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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  I love it! - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By Brandy7924 - March 9 - 10:00 am

  This is my first sports car, and my husband and I really love it.

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  2007 Nissan Versa CVT Hatchback - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By Bill Holz - March 9 - 9:06 am

  I drive this car to work 3 days a week using my 96 Honda Civic coupe the other 2 days. Ive had no problems with my Versa and I am very satisfied with it. Its much more comfortable and roomey than my Honda but the acceleration is not quick as the Honda which is manual shift. The Nissan Versa CVT Hatchback is a solid, quality, comfortable car. A sensible purchase well worth the price.

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  Great Truck, Great Price - 2007 Nissan Titan
  By Ben C - March 8 - 4:26 pm

  I looked at EVERY truck on the market. Titan by far is the best ruck for the money. The domestics have slightly better gas mileage but this Titan whips them in every other way. Good style, good motor, japanese reliability in an american built truck (yes its built here in the USA). I paid 27,000 and got more than that in value. If you want import quality without the Toyota price, go with Titan.

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  My Altima...My Love! - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Jessica - March 8 - 3:03 pm

  This is the best car ever! If youre looking for an affordable, yet long lasting car, this is your best offer. This car is absolutely great on gas!! Ive only had it for a little over a month and Ive had to fill it up only three times! Its powerful and heck, it looks great.

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  Blast to Drive - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By Jim - March 7 - 10:46 am

  Being only 1 of a handfull of 350Zs in town this car gets noticed. I cant just take a quick trip somewhere, I always find my self taking the longest route possible because it is so fun to drive. I have spent thousands on suspension for cars in the past, but this car out handles any of my previous cars in only its stock form.

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  Love my Murano - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Cori - March 6 - 12:03 pm

  I have had my Murano for little over a year now and still love to drive it! It is very comfortable and fun to drive, even for long distances. It has alot of leg room for both the front and rear passengers. We switched from a mini-van to the Murano and my kids love it! They are very comfortable with the room and really enjoy the rear seat recline feature- just enough to lean back and take a snooze when were off and running. There are 2 things that I wish Nissan would change - I wish the Murano had an automatic door locking feature and better suspension. The gas mileage is so-so especially with the air on. Very happy with my purchase!

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  Best combination: performance and value - 2006 Nissan Maxima
  By dkmg1845 - March 6 - 11:30 am

  This is a true sports sedan, not an nicely upgraded Camry. Its the only sedan that easily fits 2 car seats and makes driving exciting again. No manufacturer has yet to match the Nissan 3.5L V6. This is a sweet car worth every penny.

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  Best car I have ever owned. - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By Bruce - March 5 - 9:33 pm

  I bought this car with 42,000 miles and now have 252,000. I have had no problems with the engine or transmission. I always used Mobil 1 synthetic and 5-30 weight because of the close tolerance machining of Japanese engines. I have my transmission flushed every 50,000. It has power but I drive it very gentle now because of the high mileage. The only thing I dont like is that it seems to pull to the right all the time just a little. I think it is from the acceleration of the front wheel drive. I put new tires on and had a laser alignment and still had a slight pull. The tires have always wore out perfectly even. I do tire rotation every 5,000. I did have to replace the radiator, battery, starter,shocks and struts. Changing out the front light bulbs is a pain. The last time I had an engine light turn on is because I forgot to change out the spark plugs at 100,000 and actually went 120,000 miles on them. This car has been my most favorite car with the least maintenance I have ever owned.

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  Great Car - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By njdevils_27 - March 5 - 11:53 am

  I have had this car for a little more than 2 weeks and love it. The fuel economy that I am getting is 30/40 mpg. On the highway cruising at 65 mph, the engine was only at 2000 rpm which is key to higher gas mileage. The CVT makes the ride enjoyable. Dont underestimate the 2.0L engine, it has power behind it. The divide and hide in the trunk is great to stop soccer balls or basketballs from rolling all around the trunk. The 333W stereo system is great. I was comparing the Mazda3, Honda Civic, Mitshubishi Lancer, Toyota Camry, and Nissan Sentra. I liked the Sentra best because of price and features.

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  Bang for the Buck - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By Daniel/Sarah Miller - March 5 - 2:00 am

  I love this car. 2.4 liter engine 175hp, Sport tunes suspension, six speed manual transmission, sport seats, and everything you could ever want in a car for under $20,000. What could be better.