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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  Best SUV I Have Owned - 2008 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Brian - September 8 - 6:40 pm

  Fantastic vehicle. Great pickup. Great for towing. Very comfortable and every creature comfort you can imagine. Not one mechanical problem. This is by far the best SUV I have ever owned and will definitely purchase another one.

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  225,000 Miles & Still Going Strong! - 2001 Nissan Xterra
  By vstro - September 8 - 5:30 pm

  Bought this Xterra new in 2001 from Al West Nissan. About a year later the dealership told me that it was recalled to correct some problems at no charge-still under warranty. Since that the only thing I had to have done besides the usual oil changes (sometimes I was a little slack on that)& and a battery here and there is points/plugs last year at about 200,000 miles!She is now 9 years old. Unbelievable! Dependable! Reliable! Love my Xterra and wish it would just keep going forever- I might just see how many miles we can get to and then go buy another new one. Ive been very happy with it!

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  Eight years and going strong - 2001 Nissan Altima
  By Nancy - September 8 - 5:03 pm

  I purchased my Nissan Altima GLE new, and currently have 84,400 miles on it, with plans to drive it several more years if it continues to perform well. I have been faithful with routine maintenance, and have had no problems at all. It is a comfortable, roomy sedan.

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  Nice Truck!!!! - 2005 Nissan Armada
  By tremblayt - September 8 - 4:50 pm

  The 2005 Nissan Armada has enough power and feel to transport my family. I love the onboard navigation system and rear view camera. It has a smooth ride. My kids love the DVD system. I stepped up from a Pathfinder.

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  Maxima - 2006 Nissan Maxima
  By Nichole - September 8 - 10:06 am

  My new maxima is wonderful! The minute I test drove a Maxima I knew I had to have it. Its quiet engine and smooth ride is just the beginning. The power is incredible. Ive loved the look of these cars ever since they came out in 2004. Then I test drove it and It was love! Thanks

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  4x4 Sentra - 1998 Nissan Sentra
  By Zaurka - September 8 - 10:00 am

  This car is amazing, it never stop preforming. No mechanical problems what so ever, and trust me when i say i put it through hell. This car can take a beating like no other car can. Ive been offroading with my sentra many times and its still purring, great for e- brake slides, this car will not flip! This is a VERY dependable car, can take a beating, hell of fun to drive. Corninering is ok, but its no abs system with the design of the car makes it awesome for doin narly stuff on the road. Get this car... you will not regret it.

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  I love my Quest - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By PatriciaS - September 8 - 10:00 am

  This is a beatiful an comfortable car. The design is very modern and makes the car looks strong. It does not looks as a van. It is also economic compared to SUVs, it makes 19.5 mpg. Easily acomodates 7 passengers. The third row is easy to hide to get more cargo space.

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  Not just another minivan - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By UMA the Cat - September 8 - 10:00 am

  I dont think the Nissan Quest is really a minivan. There is something good going on under the hood. I was truly impressed with the handling and acceleration. The interior was intelligently thought out to give those backseat occupants another dimension when travelling. The skywindows add that missing feature not found in any other minivan. The dash is a bit "retro", but could very easily grow on anyone for its shear simplicity and user friendly interface. I hope what the dealers are telling me about not worrying about the CV joints when towing anything up to 3500# is true. That is my only reservation I have for the vehicle at the moment.

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  Died at 6950 - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Bob English - September 8 - 10:00 am

  The transmission started slipping at 6950, every door rattles and the dash, the transmissions shift points are the worst I have ever driven (been driving over 40 years), there is a whistling sound around the outside mirrors, etc. Basically Nissan did a extremely poor job on designing and building this vehicle!!! I planning on getting rid of this vehicle ASAP!

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  TIGHT!!!! - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By stmiff - September 8 - 10:00 am

  Excellent craftsmanship! Solid well built, TIGHT in everyway. Doors, hood, suspension, everything TIGHT! Immediate response on accelerator. Anti-lock brakes, stop now. Now, if only our "American" truck companies would move into the 21st Century, and make DOHC vehicles, instead of the push- rod relics. My buddys Dodge Ram, built in Mexico City. My Titan, built in Canton, Mississippi. Go figure.