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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  MuranoFS - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By Francis Souza - July 14 - 10:00 am

  Its one of the best car I have ever driven. The car corners heartily and stays impressively flat through curves.

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  My (wifes) new car - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Rod Johnson - July 14 - 10:00 am

  Awsome car! This is the first front wheel drive car I have ever purchased and thats because it is the only front wheel car I have ever driven that didnt drive like a front wheel drive car. I have always disliked the torque steer commonly associated with FWD. Handling is great, the ride a bit firm, but we much prefere firm to mushy. We would highly recommend this car to anyone.

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  Piece of Garbage! - 2016 Nissan Sentra
  By Consumer Advocate - July 14 - 6:00 am

  I bought the Sentra new from a shady dealer in the Southeast. Soon after, the car started having multiple issues including door locks not functioning, AC stopped working, tire pressure light always on, among many other performance issues. I took the car to different dealerships service departments in the Atlanta area, and they all failed to repair the defects once and for all, which led me to believe that it is a "Lemon" and should not have passed the Quality Control at the manufacturer.

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  Just bought one - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By Luis - July 13 - 4:33 pm

  I just bought my SE-R a few weeks ago and so far no major complaints. The car looks and handles beautifully. As suggested I made sure to get it with the side air bags for extra safety and also got the Sirius satellite radio ( a must have feature in any car).

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  From a Buick to a Versa - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By Jack Beun - July 13 - 10:46 am

  I traded an 03 Buick Century for the Versa and I dont feel that Ive given up much in the way of comfort. I am a young 64 years old and I enjoy the way the car handles. The ride is surprisingly smooth and quiet and the build quality is excellent. My only disappointment so far is the gas mileage. I have only used one tank, but my combined city-highway mileage was 25.5 mpg. Hopefully this will improve a bit. All in all though, I am very happy with this car.

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  Looks, safety, and comfort - 2001 Nissan Pathfinder
  By kpitzmc - July 13 - 2:00 am

  I have to say, if you are looking for an SUV thats fun to drive, and really safe for your loved ones, this is it. I just toatalled mine and it saved my life. The frame bent, the vehicle gave, but I escaped with very minor injuries. Also, invest in the Nissan dealer installed bumper guard. It gives you an extreme amount of added protection. I highly reccommend this vehicle if safety and style are your main concerns.

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  Maxima fan - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By Mark3092 - July 13 - 2:00 am

  Great car. Bought in November of 2001. I have put 36,000 miles on it since. Not a single problem. Plenty of power, and fun to drive with the 6- speed.

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  Great All Around Vehicle - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By bstakes21 - July 13 - 2:00 am

  I had my Xterra for about a week now, and I absolutely love it. Good on-road and great off-road hanlding. Some of us SUV buyers actually dont mind the "truck like" ride. Let the soccer moms drive the cute utes, but if you want a great looking vehicle, which is a blast to drive, this is the choice for you.

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  Absolutely wonderful SUV - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By joshua - July 13 - 2:00 am

  I have had three other SUVs, and this one tops them all in performance, comfort and reliability!!!

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  Very Nice Car - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Altimabuyer - July 13 - 2:00 am

  I also have an Accord, the drive is much better and no problems at all