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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  I love this car - 2001 Nissan Maxima
  By John - August 19 - 1:16 am

  Purchased new in 2001 (built in Japan), low mileage (55k), regular maintenance, well cared for, interior great. In six years, not a single item has failed and have only replaced crappy stock Potenzas tires. New Yoko Avid 4Vs great all season performer. Driving on snow and ice still marginal,but not designed for ice/snow performance. Ergonomics are excellent, cockpit is well designed and comfortable. Bose sounds great. I drive spirited and the 5 speed w/3.0 liter V6 (legendary engine) offers excellent performance and descent fuel economy 22/27. Not a drop of oil in engine compartment. Will need brakes soon and other 60k maintenance. I love this car and will keep it for years. Excellent value.

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  Nice Car - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By logdon17 - August 18 - 9:51 pm

  I have been driving this car for 20K miles and have nothing but good things to say. The car is plenty fast, handles well, and is very comfortable. The controls are well laid out and very easy to use. I have had zero issues and have only needed to do oil changes and tire rotations. Gas mileage is pretty good for a rather large mid size car (around 30 in mixed highway and city). I would highly recommend without reserve.

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  Nissan Quest good family van - 2002 Nissan Quest
  By travelsus - August 18 - 5:16 am

  I love my van - not too big, but big enough to be comfortable. The VCR is a big hit on trips & we can hook up the Nintendo also. Mileage is 20mpg. I would like better, but what do you expect for a vehicle that will transport 7 people!

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  So far, so GREAT!!! - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By Derek - August 18 - 3:43 am

  Ive had the Altima 3.5 SE for 2 weeks and 400 miles. The engine is phenomenal and has very smooth acceleration, and while the CVT takes some getting used to, I like it better than a conventional transmission. The paint job was outstanding (and Im a very picky guy). Fit and finish was excellent. Im still on the fence with regard to the push button ignition. A true pleasure to drive.

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  Love the car - 2006 Nissan Sentra
  By kiran - August 17 - 8:23 pm

  This is my first car. As a college student my main focus was safety and reliability. It is a very nice car with 9 speakers, great pickup speed, and very safe. Great price with a lot of wonderful features packed in it. Also gives good mileage.

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  Love at first sight and now Im in love! - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Jerry - August 17 - 6:23 pm

  A family w/ 1 teenager and 2 elementary graders who love road trips as a family tradition. Ever since we bought her new 3 years ago, we havent had any problem at all. She took us coast to coast yearly and most of the time, driving for 8-18 hrs straight except gas, snacks or nap were a great plus. We chose her because of safety feature for our 2 kids in 3rd row seat. In addition, it has 2 pairs of A/C or heater exhaust vent (standard) each row on top of the headboard with dual automatic climate control-great for summer or winter time. Of all the SUVs we drove, she is the only SUV that picks up speed and power from 0-60mph. We know this and we had really fun!

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  Just Keeps Going - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By maxhappy - August 17 - 5:03 pm

  Ive had this car for almost 6.5 years and 153,000 miles. Im confident it will go to 200,000 miles. Longevity is vital to me. I commute probably 65 miles a day, and Ive got know that my car will go. With this many miles there are bound to be some costs. Ive had some expensive repairs, such as replacing the mass air flow sensor and the auxiliary fans. Yet, I always have confidence in it. It doesnt hurt that it can still blow by most cars when needed. Im planning on purchasing a new car in 2008. The Maxima is high on my list. OK an IS 350 looks pretty good too!

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  Best "Mid-Size" Truck - 2006 Nissan Frontier
  By barrys42 - August 17 - 3:43 am

  I traded a 2003 Ford Ranger FX4 Level II for my 2006 NISMO Crew Cab 4x4. The Ranger was a decent truck but it got horrid gas mileage (avg about 14 with 80/20 city/highway). I love my NISMO so much more than the Ranger. Its a little bigger but its more powerful, has a better ride, and handles way smoother. It also feels much more solid than the Ranger. I have to watch my driving because the truck wants to go fast! I can definitely feel sports car roots in the truck. The engine is smooth and refined and well matched to the 5- speed automatic. Fuel economy is around 16 in town and I get a solid 20 on the highway. The truck is a pleasure to drive.

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  Solid value, great handling - 2010 Nissan Rogue
  By Kate - August 16 - 8:50 am

  Like others have said, this AWD is a best buy in its class. I was looking for a fuel efficient AWD to handle the New England winters, although I cant vouch for how it performs in the snow yet. What impressed me most about this vehicle was the car-like feel when I first drove it (other competitors felt more like "mini-trucks") Coming off a V-6 minivan, it was important to me that the Rogue had a nice ride and it doesnt disappoint here even though the smaller engine is taking some getting used to.(acceleration is adequate however) The interior finish is nice for a car in this class (Premium Pkg., Leather, Moonroof) and so far Im averaging 21-22 mpg, mostly around town driving.

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  Steering Problems - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By DeeDee - August 16 - 7:26 am

  I just purchased my Pathfinder in July 2005 and I was loving it. I had a Mitsubishi suv before and hated it because of the rough ride. The ride in the Pathfinder was much smoother, but, for some reason now when I ride over bumps the rear of the truck dances or should I say it shifts for some reason. But, the sound system is great and so is the dvd player. I just wish I wasnt having the rear wheel problems. It started after I put air in my tires.