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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  Best Vehicle Ever!!!! - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Beverly Hills 90210 - January 18 - 10:00 am

  I am 100 o/o happy with this car. I have had many, many cars and this one is right at the top. Thank you Nissan. The only negative is the steering wheel radio and speed controls are not lighted. The rest is Perfect!

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  Nice car.... to lease - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Roma - January 18 - 10:00 am

  There we have it... In summary, the all new Altima is a good performer and is worth leasing, but if you are considering buying it, do your research. The resale on this car is horrible! You lose almost 50% in the first 18 months!

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  Best Car on the Road for under 30K - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By tommasten - January 18 - 10:00 am

  Love this car, it handles better than any other car in its class, looks ten times better than anything in its class and has much more room than anything in its class, Camry and Accord are no match to this car, the North American Car of the Year for 2002, I rest my case!

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  probably wouldnt purchase again. - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By boise - January 18 - 8:50 am

  I purchased a 04 se titan 4x4 w/ big tow and off rd pkg new 1/05. fun truck and looks nice, but i dont think i would ever buy one if i had another go at it. Fun to drive as long as you turn off the traction control everytime you get in it. Ive told many people it would be a great truck, if I bought it for my wife to drive the kids around in, but im not married so....I feel its a very safe "street" vehicle. if you plan on going anywhere you might need 4wd, lock it in before its needed. otherwise you might not get it to engage on demand. the mpg is not too good compared to alot of other trucks. I had to have the brake jutter kit installed. that did seem to take care of that issue.

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  beast 4x4 - 2009 Nissan Xterra
  By jag - January 18 - 6:06 am

  I did my home work compare and test drive a jeep, fj and blazer and i decided to get a xterra. drove it in ohio winter storm with 24 inches of snow off road no problem still lots of power its a beast for a 4x4. i love it hope they have a bigger tires and higher ground clearance.:)

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  2007 Nissan Altima SE - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By Jeff Green - January 18 - 5:00 am

  I have owned this car for 9 years. I bought it new and kept it garaged in the winter. The only troubles I have had with this car are: Hood liner crumbled, Bose stereo acts up on occasion. This car has never failed to start or stop. Maintenance has been tires, oil and inspections. The car rides very comfortably. The interior is stylish with easliy reached controls. The seats are NOT comfortable on long road trips. The side bolsters dig into my thighs. It seats 5 people comfortably. It has a very spacious trunk with the seats folding down at 60/40. I have recommended this car model to others many times over the years.

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  Not so sure worth 33k - 2008 Nissan Pathfinder
  By RMallory - January 17 - 11:03 pm

  I purchased a 2008 Nissan last October. While it has a much quieter and smoother ride than my previous SUV (a Trailblazer), I dont think its worth the price tag I paid - my fault. The check engine light came on THREE weeks after I purchased it - took dealer 2 weeks to order and replace the part. Cant quite get over this issue to enjoy the car just yet.

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  2009 Nissan Frontier/ XE - 2009 Nissan Frontier
  By Dennis - January 17 - 12:03 am

  This is my second Nissan Frontier, Ive owned and drove my 2001 for 8 years and I must say it has been the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned, I still own it. Ive owned the new Frontier for 2 months now and the only complaints I have thus far is the drivers seat and the center console.

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  Good buy for the money - 2008 Nissan Versa
  By John - January 16 - 10:26 pm

  Having purchased the Versa three weeks ago, I have to say I am impressed. Having to commute 72 mi a day, I am getting 30 miles to the gallon. My vehicle now has 800 miles on it. Having a manual, and owning three prior autos with manual transmission including Toyota Corolla, I have to say that for the price, the Versa is well worth it. The only drawback which I am getting used to is in regards to shifting. There is very little room for error in shifting from second to third as well as from fifth to fourth gear. There is plenty of headroom in the drivers seat as well as plenty of room in the rear. If youre looking for a reduced priced subcompact. I would recommend the Versa over the Corolla.

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  Great mid-size SUV - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Gil - January 16 - 3:40 pm

  Overall a great midsize SUV. I also researched and compared the Chevy Trailblazer, Toyota 4runner, Honda Pilot, and Subaru Outback. I chose the Pathfinder because of its reliability and price paid with options selected. I went with the fully loaded SE model and am very happy with my choice. Another reason for selecting the Pathfinder was that my prior vehicle was a 91 Nissan Maxima that I put on 180,000 miles and never had a major problem. I believe the best quality manufacturers are Toyota, Honda, and Nissan and you couldnt go wrong with any of them. However, Nissan offers the best price of the three, with similar options selected.