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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  frontier good truck - 2002 Nissan Frontier
  By hector gonzales - October 31 - 10:00 am

  I purchased tuck 4 mos ago. very nice no repair problems at this time. very dependable truck....

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  gas issue so far! - 2002 Nissan Frontier
  By 1st newcarowner - October 31 - 10:00 am

  Iam a college grad and I bought my crew cab almost a month ago. So far the mpg /gas has been my concern. I drive easy but still seem to have to full up every week. I have a 12 yr old jeep that gets better gas mileage

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  awesome family car - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By turbogirl - October 31 - 10:00 am

  The new Nissan Altima is an awesome family car. I have the 3.5SE which delivers power and performance. The interior is a bit scaled down to cheap plastic but the seating is comfortable and roomy. The bose stereo has a great sound. The trunk is roomy except for the trunk lid brackets which can get in the way. This is one of the best cars I have ever purchased. With a few after market add ons, it makes for a really hot car.

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  Did I get "Juked" ??? - 2012 Nissan Juke
  By kamir1990 - October 31 - 3:54 am

  I bought this car for my wife as it as time to replace her Hummer H3 with a more fuel practical vehicle. I have the AWD SV CVT automatic model. The car is a blast to drive in any of the 3 modes and the looks are in a class of its own... but it stops there. The vehicle does not even come close to the MPG rating of "30" Hwy, and I have tried different driving techniques to try to make it happen. The best it will get is 25.5 period! This was one of my deciding factors and it was not accurate. I have noticed we had to look at 3 Jukes to find a consistent paint quality as most had "orange peel" issues. All in all a fun car to drive, but there are nicer MPG models out there.

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  Impressed - 2007 Nissan Frontier
  By Owen - October 31 - 12:53 am

  Not much change from the 06 but the value power package (new in 07) is a must. Not as smooth over rough roads as my Ranger. The power is awesome. I know gas mileage is a common complaint, but Im getting over 21 mpg in town! And its supposed to get better once the engine gets broken in. I only got 19 with my Ranger with a much smaller engine. The turning radius is, well, non-existent. Dont try a U-turn at an intersection. The transmission is incredible smooth. I cannot feel it shift. Overall, Im very impressed with the look and quality.

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  Unreliable - 2006 Nissan Titan
  By chuckles65 - October 30 - 7:25 pm

  I bought my 2006 used in 2011 with 75K miles. Since then it needed new e-brake lines, front coils (broken), front disks, new exhaust (not surprising), hesitated when cold, and repairs for rear hub gaskets, ball joints, etc. to the tune of 7K in repairs. Rarely got better than 10 MPG around town. I put less that 20K on this in 3 years. Good looking, well laid-out truck, but not reliable.

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  Better than my 05 altima - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By Blackhaus50 - October 30 - 7:13 pm

  Great car, lots of room for the driver and in the back seats for adults! Lots of power with the 3.5

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  Great combination of features - 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By Rich Newton - October 30 - 11:53 am

  The main selling point for me was the fuel economy and emissions. The NAH is rated one of the five top-rated cars for fuel efficiency and emissions at the EPA web site. After driving the car for a month, I believe I made the right decision. It doesnt feel as "floaty" as some of the more luxury cars that I test drove, but has much more power and better handling than the other hybrids I drove. While it doesnt get as good mileage as the Prius or Honda Civic Hybrid, its much more enjoyable and comfortable to drive.

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  Love My Murano - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By drivesalot1 - October 29 - 7:50 pm

  Just purchased my used 09 Murano with 29k miles on it. Dealer installed leather heated seats and sunroof.I am getting 23 MPG with mostly highway driving. 3.5 L engine is very fast and car gives a smooth ride on highway and over bumps. Black Interior looks really sharp and is nicely laid out, really like the orange lighted gauges.Stereo system provides clear sound and cranks nicely. I love driving this car and it is a head-turner!

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  Great Highway Car - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By matthew - October 29 - 7:40 pm

  Bought car with 5000 miles, dealer demo. So far, has been great. Bought to use as commuter so I can keep truck for towing. Overall, I love the car. Handles great. Secure driving in the rain and snow. Installed Bridgestone Turanzas, made huge improve in overall handling and foul weather performance. Accelerates decent with 2.5, great gas mileage. With my new job I am now driving 100+ miles a day, and on the highway it is great. Average 27 mpg at 75 mph. Good NDSS sound system, decent features for base car. Seats are awesome. Interior quality not great, nothing really broke on car but I am careful with her. Reliability so far great. Now has 54,000 miles, still love it. Overall, great car!