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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  shockingly good - 2015 Nissan Altima
  By peter scuderi - September 5 - 5:33 pm

  i previously owned and had absolutely no problems with a fully loaded 2008 altima sl. but still looked at other cars before buying new one. was overwhelmed by new one. struck a great deal but upgrades and improvements are dramatic. as a tall person, still impressed by head and leg space compared to bmw or mercedes. car drives and handles great, looks sharp, and feels great. my only issue is figuring out new technology. sound system awesome. highly reccommend the car. also own a 350 z which moves and is still reliable. i keep coming back to nissan.

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  From SUV to Car - LOVING IT! - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By AltimaOwner08 - September 5 - 5:10 pm

  I traded in my SUV for a small car after gas started to rapidly rise...wasnt convinced Id love the new car, but did it anyway to save money. Best thing I have done in a long time! My Altima is much more spacious than it looks and gets awesome gas mileage. I average 34 MPG on my daily commute. I have recommended to many of my friends and family who are complaining of the gas prices.

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  Not al that its cracked up to be - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By BlueVersa - September 5 - 11:53 am

  This car has several advantages compared to other small hatchbacks: well equipped for the price, comfort, engine performance. But you have to pay dearly for these perks as the fuel economoy is very disappointing and you will struggle to get better than 28 MPG on the highway and 25 in the city. Also this car is not well built: Nissan has cut a few of the wrong corners. The bumpers are held on with plastic rivets and will come off or dent at the slightest touch (this is ridiculous in what is supposed to be a city car) and worse the windshield washer fluid tank is located underneath the flimsy bumper with practically no protection. Drinving out of snowbank resulted in its complete destruction!

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  need more safety - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By mfbf410 - September 5 - 7:10 am

  We recently purchased our 2005 Nissan Murano SL. We are enjoying the ride. Wish that it got better gas mileage. However,more so than that I wish that it had automatice door locks. We didnt notice this when test driving...actually I assumed it had this feature since older vehicles that we own do have this nice safety feature. When talking to our sales person he informed me that no Nissans have auto door locks. I believe this would be a great addition in future years. In the meantime I am training myself to lock the doors when I get in.

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  Compacts have come a long way. - 2008 Nissan Versa
  By Scott - September 5 - 2:23 am

  I have mostly owned Toyotas and decided to give Nissan a try. Jury is still out on if I made the right decision. The car has been reliable accept for a front end clunk that the dealer cannot replicate. Seems to be a common issue that Nissan should address. The interior space and smooth engine are its greatest assets. Not sure if I like the 6-spd. It should provide a lower RPM in 6th gear for highway driving. Having said that the gearing allows for unmatched power on hills. For an entry level car this is miles ahead of the Tercels and Metro I have owned. It provides a fairly quiet cabin, plenty of rear legroom, adequate power, and many modern amenities at a fair price.

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  My awsome car!!! - 2008 Nissan Maxima
  By roland m - September 4 - 7:00 pm

  I love my maxima. I owned a 99 and it was awesome as well, so i just had to buy another one. My maxima hasnt given me any problems so i am fully satisfied. As any mass production items there is bound to be several glitches so we cant expect them all to be perfect, thank you nissan!!!

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  nicks titan - 2007 Nissan Titan
  By NICK CALO - September 4 - 12:50 pm

  i do not know how they could have built a better truck. i have a bass boat and it pulls it effortlessly. style and comfort are great.sound systems rocks. thanks

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  Easy on the Eyes....Not on the warranty - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By 02 6T N5 - September 4 - 12:46 am

  I purchased my 350Z almost one year ago and with the exception of the front tires feathering I really enjoy the car.

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  2008 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Villabur - September 3 - 3:06 pm

  Bought this car to replace my Xterra. I drove it from Houston, TX to Fort Walton Beach, FL and only had to refill the tank one time and still had 3/4 of a tank left when I reached my destination! Very quiet in the cabin. The Bose system sounds great. Love the dual climate control and heated seats. I recommend if you get the sunroof NOT to get a wind deflector because there is one already built into the car that pops up when the sunroof is opened.

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  Sues Nissan - 1999 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Suzie-q - September 3 - 10:00 am

  I have taken the vehicle in for all service as recommended. I have not had any major problems. I truly enjoy driving my Pathfinder. I would definitely buy another one.