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 Man - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Ron Nickel - December 21 - 4:50 pm

  Didnt want the 4 door because so many on the road, then the coupe came out and it was just what I was looking for. After owning 4 previous Nissan vehicles I wanted another, but wanted a sporty look with good gas mileage. This coupe does both. Rides quiet and smooth at 31+ mpg city/hwy combined.

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  Wonderful - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By ROGUE RUNNER - December 21 - 6:30 am

  I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Rogue. It is fun to drive. I see people turning heads when I drive by. It has a very smooth ride. It handles very well. I feel very comfortable driving this SUV. The gas mileage is definitely a great asset. I would recommend this car to everyone. I think this is the best purchase I have every made. Thanks Nissan:)

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  First impressions - 2015 Nissan Murano
  By gibson6 - December 20 - 11:18 pm

  Just traded in 2011 murano for the new 2015 murano sl awd. This is a completely different suv. Much more comfortable seating and better set up of the dash and gauge arrangement. Living in Canada the roads are rough and full of potholes in the winter. The new murano soaks up the bumps much better then my 2011 did. With temperatures near -30 C this murano was still smooth and absorbed the harshest of road conditions this country has to offer. Heated seats and steering wheel a big plus. Great value for the buck.

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  A great car, for a great price - 2006 Nissan Sentra
  By tthota - December 20 - 9:36 pm

  33+ mpg for 60% highway 40% local driving. 129@2400 torque delivers good acceleration, similar to VW Golf (122@2600), better than all other JPN, KRN and USA compact cars (about 120- 140@4000+). So, I dont have to floor the gas pedal and listen to the engine hauling at 4000 RPM all the time, as it is in a Civic. The Rockford audio system is super, worth $900, but included in the $433 special edition package, together with fog lights, spoiler, leather steering wheel, sporty grill and seats. The rear seats need more leg room, but most people use a Sentra as a 4-door coupe, with rear cup holders. As other compact cars, you can feel the wind, but very smooth ride in a nice day.

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  Great New Design - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By harry0724 - December 20 - 10:03 am

  Purchased new 07 ALtima 3.5SE with CVT. great performance with 270 hp. Touch screen navigation is very easy to use, with voice commands, Bluetooth, and rear view camera. lots of features for the money. this vehicle is far superior to the bland camry and accord.

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  Long-life reliable car - 1998 Nissan Altima
  By Joe - December 20 - 1:23 am

  My Altima SE is a 5 spd manual which makes a 4 cyl a little more fun! Bought the car at 124k in fall 04 and will be retiring it soon with 190k. No real problems until last few months - engine is still great. Still using original clutch (needs replacement). Odometer broke a few months ago, and windshield wiper motor just died. Those are the only mechanical things to go wrong in the 4 years Ive owned it... not bad! I am now looking to buy an 05 Altima because they are very reliable.

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  My CC 05 Frontier LE - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By Ric Clavel - December 20 - 12:40 am

  Although Ive only had this truck for 6 weeks (just over 1,000 miles), I am very pleased with the performance, quality, and the way its equipped. the size is just right for my taste and use. So far, a great truck.

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  Love the Ride - Hate the Brakes squeek - 2007 Nissan Armada
  By Diane - December 20 - 12:03 am

  Love this car. We have every option available and use them all. Great family car to travel with. My two complaints are the dealership has charged me and tried to oil the parts associated with the breaks to stop the squeak when driving slow. I now have 53,000 miles and have gone to my tire guy and they have oiled the parts which helps for awhile, the squeak comes back. Second complaint is the dealer has not been able to eliminated the rattle when the shade is open on the sunroof. Seems like both problems should be an easy fix, not for the Sarasota Nissan Dealer.

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  Going back to Nissan - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By Bob - December 19 - 11:33 pm

  This is a well built and fun to drive vehicle. Everything about it is first class. I had a Jeep Cherokee and the GMC Sierra SLE Pick Up. Before them I had a 280ZX and a Nissan Pick up. The "09 Murano is everything I had hope it would be and more.

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  Fun to drive and good stability - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By Luis Estupinian - December 19 - 10:53 pm

  I drove for about three hours in variable conditions and I felt this car comfortable and safe in many driving situations, nice turning in curves on the highways and good turns in the city, it has wide windshield that provides good visibility.