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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  BUILT FOR MY NEEDS - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By JOHNTANA - September 24 - 2:00 am

  NO BUT WARMER OR HEADLIGHT WIPERS JUST FUNTION AND PRACTICLE. THEY READ MY MIND IN THE DESIGN CENTER . GOOD JOB!

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  The Big "X" - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By Korichan - September 24 - 2:00 am

  Love the "X"... family trips are a kick for everyone, even the kids in the backseat!!! I love driving it, looking at it, and this is the first time that we do not complain making monthly payments, thats how much we love it. Positive handeling, power enough to climb whatever, room enough for your arms, legs and heads, kickin stereo, and all that air bag stuff makes us all feel safely tucked away...ours is avalanche white and has everything but auto transmission (wanted a 5 speed) and supercharge (didnt want it).

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  EXCELLENT - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By ALFIE - September 24 - 2:00 am

  A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS AND POWERFUL ENGINE.

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  Best ive owned - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By Aston Man - September 24 - 2:00 am

  The Nissan Murano sets a new standard in comfort and driving experience for a mid sized SUV. More fun to drive than the Mercedes ML and BMW X5, this model compares to driving a sports sedan. The seats are the most comfortable ever and for a hot climate the non leather option is perfect. The engine note coupled with the CTV transmission offers power take off at all speeds. Finally, at around $30000 what a bargain.

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  GREAT - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By Kat - September 24 - 2:00 am

  I loved it very much. It looked so gorgeous.. I really enjoyed driving around all the time and got people attention too.. The Murano was much better than Xterra because of gas saving..

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  it rocks! - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By zigtaw - September 24 - 2:00 am

  after driving all of the crew cabs on the market, i chose the titan. finally, a japanese truck(actually, its from tennessee)that is big enough for the whole family. the motor is powerful, the transmission smooth and the interior is HUGE! plus, check out the way it looks. the ford is the only truck that comes close in styling, but the titan beats it hands down in performance and quality. ford, chevy and dodge-watch out!

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  best car ever had - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By altimaguy1 - September 24 - 2:00 am

  Totally recomend this car! fun to drive, no problems at all, reliable and powerful. Get one if youre on the market for a new car.

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  97 pathfinder - 1997 Nissan Pathfinder
  By pathfinder - September 23 - 3:23 pm

  I owned alot of cars and the mechanics on nissans are great. In 128000 miles I just had been doing basic maintenance. It is truly not as easy SUV to work on in comparison to GM and Fords, but I definitely have not had to work on the nissan nearly as much. I noticed the little things are much better quality and this makes it last longer. I am very particular about squeaks, noises, and handling perf. My 97 nissan has a full frame and handles much like a car. I can not stress that the components are what seperates the nissan from the others. I always bought American for are economy but nissan is made in the USA now. I am done spending my money on making Am. cars run to my satisfaction.

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  Loving My New Rogue!!! - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By lay - September 23 - 6:46 am

  I just purched the 08 Nissan Rogue SL Premium and Im absolutly in love!!! It was a HUGE upgrade from my 2001 Camry. I got everything I wanted with this car. The style,comfort and price is unbeatable. Its a quiet, smooth ride with great electronic features and roomy. Makes tight turns and the look is SeXy! I am very pleased with the Rogue.

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  Love it ! - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By Y Johnson - September 22 - 10:00 am

  I wasnt in the market for a Nissan Maxima but a friend of mine had done a lot of car and SUV research and loved the new Maxima. She ended up buying an SUV but she said if should would have bought a car, it would have been the Maxima. So, I started doing my own reasearch on them and after a few test drives, I decided I wanted one. Mine is fully loaded and I have the bigger wheels (17"). Everyone always comments on how roomie my car is even when the front seat is slid back. The leather still looks great. Good sound system. Good size trunk. I am very happy with this car and would buy another one.