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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  Very Good Van W/few problems - 1999 Nissan Quest
  By Quest owner - November 4 - 9:16 am

  This has been a very good van for our family for the past seven years. It has been very reliable and a pleasure to drive. The fuel injection system does require cleaning every 30K miles or the pedal will "stick". The interior features have much to be desired, the cupholders, TV/VCR,and seat handles, side vent window latches, are not of good quality. The display of the radio has faded out for a couple of years now, the radio still works however. We are beginning to experience some electrical problems with the power vent windows, turn signal, and window/door lock controls. Overall we have been very pleased with the van and with 84K miles some repairs are to be expected.

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  Loved it! - 1997 Nissan Pathfinder
  By prodigy1 - November 4 - 6:40 am

  I bought my pathfinder used for $3500 and it had 160k miles on it. It was the base model with a/c and a Manuel trans. It was rough around the edges but the interior had held up amazingly. Everything on the inside looked in mint condition. The a/c still worked great. The 4wd was amazing and functioned perfectly. I was rough on this truck but it never gave me any issues. Fitted a snorkel to it and hurricane season was no problem for me. It would go through anything! Overall a great truck. It was reliable and durable. I handed it down to my sister and she killed it by way of not changing the oil. It had 221k miles.

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  The Sentra SR surprised me - 2010 Nissan Sentra
  By SJ Dave - November 4 - 2:00 am

  First off, I would recommend anyone to use the internet to get the best price for buying a new vehicle. I was looking at different vehicles & finally decided on the Sentra SR. I had 4 different Nissan dealerships sending me their quotes. Finally I had one send me a quote of 1% under dealer invoice price, plus two $500.00 dollar rebates, zero percent finance & 2,000 to trade in my 2001 Mazda Protege. I could not pass up that deal & went for it. By bringing in copies of the e- mails there was no need to haggle for a price & the buying process is hassle- free. I did pay extra for the extra 7 yr warranty since I will be keeping the car a long time.

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  2003 Nissan Xterra is a winner - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By Ramin - November 4 - 12:50 am

  This was the first time I bought an SUV.My first choice was a Hummer but the price was too high for me. My second choice was an Xterra. I bought this vehicle because I believe it delivers what it claims to. I enjoy driving it a lot but the front seats are too small and not comfortable as comfortable as they should be. The fron seats leg rooms are not sufficient. The engine could have used much more HP. 189 HP is too weak for the weight of this SUV. Fuel consumption is very high for a vehicle of this size. So far I have had one recall and two minor service works done. I am told that 2005 model is a much improved vehicle. Will I buy another one? Yes,I will.

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  Fun to Drive!!! - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Paul499 - November 3 - 2:03 pm

  I bought this car after doing tons of research for 3 months. I found a great deal and I have not been disappointed. This car is so fun to drive. The 6 spd manual is quick and sharp, and the power is endless. Mash the gas at 60 mph and watch the world turn blurry. Interior is spacious and comfortable, and the exterior styling turns heads, especially mine. Im very happy with my purchase, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants the size of a sedan, the speed and handling of a sports car, and the technology of a BMW.

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  Happy driver - 1996 Nissan Altima
  By Ole Reliable - November 3 - 2:46 am

  Bought this car with 140,000 mile on it. I have put over 20,000 on it in the last 3 months. It runs great and performs without any problems. Gets 35 mpg on the highway and even with the tall miles it uses no oil and has no leaks. Everything works! This has been a great second car for work. Wish I had bought one new in 96.

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  Great Truck! - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By Norm - November 2 - 10:43 pm

  Being a truck owner for years I found the Titan to be better than the big three. I test drove the F150 and it drove like what Id expect from a truck....a bumpy ride. The Titan is a smooth driver. Interior storage far exceeds the F150. Plus, Titan comes with a lot of stuff thats extra on the F150. I purchased the Titan even though Ford had their employee price plan opened for all buyers. The acceleration on the Titan is a bit noisy at first, but its quiet when you hit cruising speed. Even then, the noise is something Ive already blanked out. As far as gas mileage goes.....its a truck! What would you expect? No recalls in the past 3 years its been out. Not bad for a new truck.

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  Great All Around Truck - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By CB from AZ - November 2 - 4:03 am

  I have had my Pathfinder for 2 months, and put 2k miles on it. So far it has been great. Amazing power for a vehicle of this size. Comfort levels that rival the crossover SUVs. It is the perfect size for my family (3+2 large dogs). Very versatile interior- had seven people in it for a short trip w/no complaints. Mine has a slight vibration related rattle from the drivers window (noticeable only on relatively smooth roads). Other than that, build quality is very good. I am getting 16 mpg in the city, and 20 mpg on the highway.

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  Super comfortable! - 1998 Nissan Maxima
  By jwhizzz - November 2 - 3:58 am

  Ive had a lot of cars, and this was by far the most comfortable vehicle Ive ever had. I was the third owner and at 136K miles, it was totaled after being t-boned but still drives great (wow!). I had a problem with my airbag light flashing, but didnt worry about it. Smoothest ride EVER - great for road trips, and fine in my old neighborhood with street dips. No little annoyances like in so many other vehicles. Keep up with maintenance, and youll be so happy with this car. Highly recommend.

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  My Maxima - 2001 Nissan Maxima
  By Sheliteful - November 1 - 11:33 pm

  I bought this car for 9,000 in Jan 2006, it had 80,000 miles and was in exceptional shape, clean engine, clean interior with a couple of superficial tiny scratches. It now has over 104,00 miles on it and this year marked the first time i had to have any work done ....New Alternator, belts & battery, pretty good considering the battery and belts were the originals along with the alternator. Its a great car, rides smooth, can hardly hear the engine, everything still works...a/c, steering wheel audio control and cruise control. The headlamps do tend to cloud & I feel they are a not as bright as they should be.The front passenger window moves up and down extremely slow (Has since i bought it)