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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  great car so far - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By Greg - October 30 - 9:43 am

  Fun car to drive.. Gas mileage has been as advertised. Only 2 minor complaints.. Rubbing noise coming from trim around drivers door.. Shade from sunroof doesnt close all the way about 1/2 the time

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  Awesome Truck - 2006 Nissan Titan
  By Benito Camelas - October 30 - 7:50 am

  Bought this truck over a year ago, have over 26,000 miles and it is the best. Powerful, comfortable, good stability, good brakes, excelent handling! Installed two magnaflows and improved a couple of miles per gallon. This truck is well built and will keep high resale value.

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  My fourth Z and the best so far - 2016 Nissan 370Z
  By Joey L - October 30 - 4:55 am

  Since I have bought four of these so far, you can safely assume I think highly of this car. Since I have had such good luck with previous models I bought this sight unseen and assumed it would be OK. It has been a great experience so far. (Only 2 months). I have always relied on a Z for basic commuting. I only need to bring myself and a briefcase so a 2-seater is ideal. They have all been nimble and quick, even the 300ZX. The direct comparison I will make is to the 350Z that I just traded in. First I assume it will be a good resale value because I got back much more than I expected for a ten year old 350Z. ($7500!) The experience is overall the best yet. The 370 is the quickest yet, But: The 350 was made to be faster with a lighter push on the accelerator, giving the impression of being quicker. With the same amount of pedal travel, the 370 accelerates less quickly. However, about pushing half way down it clearly is quicker than the 350. Flooring it really shows it to be MUCH quicker from 0 to 40 or so. And a lot louder too. Yet the mileage is 4 better than the 350 (23 vs 19). The steering is very precise, but the steering wheel moves with a very light touch, easier than any past Z. The interior feels very similar to the 350 with a few upgrades. The seat, although manual, fits me like a glove. There is a much better layout of storage areas. The 350 had no glovebox, and the 370 does and has rear storage areas also. The USB connector is in the center console storage box. Unfortunately the interior lights are all regular incandescents which I hate since they can kill the battery if left on. I changed 5 of them out for LED lights. You can find these for a few bucks on Amazon. I was initially unhappy about paying for the upgraded Bose stereo in the sport package (you have no choice if you want the larger brakes and viscous slip differential). However I must say it sounds better than I expected, and better than the Bose stereo that came with past Zs. But not nearly as good as the premium systems in either the BMW 335 or the Grand Cherokee which I have experienced long-term. I like the exterior much better: it looks muscular and aggressive. And they got rid of the shark tooth front. The LED running lights are decent looking as well. There are not many of these cars around and I am just fine with that. There are 100 BMWs and mercedes and vettes and porsches for every Z that I see and I dont care. I love the way this car looks and I can afford a 911. I just think its nuts to toss out $100 k on a car. In fact I see more GT-Rs than Zs around here. The brakes are much better than past models. I have the sport model with larger discs and they slow the car very well for street driving. One point to make, the rear visibility is not so hot. I perceive a pretty big blind spot on the two rears, so if you have problems looking over your shoulder, this might not be a good choice for you. I can make up for it by altering my position in the car to look with the side mirrors. For some reason the passenger mirror is not a panoramic mirror, just a flat one. Im not sure why they did that but I would suggest they change that. Bottom line: This car is an unqualified bargain for $34k. If I live long enough I will get the 390Z or 400Z or whatever the next one is named. Great work Nissan!

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  Aces - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By DC - October 29 - 9:26 pm

  Ive had this car for almost 6 years and not had a single problem! As a side note, I am extremely dedicated with scheduled, dealer delivered maintenance. I would definitely buy another Maxima. The dealers have been great and the car has been flawless. I got 58K miles out of the factory tires and after having the dealer replace them with like tires, Ive gotten 63K on the next set. If youre thinking of buying a Maxima....DO IT!

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  Fun to Drive - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By Nissan>Man - October 29 - 1:56 pm

  I just got my Maxima 3.5 SL with leather and Bose and I love it. If you want a car to go from point A to point B you can get Camary(V6) to Accord(V6), but if you need FUN to drive car and power when you need it, this is the car. I tested both Altima(V6) and Maxima but I think Maxima more refined even though they both have same V6 motor. I also added $5/month option from using to get my oil change and tire balance for upto 100K in any Nissan dealership in the country.

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  Armada AH YES! - 2005 Nissan Armada
  By PJ - October 28 - 3:40 am

  I have not had my vehicle for very long, but I think its awesome. The ride, comfort, looks, dependability. It is top of the line as far as I am concerned....no better anywhere. Two downsides that I am not happy with. 1. I have leather seats (love them) I sometimes slide on pressing the brake. 2. Fuel economy Poor.

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  THE BEST SUV - 2010 Nissan Pathfinder
  By ANTHONY - October 27 - 5:23 am

  Its my 2nd Pathfinder and i really love it.A lot of power,stable and great driving in all weather.

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  Very pleased with the 05 Fronty - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By Wyldcat89 - October 26 - 6:26 pm

  I settled on the 05 Frontier NISMO Crew Cab after 5 months of carefully considering other 2005 offerings. What I got was a strong, powerful engine (265hp) but with a suprisingly smooth & quiet ride. The stiffer suspension isnt harsh or jarring, but rather, it offers excellent road feel. The interior does feature a lot of hard plastic but I find it easy on the eyes and easy to clean. I really like the NISMO seat fabric too! The spray in bed liner and utili-trac system is a definite improvement over my 2001 Ranger and as a first time Nissan owner, I couldnt be happier.

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  my 3rd pathfinder - 2006 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Nross - October 26 - 12:46 pm

  This is my third Pathfinder and the best one yet. Im very happy with the changes in design and the size was a needed change for me as my family keeps getting bigger! My wife even enjoys driving it, as it handles comfortably like a car. Look for me to get the next one when it comes out.

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  NISSAN ARMADA - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By JWALKER - October 26 - 10:00 am

  SPEND 6 MONTHS REVIEWING AND TEST DRIVING THIS SUV. WE WANTED SOMETHING FOR OUR FAMILY AS WE GROW AND THIS IS IT. BUCKET MIDDLE SEATS GIVES OUR 3 CHILDREN THEIR OWN SPACE AND THEY LOVE THE DVD. LOTS OF ROOM IN THIS CAR AND WE REALLY ENJOYED ON OUR FIRST VACATION TRIP. WE FELT IT HAD A BIT MORE LUXURY FEEL THEN THE TOYOTA SEQUOIA.