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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  The good and bad.... - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By 1 Nut - November 14 - 10:00 am

  Now Ive been drooling over the XTerra for a couple years now so it was a dream come true to finally purchase this vehicle. Everything is like I thought it would be. For one thing I drive hard and rough. I love to go off- road, and this is what its made for. This thing is just a blast for me to play with. On the road driving is decent, cant complain. It takes a while for it to get up to top speed, but that something I can deal with. The MPG is insanely low. I average about 14 MPG, and thats just not right, but I deal with it. Comfort it great for the front seats, but in the back Im not to sure.

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  Talk about Gratification! - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By Cavlrz24 - November 14 - 10:00 am

  I have never been more excited with a vehicle purchase in my life. All I want to do is drive, drive, drive! Wish I could afford to buy another. This is the greatest vehicle Ive ever owned. I love it so much, cant wait to tell someone else when they see it for the first time.

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  Love this SUV!!! - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By Bernard - November 14 - 10:00 am

  My traded her Infiniti I-30 for this SUV. She and I both love it. It is fun to drive, has plenty of power, and the AWD was a big selling feature. Since we live in the mountains, the AWD for winter weather and the SE suspension system were a must.

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  Only had it a month but I love it. - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By jjg - November 14 - 10:00 am

  Being a gadget lover, this car more than meets my expectations. Ive spent my first month of ownership trying to test all the features - so far, so good and I still have things to test. Ive also been very impressed because, so far, I have nothing for the dealer to correct when I take it in for its first service.

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  Fantastic Car - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By New Car Owner - November 14 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I search high and low for the perfect vehicle for the best price...very, very happy with our Murano! My co-worker with the BMW SUV cringed when I told him the features and the price.

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  The Car of My life - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By J. Edward McCormick - November 14 - 10:00 am

  I have been waiting for Nissan to build another Sport car and BUILD ONE they did! This is the best one of all the Z cars I have ever owned including my Alfa and two Datsun 2000s. It drives like a true competion car. It accelerates like none I have ever driven. The Tiptronic Xmission is out of this world, the brakes, handling all that make up a true Sport car Is there!!

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  Obsessed - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By Andi - November 14 - 10:00 am

  I just picked up my Z Raodster yesterday and I am in love with this car. It looks, feels and sounds like a true sports car should. It took my breath away!

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  Not so bad but can ask for more - 2001 Nissan Altima
  By Thomas - November 14 - 7:16 am

  Ive had my Altima for a little over a year now and its been fairly reliable, no major concerns so far. About the rattling hub caps, I bought a set of aftermarker hub caps and they make funny noises as well! Turning radius is horrible. You cant make a tight U-turn to save your life. Gas mileage is okay, all interior features are easy to read and use and the car rides smoothly. The stereo system is good too. Its a good value for the money.

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  New Versa Yesterday - 2009 Nissan Versa
  By anna - November 14 - 4:06 am

  I bought my Versa yesterday, so cannot speak on its reliability and build yet. I drove both the S and SL versa hatch. The S was a smooth, quiet ride with lots of room, power and comfort. No trouble getting up hills and good acceleration. The SL improved with the CVT and extra options, but the S would have done the job fine.

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  If you live in the Mountains READ THIS - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By Bob - November 13 - 7:36 pm

  So far not too many issues with this car. The car was a great price for what you get. The mileage is a bit less than expected. We live in a place some would call "off the beaten path" so I do have one major issue. The CVT is NOT designed for mud, snow or mountain driving. This is the first car Ive owned with the CVT and will be the last. A belt drive should be left for flatlanders, ATVs and snowmobiles. When you try to back over a small snowbank or rut you must gun it or you will burn the belt. This type of transmission requires some momentum to properly engage and that is not always an option.