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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  Pay Close Attention to this review - 1998 Nissan Maxima
  By Luv Maxima - November 8 - 3:20 pm

  Bought mine from 1st owner with 180K miles for $1700. Replaced the struts within 3 months and have only put brakes and an $85 part that controls trans shifting since then ( now have 215K). This car and drivetrain is absolutely bulletproof! (just change the oil using synthetic oil). If trans starts shifting hard it IS NOT the trans going bad, but a cheap little part just behind the battery that ANYONE can replace themselves (talk to dealer as they keep them in stock since they fail frequently on the 3.0 24V engine). Rides a little stiff but handles like a vette with GOOD Tires on it... QUICK as he%$, and I dont even drive that fast....

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  My 2005 Murano SL - 2005 Nissan Murano
  By rick_barr - November 8 - 3:23 am

  We started looking at SUVs 2 yrs ago knowing wed buy this yr. After looking at lots of factors and models, we knew the Murano was for us. It replaced a 99 Altima SE which was a great car but couldnt hold much cargo. The Murano really is like a tall more comfortable Altima. Its also as fast as many larger V6 or V8 SUVs but still averages about 21 mpg.

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  Awesome Truck! - 2006 Nissan Titan
  By Dave - November 7 - 7:06 pm

  I got the off-road version and love it. Great acceleration, quiet ride except for the great sounding exhaust, well designed interior, and tremendous pulling power for towing our travel trailer. It handles extremely well for a truck and does not lean in the least on high speed turns. Ride is a little on the stiff side but that is the way it should be for a truck. The huge tires roll easily over potholes that jarred my smaller SUV. Mileage is only 15 mpg for around town type of driving but I didnt expect any better. Build quality is way superior to Ford, Chevy, and Dodge and perhaps comparable to the Toyota. The Toyota was unacceptable for us due to its lack of towing ability.

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  Gun Metallic Juke - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By pavlova - November 7 - 12:52 pm

  Had three BMWs and three SAABs. Wanted something unique and suv-like that wasnt huge or a gas guzzler. The Juke fit the bill. Knew I wanted a turbo after having my SAABs. Researched cars for quite sometime and narrowed my choice down to two, a MINI and the Juke. After test driving both vehicles, the Juke won me over. Love the unique styling and handling.The AWD was a feature I wanted for the winters in the northeast. Its the perfect size for our family of three,my husband,myself and our Rhodesian Ridgeback. The heated leather seats are comfortable and supportive. It isnt a luxury car but I wasnt looking for a luxury car.

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  Liked the 2007 so much I bought a 2008! - 2008 Nissan Versa
  By Big Jim - November 7 - 4:40 am

  What I missed on the 07, I added on the 08---ABS, Bluetooth, Steering wheel audio controls, and other goodies. At 33,000, I have had absolutely no problem of any kind with the vehicle. Im 6 foot 6 inches tall, and fit fine in the car even with a 36 inch inseam. Most of my combined city/highway driving averages 32 mpg, and running 60 on the highways a consistent 36. At 70 mileage drops to 30. A wonderful surprise was the extension to 10 year/12000 miles on the CVT tranny. Bluetooth is perfect for handsfree, and handling is responsive w/electric assist. Great off the line acceleration. Biggest beef is fairly poor stopping ability on ice/snow. The Continentals will be replaced.

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  Love It - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By Me - November 5 - 7:16 pm

  Love this car. Good gas mileage. Nice to drive.

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  More bang for your buck! - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By RS - November 5 - 10:46 am

  I have always liked the look of Nissans. I was interested in the Altima but didnt want to spend that much on a car. Did not want a used car either. I test drove the Sentra and once I found out all of the toys (convenience package) you can get, I was sold. I was also looking at the Mazda 3 but I was sold with the blue tooth phone and keyless ignition (I will never buy a car without that again)! The car is fun to drive and for the few times I carry more than one other passenger with me, it has proven to be a champ with passengers and for transporting stuff in the trunk/backseat area. I definitely made the right decision with this car. I had a great dealer experience as well.

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  Great Truck - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By ColaSC - November 5 - 2:00 am

  The Titan has been a great truck so far (2 months). Great features and excellent performance. The interier is huge and comfortable. The Titan has superior options for its price (more options than the Tundra and less costly than the F150).

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  best truck - 2008 Nissan Frontier
  By lousfrontier - November 4 - 8:10 pm

  I have over 18,000 miles on my 2008 Frontier. My last frontier was a 2002 SC with over 90,000 miles with no problems. This is by far the best performing. Gas mileage is good, average 19.8 combined driving. Rides great with plenty of power.

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  Comfortable and Elegant... - 2012 Nissan Murano
  By halwg - November 4 - 12:51 pm

  I purchased a 2012 SL AWD in December 2011. I now have a little over 3 months on the vehicle and Im very pleased. The vehicle is comfortable, powerful, and the CVT is extremely smooth. Fit and finish is very good, and the utility of the vehicle is much better than my 2005 Maxima.