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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  Nice commuter - 1996 Nissan Altima
  By Driver from OH - January 1 - 7:40 pm

  Bought this car cheap with a blown engine (overheated) at 143k. Replaced with a 53k engine and barely ran until I replaced distributor, knock and O2 sensor, and alternator (I suggest replacing parts with new Nissan parts, otherwise, youll be replacing them again soon). Now, if I dont look at the odometer (155k), I think that the car is only several years old. The engine and transmission (auto) were designed for each other and provide good power at both high and low RPM ranges. One major flaw on these cars are the timing chain guides, which start making loud ticking noises after about 40k, and the only solution is to remove them. Nissan got rid of these in their later models. Good car!

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  Nice Ride - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By Pmac - January 1 - 10:00 am

  Very sporty sedan with plenty of smooth power. I suggest the leather seats and Bose stereo.

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  Bobs Murano review - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By phillylion - January 1 - 10:00 am

  Excellent vehicle. Drives very car- like with great handling and performance. The features include things that most other similar vehicles dont offer such as stability and traction control. The gas mileage seems better than most SUVs with around 20 combined highway/city. No problems, noises, or rattles, as some have reported.

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  Love the Murano - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By Down South - January 1 - 10:00 am

  Bought the new Murano SL with the premium package and sun roof. Incredible styling, comfort, loads of power. The Bose audio system is awesome. Really like the 18 inch wheels.

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  Altima - 2002 Gold - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By TucNav - January 1 - 10:00 am

  I have owned Nissans for years including a 96 Altima. This one is great! Very roomy, more than my Maxima, especially in the back seat. A little under powered with the 4 cyl, but am getting 25 - 27 in town commute (surface streets, not freeway). If you looking for a great, comfortable car at a great price, this is it.

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  Chose over G35 at last minute - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By WdnUlik2no - January 1 - 10:00 am

  I was all set to get the G35 until the Infiniti dealer let me drive the G over to compare it with the Max one last time. Some major pluses IMO over the G35 is there is more space, bigger tires, overall the car looks better, the interior is done slightly better and you get a lot more options for the same price. The areas where the G35 stand out is 1) pampering at infiniti dealers 2) has better handling than the Max. 3) luxury. Long term wise the G is probally better overall but if you dont plan to keep cars for more than 3 or 4 years then the max is better.

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  Excellent SUV - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By rc - January 1 - 12:06 am

  This is my second pathfinder from Nissan. I have it with dvd and navigation. The 2005 is just amazing. The power is great and the 4wd capabilities are excellent. The third row is mainly for kids but is great to have. If you dont need it, you can fold it down for alot of trunk space with ease. The fuel economy is a little low but what do you expect from a big truck like this. The bose and navigation system are just beautiful. Overall I am truely enjoyed this pathfinder.

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  Just bought 08 Altima SL with 10K miles - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By utlax18 - December 31 - 7:46 pm

  Just bought a used 08 Altima SL with 10K miles. I like the sportiness of the car and the interior. Averaging 25.1 overall mileage (per the trip computer) and drive primarily in the city. Only issue I am having is a slight "lifter" noise which I have researched and they say it is a "timing chain tensioner" issue. Will take it in a week or so for the dealer to look at it. If I didnt have this issue, I would rate it a 9.

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  Uncomfortable seats - 2007 Nissan Frontier
  By KB - December 31 - 8:40 am

  I have had my Frontier for two months and while I think the overall ride is great for a truck, I cannot seem to get comfortable in the drivers seat. I am 62", 190 pounds with a slender build, but it still seems Im too big for the seats. How does the average American fit in to these seats. The sides of the seat are poking in to the sides of my rear end and no matter how I adjust my location in the seat it is still uncomfortable. Also, when I have the seat in a fairly upright position I have very little headroom, so I have to keep the set reclined a little more than I would like.

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  DONT BUY!!!! - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By markv25 - December 31 - 1:50 am

  I bought my new Altima 4 weeks ago and have had problems with the car ever since. First, I ve had to go to the dealer 3x for a faulty seat sensor light that they cant seem to fix. Second, dont believe the gas mileage on the car. I cant seem to average 29 mpg. The car seems to be fun to drive at first but then it gets boring. Plus, the noise the engine makes when you accelerate gets annoying. The speakers are supposedly Bose, but they sound like crap. I really wish I had bought another car.