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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  shouldve bought one sooner - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By RandyE - June 25 - 4:23 am

  i waited for the 2nd year model to come out, so any "bugs" could be found. the mileage is great, for such a large and heavy truck. im getting 18.5 on trips away, but around 13 in town. it doesnt even feel the boat and trailer. the interior has everything youd want. im 66", and with the front seat in a position where im comfortable, i can also get in the back seat, and have a couple inches of room between my knees and the front seat. headroom is great both front and rear. the engine is extremely powerful, and ive had to learn to forget about "jack rabbit" starts. the price was good, and ive found nothing i dont like about this truck.

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  Love It - 2010 Nissan Murano
  By Romelia - June 24 - 11:43 pm

  This is my first SUV and I am really impressed with the Vehicle. It has all the bells and whistle I could ever dream of in a car. I love the heated seats, the smooth ride and most of all the SAT radio with those awesome Bose speakers. I dont have anything to complain about, but everything to be thankful for. Glad I made this as my first choice for an SUV.

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  So far so good - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By redelmo - June 24 - 8:46 pm

  Purchased 3 wks ago. No problems at all. None of the transmission or vibration issues others have complained about. Very smooth acceleration. Excellent fit and finish. Had leather installed, due to excessive price for useless featurs. Visibility not the best. Wish it had bluetooth with basic model. Hope to have this vehicle for a long time.

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  When looking over the fence... - 2015 Nissan Altima
  By cyndie raposa - June 24 - 2:12 pm

  you know the grass is always greener on the other side.

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  love my quest - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By happy quest owner - June 24 - 1:13 pm

  This is the second minivan ive ever owned and I love it! I have never had any trouble with it, the quality is great, the looks are superb, and performance is incredible! I have no complaints about my quest and am so happy I purchased it when I was looking to move into a larger vehicle than the one I had been driving. Everyone who has driven my car loves it, and two friends of mine in the market for a mini-van purchased Quests after using mine as their "test drive" van! I would recommend this van to everyone.

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  Runs awesome - 1998 Nissan Altima
  By Matt - June 24 - 8:26 am

  I have 83,000 miles on this car and it has served me well through college. Many people said I had the nicest car theyve seen on campus although mine wasnt the newest or best by any means. The interior of the car is unlike what you see in cars of this price range nowadays. The drive is ok, its enough to get you by. The wind/road noise is not what I would expect in a near luxury car - you can solve this by simple soundproofing. The Clarion sound system - standard on the GLE, is extremely clear and balanced - although the front is tuned a little shrill [might be the Boston Acoustics that I have there now] once you get some decent speakers on it. Better car than the competition by far.

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  GREAT TRUCK!! - 2010 Nissan Frontier
  By Eagleuno - June 23 - 9:16 pm

  This is my second Frontier. I have owned Toyota, Mazda and Nissan trucks in the past. This is a much bigger vehicle. I am getting 24.9mpg with a range of 420 miles! Very solid feel. I got the SE with a manual and the power package. (This was a HARD to find combination!) The throttle by wire takes a little getting used to but it works great. The turning radius is about 4 larger than the pre- 2005 models but again, this is not a small truck. It feels more like an Ford F150 but it gets almost 25mpg. And that is mostly city driving to boot. The manual transmission works great and really lets you maximize the mpg. I wouldnt get a 4 cyl with an automatic transmission.

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  Nice ride - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By Jack - June 23 - 8:40 pm

  I absolutely love this car! I owned a Honda civic ex prior to this car, and it served me well, but I felt it time to change to something that sits higher. Now on to the cool stuff - very impressed with the interior space, as were my 63" friends! - drove 18 days on one tank of gas (just under 400 miles) and despite some high winds last weekend, I felt secure on the road. The blue tooth, keyless entry is a big plus -

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  Ideal automobile for the growing family! - 2010 Nissan Pathfinder
  By mrspacheco - June 23 - 10:00 am

  I recently purchased a Nissan Pathfinder 2WD SE. This SUV has been a dream come true for me! I am a mother of 2 children (1 toddler & 1 baby). I bought this truck so that I could have more interior room than a car. With regards to the lack of leg room...It is just fine for those who have children! For the next few years my children will not be needing an excessive amount of legroom, so the Pathfinder is the PERFECT choice due to the dependability, price, and overall quality that Nissan has always provided. I am extremely satisfied with this truck!

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  Great SUV - 2010 Nissan Pathfinder
  By 2010 LE 4x4 with nav - June 23 - 10:00 am

  I use 87 octane gas, have had it since 8/14/10 and have not noticed any problems with using regular gas. I average @ 16 miles per gallon in the city. The ride is quiet and compliant. This is a good value for your dollar.