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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  good - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By leigh00005 - August 14 - 10:00 am

  love the way is handles but would like to get better gas mileage. starting to get some rattles in it.

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  Murano - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By mark Barcello - August 14 - 10:00 am

  The interior is quiet and well designed. The Bose audio system sounds great. If you are on the road putting 200+ miles a day under your belt this the confotable SUV for you. This is one of the best SUVs ever, my sister and brother own them as well, and we all love the Murano.

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  Love the car - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By yjuhn - August 14 - 10:00 am

  Very stylish design, fun to drive and good fuel miledge.

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  handles great, little annoyances - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By heisman - August 14 - 10:00 am

  Drives wonderfully but there are a few annoyances: a rattle in the backseat somewhere that the dealership is having a hard time pinpointing--have had to take it 4 times and its still not fixed; headlights look like they stairstep up to the right, as if they were stalled unevenly, but the dealership says they are all like that?; also, brakes squeal when putting the car into reverse, and again, the dealership claimed to have fixed the problem by cleaning off "the glaze" but the problem has not gone away.

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  Awesome - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By zkkkk - August 14 - 10:00 am

  Not only does this machine perform,it is a looker. I cant drive 2 blocks w/out being stopped and talked to about my Murano. It is comfortable,smooth, fast,and responsive. Great gas mileage as well. Did I say roomy. Plenty of room front and back. The back seats recline giving more comfort and,as my girlfriend and I found out, plenty of room for plenty of positions. FUN!

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  350z - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By buddhaj - August 14 - 10:00 am

  i enjoy driving my z a great deal. it does however dent easily and has a substantial amount of interior noise. not the engine or road noise that is to be expected, but creaks and various rattles under various conditions. i have attempted to have the problem fixed but i believe that my local dealers mechanics are deaf or the noises dissipate when i am not in the car. at any rate they continue to exist. driving the car is surperb. the handling is outstanding and if not for traction control i know that on one occasion i would have wrecked my car. i wish the car had 50 more horsepower and 500 fewer pounds.

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  Get one! - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Jimmy Buffett - August 14 - 10:00 am

  Very nice car for the money. I looked at the Saab 9-5, and the Toyota Solara and this is a better car for less money.The car looks great and is solid. You will get looks in this ride. The optional side sills are a nice touch.

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  Maxima doesnt disappoint - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By chrisgreat535 - August 14 - 10:00 am

  I love driving the new Maxima and Ive only had it since October 2, 2003. Its a great deal of fun to drive, and gets "oohs" and "aahs" a lot. It provides a smooth ride, powerful engine, and is very comfortable.

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  Love it! - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Anna - August 14 - 5:30 am

  Ive always driven Nissans. My last car was a Maxima, but I fell in love with the look of this Altima. The keyless entry is awesome especially when dealing with small children so you can have an extra hand rather than fumbling around looking for a key. I never thought Id go from a V6 to a 4 cyl but the ride is real smooth and it still gets pretty good pick up. Havent had any problems and never did with any Nissan I had. I put some chrome rims and grills on it and get compliments all the time on it. Im definitely happy inside and out!!

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  Murano - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By Dave - August 14 - 5:23 am

  Great technical handling ability and comfortable ride. Gas mileage average. Meets or exceeds expectations