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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  2009 Nissan Xterra S 4dr SUV 2WD V6 Auto - 2009 Nissan Xterra
  By Glenda - April 21 - 3:16 pm

  Awesome. I purchased the S with tech package (Rockford Fosgate premium sound system, 6 CD). This is my second Xterra. I previously owned a 2002 for four years. Love the sharp interior styling. I am still exploring the many features of the newest Xterra in Red Brick (gorgeous!). I love the molded water bottle holders in the doors and the tucked away cup holders in the back and several well-placed areas for all the things you need to take with you. Great change is the hard plastic lined cargo area (beats previous carpeted cargo area). I loved my 2002 and I know that the 2009 will not disappoint. Plenty of power and room. Fun to drive.

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  First Nissan Altima Coupe in Western WA - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Kelly in Tacoma - April 21 - 10:23 am

  I have had my 2008 Altima Coupe for 1 1/2 weeks now and I LOVE IT! Its my first brand new car and it handles perfect! I have driven 280+ miles (it had 20 when I left the lot. I bought it the day after the dealer received it) and I feel like it was made for me. I havent had that feeling of "oops Im going around that corner too fast" like I did in my other cars/SUVs. Its such a smooth ride, and doesnt have that small compact feel like most sports cars, but it is soooo nice to look at. The backseat is roomy, and there is lots of leg room up front. It has lots of power and get-up-and-go for only 4 cylinders.

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  Sweet ride - 2007 Nissan 350Z
  By Jeff - April 20 - 9:53 pm

  This is a sweet ride. Better than the 2003 touring coupe model I owned. The 2007 models have more power through the whole rpm band.The car is well balanced and is lots of fun to drive. Yes there are faster cars for the money but this one looks good, drives great, and is well made.

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  Love my Quest! - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Val - April 20 - 8:00 pm

  I purchased my quest online on Ebay and just hoped for the best! I was very, very surprised that the vehicle, considering it was used, ran extremely smooth and quiet. I replaced the tires and did some minor repairs all at a cost of under $1,000.00 and feel that the van will last a very long time. It is not great on gas, but for its size and weight I cant expect more! I am very surprised at its comfort and ease of operation. Yes, the controls for the A/C unit are difficult, but taken the time to figure it all out makes it all worthwhile, I would recommend this vehicle to anyone who has a family or who has to haul stuff around. Its a great van!

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  Good - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Maurice Parrom - April 20 - 12:50 pm

  This vehicle is awesome! It has plenty of power and great agility. I am so happy that I purchased this vehicle.

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  Great So Far! - 2010 Nissan Murano
  By JimS - April 20 - 6:56 am

  So far Im really enjoying this car. I love the styling and the interior features. Also the handling is very solid given the cars crossover status...strong acceleration and very good re: road noise.

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  Built to last!! - 1998 Nissan Sentra
  By nismofan33 - April 19 - 3:59 pm

  I have had this car since 2004 for my 16th Birthday. Got it for around $3200 which was cheap considering it had 90,xxx on it. I have taken really good care of it and at 195,xxx miles it runs beautifully! Ive only had to replace the harmonic balancer and that is it! I have religiously changed the oil every 4k miles and done regular maintenance, and I am still running full synthetic with no leaks! I have never had a problem and this car runs like a dream! If you take care of it it will last forever!

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  Amazing!!!!! - 2011 Nissan Cube
  By stevenejb - April 19 - 2:39 am

  I purchased my Nissan Cube in June 2010 from Lees Summit Nissan. I have enjoyed the vehicle ever since bringing it home, but recently you have won me over as a lifetime customer! I live in Kansas City and weve had two major winter storms recently with the latest being a blizzard that dumped over 12" of snow in my area. Everyone I work with was getting stuck and calling for friends with 4x4 vehicles to take them home. I got in my Cube and drove right home, up hills, through snow drifts, over ice, and on roads packed with several inches of snow. The Cube was amazing! The traction was outstanding and the vehicle felt secure on the roadway. This vehicle is awesome all around!

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  Update after 1st service, 3500 miles - 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By Ralph - April 18 - 9:30 pm

  Update: Mileage has improved to 35.2 driving to work and around town. Zero fit, finish or operating problems to this point. Interior heating, a/c, radio, switches easy to use and convenient. Feature I do not like is charging port for my cell phone, it is inside center storage and not easy to see and plug in the plug.

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  Great car, Great Price, Make us feel Safe! - 2006 Nissan Frontier
  By Abel - April 18 - 4:03 pm

  Ditto to what most have said about power, comfort and even the mileage isnt bad. Learn to drive with the flow and accelerate when necessary (not 20 feet from a red like most drivers!) and you can easily get 16-17 on street and I can get 24-25 on highway with cruise control from San Diego to LA.