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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  Tire Sensors are a pain! - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By F Fields - May 3 - 2:00 am

  I have had this car for almost a yr now. I like in the Chicago land area. I travel 30 miles one way to work. The car was very reliable over the winter. I dont like the way the car handles in windy conditions or at speeds over 60 MPH. The only major problem I have had is the darn tire sensors which is now on every time I get into the car. My tires deflated every time the temperature changed so I had to purchase an air compressor to save time and money on having someone come put air in my tires. I was really tempted to get all new tires but there was nothing wrong with the tires on the car. So now the light never goes off. The sensors are expensive to replace (Quotes $125-$180)Hate the sensors!

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  Having Problems!!! - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Candace - May 1 - 10:36 am

  I purchased new 11/2007, after 2 months, started hearing a roaring noise in the front tires, took it to the dealership, told it was a problem with the tire, no offer to replace. Noise increasingly became louder and louder. I took back, at that point they found 2 bad wheel bearings, they replaced bearings. Ive had several problems with the car and Nissan isnt very cooperative. This is the last Nissan Ill ever buy - back to Toyota again!

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  Improvement needed by Nissan - 2015 Nissan Altima
  By pprince - May 1 - 9:13 am

  By the end of the year in 2014, i purchased a 2015 Nissan Altima 2.5 SV Java. The appearance of the vehicle was great & i loved every single bit of it. In 3 months i started hearing some noise cranking the vehicle than seem normal but gradually increased until where the vehicle completely shut off on me & my mom (different occasions) while driving. Last stroll was when it shut off on my mom @ night on a weekend with dealership being closed. Emergency was called & vehicle was pushed to side & later towed. Diagnosis came to be fuel pump & smthing else. Expenses on vehicle was never reimbursed & Nissan corporate blames me despite vehicle having factory warranty with 13k miles(current).

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  Great Engine, Weak Exterior, Good Car - 2000 Nissan Altima
  By Tom Mangee - April 28 - 7:40 am

  Its been excellent overall with the exception of the ext. body -- bumber front and back are weak spots for trouble....front quarter-panel also. It has been extremely reliable -- Altimas have a weak spot on the power windows also, the switches on the doors, the motors and the regulators go out early. Engine is devine in every way: reliable, smooth, strong.

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  Murano is marvelous - 2010 Nissan Murano
  By MerlieMan - April 28 - 3:06 am

  Ive owned an Acura MDX which cost about $5,000 more than my well appointed Murano and must say the Murano is more impressive. I test drove many nameplates in the Murano class with the same result: The rest failed to measure up to Muranos standards in terms of overall quality, features, looks and performance. The Murano is not a cheap car by any means but it is the standard for others to be judged by and by my experiences the others are in need of playing catchup.

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  Almost 5 Years and Still Running - 2000 Nissan Xterra
  By bharris - April 28 - 2:00 am

  July 2004 will be my 5-year anniversary of owning my 2000 Xterra XE 4WD V6. I am on my 3rd set of front brakes and original rear brakes. I replaced the stock BF Goodrich Long Trails at about 65,000 miles with Goodyear Forteras. I replaced the battery around the same time and have just recently noticed the upper radiator hose has been leaking coolant under pressure. The body still looks good although the plastic has faded over the years. The interior still looks great. Im averaging around 14- 15 MPG. Overall IÂ’m very pleased but would not buy another Xterra just because I donÂ’t use or need itÂ’s off road capability.

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  Just right - 1998 Nissan Frontier
  By Raul - April 28 - 12:43 am

  I bought my Nissan Frontier brand new in 1998 and it is still going. I am consistenly getting 20 miles per gallon in city driving. the truck has decent accelaration and gives power when needed. I live in Texas and the AC is still cold. I am never dissappointed. Six years of ownership and I have never experienced any stalling.

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  Armada - 2006 Nissan Armada
  By Funky - April 27 - 10:03 pm

  This SUV is large and modern, it has good road presence and feels safe and dependable. I opted for the car for safety and thought it may have better residual values than many of the dated looking SUV competition. It is a nice package with some great features. I like the modern exterior styling, safety features and the refinement of the ride. The engine growls when pushed a little I would just prefer it kept quiet. I do not like the seats, I find the drivers seat uncomfortable despite electric adjustment. Visability can be poor due to the large pillars front and rear. I like this car but I dont love it - it feels functional as Nissans usually do but also lackluster and bland.

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  Stolen Headlights - 2003 Nissan Maxima
  By stolen lights - April 26 - 3:56 am

  I Love this car have not had any problems at 35k miles, but my headlights have been stolen twice. If you live in the Northeast do not buy this car, it is a theives delight.

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  CVT Issue - 2010 Nissan Maxima
  By Ron A - April 24 - 5:06 pm

  For the MOST part I love this car, but recently while on a long trip I noticed a SERIOUS problem. When I pulled off the interstate for gas and came to a stop sign and attempted to accelerate from the sign and merge into traffic there was practically NO POWER. If there had been a truck or a car that was just a little bit closer to me there could have very easily been an accident. I brought it to my dealer as soon as I returned from my trip but they just reported to me that they could not reproduce the situation. SCARY! It has happened to me several times since!!