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 SE 4 Door Crew 2WD Auto (Awesome) - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By Tim Creech - December 24 - 8:46 pm

  This truck is fantastic. It really moves out. I just got out of a very good running Chevy S-10 4.3 V6. There is no comparison in size, comfort, build quality, or performance. I am all around very pleased. The ONLY draw back i have found is that for taller drivers (Im 63" tall) the seat sits up too high in the truck and is not adjustable downward. Once you get used to the higher seating, it is okay. I have really enjoyed driving the truck so far, withonly 1700 miles on it. The truck is FAST! It really likes to show its strength way up in the RPM range. I have the tow package, but have not had a chance to pull my trailer with it, yet. Much nicer than the 05 Tacoman in my opinion

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  Great car - great value - 2000 Nissan Sentra
  By Happy Owner - December 24 - 6:06 pm

  Great all around car. Good mileage, comfortable for small family, reliable, great mpg in these $2.25/gal days. Honda reliable for less money.

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  This car rocks! - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By KurtinPA - December 24 - 11:43 am

  The engine is powerful and the CVT is smooth. I can pass cars with incredible swiftness, and the handling is tight and responsive. Mine is dark slate with black leather interior. Many people have approached me to ask about the car, especially after tinting the windows. Not that I look around too often, but this car is a head-turner! The Bose stereo is great, and I love the XM satellite radio package. It is also nice to have the bluetooth hands-free phone system. I researched a lot of new cars, and for the price, this one is the best!

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  Love the Z - 2012 Nissan 370Z
  By bluejuke - December 24 - 7:38 am

  Had the Z about 5k miles so far, it is just about perfect in every way! The headlights light up everything, the interior truly makes you feel special and not regret one penny you spent on the car! I got the only manual on the lot at the time and it really is everything i hoped it would be, ample torque to pass ppl on the highway without a downshift and when you do downshift its intoxicating! Although some see the rough engine noise as a downfall i feel its just one more thing that shows this is a raw sports car! It sounds coarse because of the variable cam profiles it uses at different rpms.

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  05 Xterra S 6-speed - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By Jim - December 24 - 2:23 am

  Bought it used with 900 miles, have put 5000 miles on it, with no problems. Fun to drive, very roomy, handles and performs well. 6-speed Manual gets up to 25 mpg on the highway. Glad that I bought this vehicle.

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  Great times and good fun! - 2003 Nissan Frontier
  By grizzlyrizzly - December 24 - 2:00 am

  It was between the frontier and the tacoma and when it came down to money, power, and interior room there was no comparison. The extended bed liner and the 4wd drive makes it unstopable. It has gotten me out of many sticky situations. Test drive and you will see too....

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  Best in Price - 2003 Nissan Frontier
  By sb4106 - December 24 - 2:00 am

  This is my third Nissan pickup in the last 18 years. So far it is starting out like the other two, no problems. I still own my 93 and plan to give it to my son when he turns 16. What can I say? I wouldnt have bought three in a row if they werent a great little truck. I have nothing against Toyota, except that they cost about $2k more when compared to Nissan.

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  V is for me - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By flanders,ned15 - December 24 - 2:00 am

  Great car...best value if looking for performance and overall quality. 10 times better than Civic and its not a Neon. 28-30 mpg. 6 speeds could be spread out better at the bottom end, but just a thrill to drive. Quick, comfortable, standard audio is great. Cant say enough how much I fall in love everytime i see it and climb behind the wheel.

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  Great SUV that drives like a car - 2003 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Forti - December 24 - 2:00 am

  This SUV has it all a great interior and enough power to statisfy all.

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  Built to be driven - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By All66an - December 24 - 2:00 am

  Well built car. Worth the money