omen.

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  Practical and almost fun - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By NOZ34ME - September 16 - 12:10 pm

  Bought mine late May. Traded in my 99 Maxima. CVT is very smooth. Interior fit and finish is good. Dont expect 36 mpg; Ive milked this thing for all its worth, and 34 is the best I can get. Hoping the engine is just "tight" and after a few thousand miles it will get better. The radio with bluetooth is a great idea; all cars should have that feature given the number of cellphones around now. Only aggravation is the drivers sunvisor that hits the rear view mirror. Didnt any of the design engineers try that before it went into production?

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  200 HP Rocket! - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By tjb101084 - September 15 - 11:50 am

  I just purchased the new Spec V and was wowed right away with this thing. I traded in a 2003 Eclipse GT with a 3.0 V6 and this Spec V with its 2.5 inline 4 is a lot faster! This car rides like a car should (sporty to the teeth!) and with its big brake kit on the front, this thing stops on a dime. 0-60 in 6.7 and the 1/4 mile in 15.01. If youre looking for a sporty, fast, reliable, just all out sweet car, buy the Spec V! You wont regret it.

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  Worth the wait! - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By Diversity 1 - September 15 - 8:16 am

  This is a truly great truck! It handles very well and the gas mileage is decent. The interior is well thought out and the exterior is rugged, yet futuristic. The engine power is outstanding! You can do almost anything with this vehicle, it is very versatile. Nissan hit a homerun with this one! It is not a cross-over wannabe minivan!

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  "Unfortunately my Wife LOVES it!!! - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By Tim - September 14 - 11:43 pm

  I wanted to put some miles and seasons on my new 4x4 before I gave my review. I love it more now than when I 1st bout it. I used to own a Chevy S10 4x4 that I had to put in reverse to engage the 4x4--a real pain!!! With this 4x4on the fly, I cant wait for it to snow. Its got great ground clearance and cuts through deep snow like butter! My wife uses any excuse to drive it, I cant get her out of it. I love the spray-in bedliner with the util-trac rails. With the bed extender i go from a 5 to 6bed. Interior is very comfortable and a smooth ride. 265hp acceleration very powerful. test drove dodge durango as well. NO comparison. Gas mileage @16- 20. Could use heated outside anti-fog mirrors

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  2008 Nismo - 2008 Nissan 350Z
  By Boz - September 13 - 5:50 am

  Best handling car period with traction control on or off. I love this car. Makes me smile with every drive. Super tight and well built. I have owned many Porsches and BMWs. The only thing that handles better is a M3 or GT3 and the Corvette Z06. The Nismo could have a bit more power as the 306hp V6 is a bit short in torque and pull. That said, for $30-35K this is the one in my garage.

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  A 10 all around - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By KarrieAnn - September 13 - 2:00 am

  If you like the height of a SUV but the comfort of a car then the Murano is right for you! It is on a car chasis and drives like a car. The Murano is very open and spacious. It has more leg room in the 2nd row than most cars do! Plus theres tons of cargo room. Everything from the Leather to the Bose stereo to the dual climate control is of the highest quality. Plus it is so fun to drive! You have a huge engine but you still get excellent gas mileage. Plus this is the first time I havent been afraid to drive in the rain. The Murano has VDC and traction control to keep you going in all weather conditions.