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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  Nissan Maxima - 1996 Nissan Maxima
  By timee - September 18 - 10:00 am

  have 200,000 and it runs great.....never have had a major problem

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  Cant Afford To Sell It - 1996 Nissan Maxima
  By Art Nor - September 18 - 10:00 am

  We bought our Maxima SE w/auto transmission after considering the V-6 versions of the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Avalon. Felt the Maxima gave us the best bang for the buck and the "Max" has not disappointed us. Engine gives excellent performance, uses no oil, and gets 28 mpg on road trips. We have concluded well be keeping her for at least 3 more years.

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  Good Stuff - 1998 Nissan Maxima
  By ktklev - September 18 - 10:00 am

  This car is reliable, quiet, and handles well. A little pricey, but then again you get what you pay for. Love all the options. Ive got em all. Heated seats, roof, BOSE, leather, etc..

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  Not a TL, but good - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By G. Charles - September 18 - 10:00 am

  Comfortable, fast, handles well; whar more ciould I want?

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  Turning radius! - 2008 Nissan Frontier
  By steve - September 18 - 9:00 am

  I have owned other trucks before but by far my frontier is the best. It is very comfortable to drive on long trips, and the gas usage is not bad on the highway.

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  Truthful - 2006 Nissan Titan
  By Kent Higgins - September 17 - 11:16 pm

  No problems at all accept the Sirrus Satelite Radio has been a constant problem of failures. The vehicle has been a wonderful experience otherwise. Gas milage and performance is beyond expectations. The handling is above par and I would buy again. Took me months to purchase as I tried them all. Many over and over. Tried this vehicle one time and my choice was made.

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  Not for a family - 2015 Nissan NV Passenger
  By Sam - September 17 - 8:55 am

  I went from a Honda Odyssey to this van since our family grew and we needed more room. we have all the kids in boosters or car seats. Here are the pros: * smooth drive *comfortable driver configurations (however the shift stick gets in the way of adjusting the ac.) * handles the road well * great warranty * people move out of your way and let you into the lane Cons: * very wide turn which make it difficult to maneuver in shopping parking lots and carpool lanes at school * Ac has no power in the back since it is such a long run from the front * seats are poorly designed so car seats do not sit well and safely * they claim you can configure the seats in so many ways, but you cant and are limited to a few * essentially it is a truck with seats inside - *the cup holders are on the floor and there is no storage pockets or space so things fly all over the place, *the floors are uneven since they just put down padding in between the runners but once you use the van for a few month the padding starts to cave, * there are not enough car seat anchors so you are limited where you can put them, * the lights are poorly placed, * there is no rear controls for the ac only by the driver, *the seats dont move or recline at all. * there should be a second sliding door for easier access * the v8 drinks gas , I get only about 7-8 miles a gallon (I only have 4k miles on the van) * It is a very high step to get in and out and my little kids keep falling out of the van There needs to be a mom involved when they update this van or it wont sell well.

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  First Car - 1995 Nissan 200SX
  By ccallaghan - September 17 - 6:03 am

  I bought this car in August 2012 with 96,000kms, and I had it until September 2014 at 123,000kms when it was stolen and totalled. This is one of the best first cars ever. Not enough power to kill anyone but I was able to get my first speeding ticket in this beauty. She handles with ease, transports my friends no problems at all, and can transport all my camping gear. I wish she never got stolen but time to move on sadly enough.

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  Get in and GO... - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By BANDIT SEVEN - September 15 - 11:26 pm

  The Nissan Murrano is a unique vehicle. This vehicle not only stands out in a croud, but its performance is truly unequalled. I have found that the CTV definantly makes the difference both in fuel economy and performance. In addition, I constantly have to check the speedometer. With no shifting "kicks" this vehicle will just get up and go, this is alot of weight to move, and it does it superbly. This is not a 300 or 350Z, but I tell you, once it is going it is gone.... The controls and instruments are set just right for the reach. I enjoy the steering wheel controls, they are awesome. Im sure the designers will have a heck of a time trying to replace it with future models.

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  Proud Owner - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By alex - September 15 - 7:06 pm

  I sold my 2001 BMW 325i and bought a 2005 Maxima SE, and am very happy with the choice. The car has great looks, comfort and ride. Finally enough room to accomodate car seats or co-workers.