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:

• 

  Just purchased vehicle. - 2005 Nissan Sentra
  By Judith Rothstein - July 25 - 9:00 am

  Only drove it once so far and was satisfied the way it handled. I like the latest features and safety provisions.

• 

  Never Thought I would Buy a Van - 2006 Nissan Quest
  By M.J. RAINES - July 25 - 12:10 am

  I have driven other vans at work;however, when I test drove this van I was impressed. I had my heart set on a Maxima but the wife quickly changed that. We ended up buying this van and I have no regrets. I live in an area where its HOT. This van handles the climate well. I took the van out of town and was surprised with both the gas mileage and performance. I have taken my radar detector out of storage and now use it in this van. The only complaint I have is the interior controls seem cheap. Nissan should look into better quality parts.

• 

  My "DREAM" SUV... - 2006 Nissan Murano
  By Penny Heiser - July 24 - 12:00 pm

  This new automatic transmission is the best on a long trip...Went from S.F to Las Vegas...breezed through without getting that "tired of driving" feeling. Actually got there before we knew it...doesnt tire you out...fun to drive and a beauty to behold...I love this SUV...Ive got that new charchol color with the cabernet leather interior...WOW, do I get the looks!!! Everyone wants to look at the inside too!! It makes me happy to get into it after a hard day at work, the color is so bright and cheerful!!!.....The mileage could be better...19 mpg but it is worth it!!! A positive 10!!!

• 

  Great Ride - 2006 Nissan 350Z
  By Bill - July 24 - 9:30 am

  Bought my black on black Z six months ago and fell in love with it. With the top down riding in the sun other drivers roll down their windows to comment on the great looks of the car. Im over 6 foot and find it very comfortable. The ride is better than a friends Corvette and I found it more roomy then the Honda S2000. When driving on the interstate with the top down I can hold a conversation with a passenger without screaming. Handling is exceptional and performance top notch. I would recommend this car to anyone that enjoys the open road or just cruising.

• 

  Reliability???? - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Dan - July 24 - 1:03 am

  Have had this van for 3 years. Biggest complaint are tires. Nissan corporate gives you the runaround when you try to call in & complain about the substandard tire wear. Corporate tells you its a tire manufacturer problem & to call the tire manufacturer. DO NOT BUT THAT LINE FROM CORPORATE!!! They are the ones who send out the specs for tires to the tire folks. Averaging only 20K to 30K til tire replace. Were on our 5th pair of tires with only 41K miles on it. Had a complete brake job at 30K miles. CD was stuck in the CD player. Slider door seals keep detaching. Lower engine cover keeps falling off. Van sits too low to the ground. Overall maintenance & reliability are very, very poor

• 

  I Love My Niss! - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Tana - July 23 - 10:40 pm

  I came across the fact of needing a new car, school commuter. Im very picky when choosing stuff that Ill invest my money on, specially a vehicle! I went around lots of dealers trying to find a car that would meet my expectations and most of all, fit my budget! I test drove the New Accord, Civic, CRV, Toyota Camry, VW passat & jetta and even the new Nissan Rogue, I wasnt even thinking about getting an Altima. I went to the dealership on a saturday morning and ended up spending 4 hrs getting info on the new altima. I test drove and let me tell you, I couldnt b happier! I fell in love with the car in an instant! Ive had it for 2 months n have no regrets! I love my 08 sedan!

• 

  Grandmas sports car - 2007 Nissan Maxima
  By Johnny Customer - July 23 - 7:20 am

  In an attempt to overcome its severely lacking power, I put new 18" rims that are each 7 lbs lighter than stock, a new catback exhaust system, and a cold air intake from Stillen. I still could not get a 0-60 time that was under 8 seconds with about 20 tests. The car is unbelievably slow, mostly due to the horrible transmission and power band. The car creeps up to 20 mph before giving you anything, and then stalls out above 5,000 rpm at any speed. Theres also very poor support in the aftermarket performance upgrades. Leave this sports sedan to your grandma and instead get a VW Passat, Infiniti G35, or Toyota Camry.

• 

  Well Satisfied New Maxima Owner - 2007 Nissan Maxima
  By balsambeauty - July 22 - 11:20 pm

  Decided to move up from an 02 Altima to the 07 Maxima. Also test drove the 07 Camry. The Max hooked me over the Camry with its overall sportier look, better selection of colors and roomier interior. Also like the awesome technology and safety features over the Camry. Performance and responsiveness are great. This is just a fun car to drive. The ride could be a bit better - not as smooth as I would have hoped for. Mileage has been as I expected for this type of vehicle - I only have 600 miles on the car and am getting about 26 mpg. The overall quality of my Maxima is excellent both on the exterior and interior of the vehicle.

• 

  Spirited a-b car - 1998 Nissan Altima
  By Jonathan - July 22 - 6:30 pm

  This is my first car and it has been a delight to own. Driven conservativley the car has great gas milage. And if you choose, punch the throttle and watch the revs rise. For a Four cylinder this car has great torque. Ive taken this car from nyc to buffalo,ny , 400 mi each way, three times round trip already and the car has never failed me once. This car has been an excellent beginners car, Its fast enough to be fun but not too fast and most importantly reliable. Only problems to date have been an intemitantly fading light on the radio display and squeaky rear drums.

• 

  Fuel Pump - 2006 Nissan Sentra
  By nmhopkins - July 22 - 4:41 pm

  I bought this car in 2009 with about 25k miles on it. Ive had it about 3.5 years and overall its not been a bad vehicle. I too have had problems with the fuel pump but that has been going on for years and its always started up the second time I turn it over. I have had the motors in the rear windows go out twice (once on either side) which cause the windows to go down and not go back up and thats a bit annoying. Also, like most small cars it doesnt handle very well in snow or heavy rain. But the car has been reliable and a great first car for me. The fuel economy is great!