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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  Fun to drive and reliable - 2008 Nissan Xterra
  By DSuteu - January 11 - 8:33 am

  I live in New England, and used to own a Ford Mustang :(. After a really bad snow storm last December, I decided that owning a 4X4 vehicle is a MUST, so I purchased the Xterra. What a fun SUV to drive! Coming from a smaller car I was worried about its size and visibility, but after only a week of driving it, it felt like Ive been driving it forever. It is fast on highway, and quick to respond in city traffic; smooth acceleration, great braking, not to mention the 4X4 performance in snowy conditions. Its gas mileage improved significantly from about 14mi/g to almost 17mi/g (I now have 3k miles on it). I truly like it!

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  Love my Xterra - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By xterraowner - January 11 - 8:33 am

  I bought this new in 2004 and now have 67,000 miles in 2010. Love my Xterra just like it was brand new. Never any major problems, have serviced on regular maintenance schedule and its driven like a charm. Would buy this vehicle again and again. Love the 4WD when I need it which isnt often, but when I do I am so happy. This is an excellent vehicle to own!

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  Nissan - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By blknite99 - January 10 - 6:20 pm

  This is my 3rd Nissan I really love them all. I still have my 2nd Nissan which is a truck. I would get another if and when they come out with another body style. The only thing I dont like is that it doesnt have some of the features that was install or come standard with the car is signal light in the side mirror, and the on star. Overall the car is a wonderful car. Drives very well on the highway and city. For a 4 cycle is has a lot of power.

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  2007 nissan murano se - 2007 Nissan Murano
  By fredo - January 9 - 10:20 am

  aammmazingg!!!!!!! so quick and fast with an nice handling trust me best choice in is segment

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  Another solid Pathfinder - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By DJH - January 9 - 9:06 am

  5 months and 7,000 miles I still love my Pathfinder. Only routine maintenance thus far. Great improvement over my 2000 Pathfinder.

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  Great Truck - 2007 Nissan Frontier
  By John - January 8 - 8:50 pm

  Just purchased another Nissan truck and I must say the Frontier is a heck of a truck. Have a 95 Nissan truck already and it has more than 356,000 miles with no mechanical issues. It doesnt look like it is going to ever wear out. Wanted to update to something newer and got a great deal. Everything works perfectly and I really like the brawny appearance. I expect this one to last me 15 years or more.

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  Faster And More Fun Than The Non-Turbo - 2017 Nissan Sentra
  By Flynn - January 8 - 5:51 am

  Comparing to my 2015 Manual non-turbo Sentra, this 2017 sr turbo has much better acceleration, a little bit better handling and breaking, better interior, and better looking exterior!

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  Great Pickup - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By William - January 8 - 4:53 am

  The 2005 Nissan Frontier is one fun truck to drive, its feels like I am driving a fullsize pickup. The pickup on the truck is very quick. It moves with some great speed. It is very comfortable to drive in, and it handles great in snow. Its interior is very nice, and the spray-in bedliner is a money savor. Also, the four wheel disk breaks have great stopping power. The Frontier is easy to get in and out of and its visibility is very good.

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  Most dog friendly SUV in its class - 2007 Nissan Pathfinder
  By brooke meoli - January 7 - 7:33 pm

  I did a lot of online research and physical comparisons of SUVs of this size and without a doubt the Pathfinder is the best SUV for dog owners. With the 3rd row seat down, you can fit a large kennel either way. All rear seats fold completely flat. Its the only SUV that has rear ventilation in the ceiling (2 sets) so there is adequate airflow to the back. Most of the other SUVsÂ’ vents are on the back of the front console so that once the second row seats are down the vents are blocked. It has good entry height with the hatch open, unlike my ex-Volvo XC 90 with its tailgate/ hatch combo. Also the hatch window opens. Looks great in and out and great sound system - my best SUV yet!

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  Titan of Pick Ups - 2010 Nissan Titan
  By Vin - January 7 - 2:13 pm

  Not for nothing, but Ive owned a chevy and a gmc and they dont compare to the Titan. The Titan beat the Chevy in all performance (except MPG) and its styled and finished much better. My Chevy had 13 issues in the first 12 months of ownership and I couldnt wait to get rid of it. The GMC was better in terms of quality, but this Titan is tops. I have the LE short bed fully loaded and it rides and hauls great. The tech/DVD package my kids like too. Outside the horrible MPG (13 overall) I would never ever buy another truck. Nissan Titan all the way