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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  BAD MILAGE 10 MPG CITY- SUPER CHARGED - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By xterragirl - October 2 - 10:00 am

  2002 6 cyl. Super Charged. Specs say 15/18 est. milage. I get 10 mpg and 7 mpg towing. The service department said everything is within specs. Did I get a lemon? I am under the 12/12000. Domestic v8s get better milage than this. This is the 4th Nissan I have owned, and the last if this isnt resolved. I love the Xterra, this is the second one I have owned, but the milage is KILLING ME!

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  Murano worth every penny - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By olivia - October 2 - 10:00 am

  I love my Murano. We took a family trip to Texas...and It was a smooth drive all the way there, and back.

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  Great car - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By cook - October 2 - 10:00 am

  I have had a Lexus 300 and ML 320,and I like this car very much. The CVT transmission is excellent. No up or down shifts when on mountain roads. Good leg room in the back seat. Plenty of power with good gas milage. 20 to 23 miles per. Good head lights. Smooth ride and nice style. So far I am quite happy with the car/suv

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  Love this vehicle! - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By rwmiller - October 2 - 10:00 am

  I have had my Murano SE AWD with Navi for about 6 weeks and it is wonderful. Luxurious interior, sporty exterior and fun to drive. I have had no problems and only happiness. I love the number of luxury features it has (HID lights, personalized seat position, traction/stability control, tire pressure monitoring, steering wheel controls, direct position sunroof). I could go on and on but there are enough reviews here already. If you are looking for a Crossover vehicle you need to check the Murano out.

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  The Jetsons Minivan Has Arrived - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By DKinAZ - October 2 - 10:00 am

  Shopped at Toyota for a 2004 Sienna - too many extras made it expensive, plus no airbags for passengers. Shopped at Honda for an 2003 LX, it was nice - but not nice enough, safety features extra. Waited for Nissans new 2004 offering and, after a few weeks, received call from the dealer - they had a RED base model Quest without any gimmicks. I saw it, my wife drove it, we bought it on the spot. It was worth the wait. The base model really has everything you need. We paid MSRP and not a penny more. This is a must see before you buy.

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  DJ Cyber Queen in the Fast Lane - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By EstersZ - October 2 - 10:00 am

  I love the responsiveness of my Z. I can trust it to manuver around traffic with very little pitch and roll. It will stop on a dime and give you nine cent change. And the styling is second to none. Heads turn when they see me coming down the road. I even have red leather seats in mine, so she is a one of a kind.

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  "Z350" - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By Darnell Dandridge - October 2 - 10:00 am

  A fun vehicle to dirve. The handling is so great, I cant wait to get in it everyday.

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  Wow!! - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By gsxrter1994 - October 2 - 10:00 am

  Ordered my Z 4 mos ago and i love it! Turns heads every where!

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  excelent car - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By fatboy - October 2 - 10:00 am

  this is a great ride lots of fun carving the corners and excellent pick up. i cant complain

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  All I need in a car - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By KW - October 2 - 3:46 am

  After owning only American cars I love my Nissan Sentra, my wife owns an 06 Altima. We have 5 kids, 3 at home, and this car is quick (CVT), great gas mileage, 29 city and 34 Hwy. I am 6’2 and find it very comfortable with space left in the back for an adult with extra head room. I think it is very quiet and runs on the highway very smoothly for a small car. Now is it like my pervious Lincoln Towncar, no way. But is far better than any other “midsize” car I have owned. The only complaint is winter time in Iowa, being small it can be a challenge to drive in very heavy snow. I love this car and it is all I need.