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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  My Murano - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By cortnie - May 29 - 10:26 pm

  This car is everything. its not to big and not to small. Its very fun to drive and very comfortable.

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  2012 Quest ... Luxurious with Creature Comforts - 2012 Nissan Quest
  By joecool7 - May 29 - 7:06 pm

  We never seriously considered buying a minivan until we saw the 2012 Nissan Quest. Finally a minivan that has styling. It has the looks and feel of pure luxury like in first class all the way with creature pampered comforts of a hi-end Infiniti. We bought the Quest SL in Pearl White a couple of weeks ago. Drove it on vacation and have put on 1,000 miles. It honestly gets 24 mpg highway. We got as much as 25 mpg highway driving. Hard to get the 19 mpg city as advertised though. We got closer to 16-17 mpg city. However, with the comfort we experienced on the long road trip while on vacation, the trade-off in mpg is worth it. This is a fantastic vehicle!

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  Great SUV - 2006 Nissan Xterra
  By JSG - May 29 - 6:23 pm

  I recently purchased my Xterra, so I do not know much about "true" reliability yet. My experience so far has not had anything to suggest that reliability will be poor, so I am giving it the benefit of the doubt in that area. The Xterra has done exactly what I have asked it to do so far. I have put 1600 miles on the vehicle in a short time. In that time I have been impressed by the ground clearance as well as overall 4X4 capability. The Xterra was able to go places that other vehicles couldnt (or wouldnt). I was able to pull a full size truck out of the mud with no trouble at all (the truck was stuck in a stretch of mud that the Xterra just went through). Has full size power, midsize thirst!

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  Fun to drive - 2012 Nissan Rogue
  By cyndi5 - May 29 - 12:33 am

  I leased my Rogue SV a couple months ago after coming out of a lease on a Pathfinder. After I got used to the smaller vehicle I find that I enjoy driving it. It does not have the pick up when you hit the gas that the Pathfinder had, but Im getting about 25 MPG. Im writing this today because I didnt realize that Nissan no longer offers road side assistance with their new vehicles and I wanted to make sure that buyers are aware of this. This service was offered when I leased my last Nissan and I made the mistake of assuming it was standard...its not, so please be aware of this when you look at a new Nissan and add the cost of AAA into your cost when shopping.

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  Great! - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By michacha - May 28 - 11:16 pm

  i have loved it form the moment I bought it. I was worried about it being so small and the harsh weather conditions here (snow) but it is doing wonderful!

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  Initial Report - This Car Is Great! - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By Brian428 - May 28 - 2:03 pm

  3.5 SE, black, automatic, with every option. Car is absolutely great. Had researched a lot and saw mostly good reviews, with a few bad ones. Not sure what these folks mean when they mention the "unrefined interior" or the "stiff ride". The build quality is excellent, and the ride is very smooth. Performance is awesome. Have already gotten a dozen compliments on the look. Only have 500 miles on it, so Ill post another review in a few months. But so far, this car looks to be just wonderful.

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  great car - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By paul - May 27 - 6:23 pm

  This car is awesome..has great power,looks awesome and is so quiet..love the bose radio and the leather..If i was to get another one it would be the ser but Im more than satisfied with the nissan..still runs and looks new with 71k.

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  Consider getting a sentra! - 2017 Nissan Sentra
  By AugustRush1993 - May 27 - 12:36 pm

  Previous Vehicles Owned: 2010 Sentra SL, 2013 Nissan Cube; To begin with, the Nissan Sentra is not a race car- do not have that expectation. While I personally would like more horsepower, the Sentra is adequate when you use the "Sport Mode" option. It takes some time to get used to Nissan CVT engines, but you will adjust. I was very skeptical of buying a 2017 Sentra, but I was pleasantly surprised. The 2017 Sentra is very refined, since this generation was first introduced in 2013. Some improvements are; refreshed exterior styling (very attractive), more sound deadening materials, new SV packages. (I highly recommend getting the "SV" trim level, and adding the "Style Package" for $750.00, you will get alloy wheels, moon roof, and a few other things.) When it comes to my driving, I currently drive 140/miles daily to work and back. This vehicle is more than capable of city, highway, and mixed driving. Regardless of what other people say, the engine noise is not that bad. If a driver is treating this car like a racecar and slams on the brakes, then yes youll hear the engine. The interior room is sufficient- the truck space is exceptional. To the best of my knowledge, the rear seats have more legroom than any other vehicle in its class. Overall, I would recommend this car. The 2017 Sentra is a very refined and well-built vehicle for the money. I purchased my Sentra at Nissan of Keene in New Hampshire. (great dealerships, I recommend checking them out, I drove three hours to them because good dealerships are hard to find).

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  Love my 2010 Murano! - 2010 Nissan Murano
  By Ladyj - May 27 - 9:56 am

  We had to wait to get a white SL with the packages we wanted (sunroof) and waited for the right price as well, Premium and Sport. I didnt think I could afford such a luxury SUV! I LOVE THE WAY THE MURANO DRIVES! I feel like Im driving a Lexus. For the price, this SUV is wonderful, roomy, comfortable, stereo is great, love the 6CD Changer, Sirius XM and I can use my MP3 Players! The back up camera is a must and I read some reviews about the driver seat not being low enough and it bothered me for a day or so, but I was able to get the back part of electric seat to go up so I can see over the hood and the front part of the seat felt lower, so Im used to it now. What a sweet ride!

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  2005 Xterra - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By T.L. Jumper - May 27 - 8:43 am

  Great mid size SUV, tough little vehicle. Handles well, feels very stable on the road. Plenty of power, the 6 speed is easy to shift and drive. Lots of fun to drive.