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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  Fun With Four Doors - 1997 Nissan Maxima
  By simmi - August 25 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my Maxima SE with 56K on the odometer. I choose the Maxima SE because of its sporty appearance, award winning engine, high reliability ratings, and the room afforded to all passengers. Also important was the 5- spd transmission. Performance wise, this car is just about as fun to drive as my Mustang GT, but it sure is much more comfortable and convenient. I have never been concerned when needing to pass another vehicle. I have put over 30K on the car in two years and have had no major issues with the vehicle. Replaced a fuel sensor and timing belt. I love this car and plan to drive it until I am ready to buy a new Max.

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  ALMOST perfect - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By Xterragirl - August 25 - 10:00 am

  I like the style of the Xterra..it is fairly comfortable and I enjoy the ride. I do however miss the LITTLE things that my Maxima had..the Xterra has no drivers side vanity mirror, the passenger one doesnt have a light. I miss having a power/heated seat which is not an option on the Xterra. I miss the cass/cd combo and the light in my glove box that the Maxima offered. Other than those little things I am very pleased with the vehicle.

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  Great car - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By JeffS1000000 - August 25 - 10:00 am

  Lots of horsepower, corners great... looks great. I love it!

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  Fix the fuel pump! - 2006 Nissan Sentra
  By jason - August 25 - 4:53 am

  Its a small car but you get great MPG. The sound system is very nice and the aux jack is great for a MP3 player or to plug in a GPS. I have 66,000 on my 2006 Sentra Special Edition. The only problem that I have with it is the fuel pump issue. It never starts up on the first try. There should be a recall on this problem. This is my first Nissan and may be my last.

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  One Tough Truck - 2003 Nissan Frontier
  By datsun72 - August 25 - 4:16 am

  Bought mine new. I now have over 140,000 on it. All Ive ever had to do is change oil. Ive only had to replace the brake pads once. The tires average over 60,000 before I replace them. Its never even had to be aligned. Toughest vehicle Ive ever owned. It still looks brand new. Its worked hard and now my son drives it. Liked it so well I bought a 2008 Frontier to keep it company. Nissan builds the most reliable truck out there.

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  I love it.. - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By kris - August 25 - 1:13 am

  I have had the pathfinder around 9 months, and enjoy it more every day. I am glad I decided on the LE, after reading comments about other models interior. I still get wow!! many places I go, this is a good looking, fun driving vehicle. I test drove the highlander, landcruiser and pilot and this was the best.

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  Never Again - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Patrick J. McShane - August 25 - 1:10 am

  I bought my 2004 Maxima 3.5 SL brand new and I maintain it religiously. I owned a 1997 and that was one of the best cars I ever owned. This is probably the worst car I ever owned. Two recalls, the transmission went 100 miles before the warranty expired. Front grille replaced 3 times because of peeling. Brake problems. Had all the documentation and got zero satisfaction from Nissan. Latest - ABS problem, rear bearings, etc. All expensive repairs. Wrote a letter to the President of Nissan - no response. I will never ever ever buy another Nissan product.

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  One fantastic vehicle to own & drive. - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By Mike - August 24 - 5:56 pm

  Since buying my Murano in February 2005, I know I made the right choice. So far, I love everything about it. The CVT transmission is very smooth. It took me some time to get used to the orange/yellow dash lights. For a crossover I think its one of the best on the road. Fun to drive and very peppy engine.

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  07 Quest Is The Best! - 2007 Nissan Quest
  By NissanFan - August 24 - 11:03 am

  Just purchased a 2007 3.5SL, love the new interior improvements and dashboard. Power is excellent the whole family loves to drive in it! No complaints Nissan got the R&D right this time, look out Honda!

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  Generally a good car - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By Dale - August 24 - 10:06 am

  I bought it new in April of 2002. It had its share of recalls but no more any other car. I did experience the hard starting and the dealer did fix the problem with chip re-programming. The paint on the front of the car will chip very easily and I noticed other Altimas with the same problem. The balancer shaft in the engine went bad at 61250 miles and wiped out the engine. Thats right, 1250 miles out of warranty. Nissan told me, "Out of warranty, tough". The car sat at the dealer for over 2 months and the dealer finally agreed to pay for half of the repair costs. It has run flawlessly since then. I love the car, I am taller than most people and this car fits me.