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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  WOW! - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Lorena - August 15 - 5:23 pm

  I purchased this truck almost new with only 4,000 miles on it. I have yet to find something about it that I dont like. Ive used the 4wd and it was really great in handling and safety. If anyone is looking for a solid built, great looking and fun to drive SUV, look no further.

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  New Nissan Versa - 2009 Nissan Versa
  By Mike - August 15 - 12:30 pm

  My Wife and I bought a Nissan as our first car in 1983. It was a Stanza and was a horrible car. We never considered Nissan again until I found this Nissan Versa. I wanted a fun car for errands and commuting and the Fit and Yaris were too small. We looked at used cars but found that a new 2009 Versa was actually a better deal than a used car. I love the way it rides, it holds my carpoolers well, the standard radio/CD player is great, it is peppy and holds plenty of groceries in the hatch. While in this car I am 57 years young, taking me back to my college days. My Wife wanted black and frankly speaking it looks as expensive as an Audi or similar small expensive car.

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  Awesome Car - 1998 Nissan Maxima
  By jeallen - August 15 - 10:00 am

  Always dreamed of owning a Maxima and my dreams came true in 99. Purchased a 98 GXE and have since added a spoiler which really increased the looks. Great car, runs like a top with 93K miles on it and going strong.

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  Great Car - 1998 Nissan Altima
  By MNguy - August 15 - 10:00 am

  My 98 altima SE has over 90,000 miles without any problems except for a spark plug coming out and I think that was my fault. this car is a great combination of comfort, reliability, performance and style. Lets not forget it cost thousands less than an accord or camry.

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  Overall Good SUV - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By razzz00 - August 15 - 10:00 am

  Overall my initial impression of this vehicle is very good. I looked at the Toyota Highlander and Chevy TrailBlazer. As a past Super Chevy sportster it was hard not to go with the Chevy but the reliability concerned me. The highlander was a minivan dressed to look like a SUV. The Pathfinder was a true truck buy didnt ride or handle like one. I only have two issues at this point. First, there appears to be excessive play in the drive train. Second, the Bose stereo is underpowered and has disappointing sound quality. I am not a radio blaster but you need to hear the radio when your on the road with the windows down. The in dash 6 CD changer is nice.

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  Great choice for a fun family car! - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By sampson - August 15 - 10:00 am

  Although our experience is brief, (car purchased 8-31-02) we cant say enough about this car! The ride is so smooth, the interior very accomodating, and the extras are wonderful. Great trunk space for a stroller and the child safety options are great and up to date. The radio/cd player is more than adequate-we didnt opt for the Bose-and love the extra large cup holders.

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  Nissan Pathfinder - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By James - August 15 - 2:13 am

  This is a really nice vehicle. Style, gas milage, inside room. Too bad its directional stability (wandering) affects the driving of rhe vehicle. Violent shaking when hitting bumps and the rear suspension bottoms out. Ive had the rear leaf springs replaced by Nissan, but it did not improve the suspension. Nissan NA and their "lead" mechanics acknowledge that the wandering and shaking happen, but they say that is the characteristic of the vehicle. It is a safety concern that they are not addressing. Fix the steering and suspension and this is a delight vehicle to own.

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  Touting Titan - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By goesto11 - August 14 - 10:06 pm

  Overall outstanding truck. Many thoughtful features from the Nissan engineers, with great attention to the details (power in truckbed, spray in liner, UTILITRACK!). Comfortable on long and short trips. Much better build than my previous GMC half ton. This is a solid truck that will serve you well on the job site or in suburbia. Dislikes...the radio tuner is awful, with the FM radio freqs sounding like they are almost underwater. CD player is fine. The radio also has an aux in for us iPod/MP3 users which is very helpful. 18" Goodyears will require financing to replace. Also be advised that this beast will not fit in a standard size garage door opening without folding in mirrors.

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  rock solid Xterra - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By akhdz - August 14 - 7:23 pm

  this is my second Nissan (97 truck was the 1st) and i love the truck feel of the xterra. i like the unique colors offered (mine is canteen green metallic) and that its a TRUCK. mine in the base I4 xe 5sp, which is why i got such a good deal on it (13,7k drive out with an extended warranty) if you have a small family, and need a REAL suv, id look for a pre-owned xterra. prices are sliding down (05 new body) and many on the market. since we live in houston (no mountains) the I4 is fine, plus i got 22mpg on my first full tank. im glad nissan didnt push the xterra too upscale, and made it affordable for all.

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  perfect suv - 2006 Nissan Armada
  By landry - August 14 - 8:33 am

  overall I think its a great suv. Its by far the best suv i have ever bought.