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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  Coupe lives up to it name... ultimate ! - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Pram Chandran - April 12 - 8:30 am

  Great shape, fun and active drive with power to match, comfortable and cool interior, really cool car to make a statement for young executives with a zest for life.

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  Best in its class - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By dsifai - April 12 - 2:00 am

  Had the car for 5 months now. Extremely fun to drive. I must say that my expectations were to high for this car, consequently I was disappointed with the tourque of the engine. Handling and braking are its bests points. Fuel consumption and rear leg room are its draw backs. For the price I paid, there is nothing that beats it. It is a beautiful car and it passed the Canadian test... starts at -45 degrees C, eh!

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  At a Glance - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By researchdriven - April 12 - 2:00 am

  I was driving an ML320 and looking to trade in for better gas mileage. I looked at all the crossovers but nothing compared to my ML. Innitially didnt like the look but test drove Murano anyway. The car is fun to drive, a lot like my ML but smaller stearing wheel. Leather was ok.. but the cloth in the Murano was the best of any of the similar SUVs Id seen. Even with no options the car had a lot in it. The CVT was a bit strange at first but the SUV moves nicely. I have had it just a week and I dont miss my ML.

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  Love It, Love It, Love It!! - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By kobrock - April 12 - 2:00 am

  We bought our Murano 2 weeks ago and we love it! We had a 2001 Maxima that we really enjoyed, but this is even more fun. The ride is smoother and the engine has more pep. We love the leather interior and the placement of the radio/climate controls closer to the driver. The interior is very roomy and feels bigger than it looks from the outside. The adjustable back seats are also a plus. All around it is a great SUV/car!

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  i highly recommend this van - 2006 Nissan Quest
  By miked - April 11 - 2:13 am

  weve had the van for 3 months now and love it. Its an eye catcher, drives really smooth, has plenty of power and interior space. The gas tank doesnt fill up with 20 gallons but 16 so that saves us on gas allowance. Ive been recommending the van to everyone that asks what is it and answer all their questions because Ive also researched all the vans for a year and a half before we bought it with 5000 dollars off the sticker price. It was the best value for the high quality. Odyssey too overpriced and overrated, T&C/Caravan too unreliable, sienna not flexible enough with middle seats not able to fold down, and Sedona too heavy in total weight not flexible enough and unknown.

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  Best Car Overall - 1996 Nissan Maxima
  By Coastal Commuter - April 10 - 10:36 pm

  This was a great buy and while we have other vehicles, this is still running with the original motor and transmission at 300,000+ miles. A real winner all around.

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  Z Roadster - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By Bugeione - April 10 - 7:06 pm

  Nothig but a good time so far. Still turns heads and averages 24 MPG. The Z eats tires though so be prepared to change out every other year. The grip on turns is ferocious, this is where I usually pass everyone up. Hard to question the bang for the buck quotient with the Z. Especially the roadster. Are there cars with better interiors and stereos...sure, but for under 40K this one is hard to beat.

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  Phenomenal Vehicle. - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By Chris - April 10 - 2:00 am

  The criterion was steep. I needed an SUV that not only could get me to the hospital for work in the worst of conditions, but I needed an SUV that appealed to me aesthetically. I also needed an SUV that could comfortably house me, being a 62 280 pound powerlifter, Im not the biggest man on the planet by any stretch, but my back usually extends way past most seats. The Xterra is the all in one package. Well performing off road. Quick and nimble acceleration. As well as plenty of space, although my back still extends past the seats, I am very much comfortable. I test drove many an SUV in the price range, and a month later Im still smiling everytime I get in the X to drive.

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  Simply amazing - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By JEff - April 9 - 5:56 am

  I have only had the 05 Titan for a week, but its been incredible. It looks great, handles great and sounds great. The interior is roomy and the setup is loaded. I have had a Dodge and Chevy truck in the past, but this one tops both of them. The loaded package with everything is 34,000, if you wanted a loaded anything from the other dealers your talking at least 40,000.

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  Fabulous truck! - 2009 Nissan Frontier
  By Julie - April 9 - 4:30 am

  I bought this truck this week for my birthday...my husband and I have been wanting truck for years, but refused to pay the inflated prices that came along with the "cool factor" of owning a truck. We love nature, and wanted a compact, comfortable truck to take us to the national forests to explore the gravel/service roads where our sedan shouldnt go, as well as handle all kinds of weather, and gardening chores. The Frontier is just wonderful...not to big, very comfortable. I can zip in and out of downtown with no problem; a fabulous sound system. Okay, the armrest could be longer, but the lumbar support is terrific. Forget the Tacoma, its not even close. Theres only one Frontier.