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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  Awesome Vehicle - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By aaron L - August 24 - 10:00 am

  I just recently purchased this sporty car, and it has blown my expectations of performance right out of the water. It is sleek to the eye, ferfectly comfortable and a VERY fast little car. This car is for all who want to grip the road like a glove. Its fantastic.

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  Buy it NOW - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By str8butter33 - August 24 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle is very spacious! Great family car! I love it!

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  first nissan for me - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By special - August 24 - 1:13 am

  although i looked at several cars the altima seemed to be the best buy for the money. it rides good, and is a good looking car. it has most of the nice options that add a lot of dollars that a lot of other cars charge a lot extra for. i got the 2.5 special model although i got hurt and have not been able to drive as much as i would have normal i have no complaints at this time

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  Im Impressed ! - 2007 Nissan Versa
  By schuh - August 24 - 12:26 am

  OK, so Ive only had it for a week, but its impressed me more than any other car of its class. Ive read reviews that said the ride was poor. What car were they driving? My Versa rides more like a large car - very smooth - in fact its one of its best features. First tank of fuel averaged 32 mpg - mostly city driving, - expect to do better once its broke in. The CVT transmission is a blast. Incredibly smooth - I really have to watch the speedometer or I find myself speeding.

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  Great Fun to Dollar Ratio - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By MGHTYDX - August 23 - 10:16 pm

  Great fun to drive. Tremendous turning radius. Very nimble and handles corners superbly.

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  2008 Nissan Titan LE - 2008 Nissan Titan
  By drew - August 23 - 10:06 pm

  Bought the Titan LE after seeing that it had a 7 foot bed and a truly roomy four door plus a lot of creature comforts and features. So far I love the way it drives. Mileage is less than my old F350 dually diesel and it doesnt haul as much but it rides like a caddy. Added a Banks exhaust and Nismo intake - now it sounds as good as it looks. Also dumped the Rockford Fosgate amp, speakers and subwoofer and replaced with JL Audio goodies to make it thump for real. It looks great. It is comfortable. It is fast and fun. Great navigation and rear dvd. Built in ipod jack. The list goes on. Overall a great truck. Pulls our trailer adequately and hauls what we need.

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  Great car! Only a couple draw backs - 2010 Nissan 370Z
  By mille436 - August 23 - 10:00 am

  Love the car! Awesome handling and a decent amount of power. Needs more low end power and better exhaust note. Fit and finish is great. Needs better paint. It isnt very durable. Bose system great, and the car is extremely fun to drive! Highly recommend. Also, Fort Wayne Nissan was great! I recommend them as well. Top notch sales and service. Great deal too!

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  Excellent Car! - 2011 Nissan Versa
  By mariondmcmillan - August 23 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I actually bought two 2011 Versas. I got a 1.6 manual and she got a 1.6 automatic. We both love them! The 1.6 has power nothing, which is fine with me. Its a great starter car or for someone who wants a great car but doesnt care about all the frills. The interior room is amazing for such a small car. My legs have a 36" inseam, but I have plenty of room sitting in the back seat even when the front seat is back as far as it can go.

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  It Doesnt Get Any Better Than This! - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By Debbie - August 23 - 10:00 am

  Looked at the Muranos prior to 2008, about the time I decided to buy one, they stopped production (none in 2008). When production resumed in 2009 (for 2010 models) I hit the dealership. Found the one I wanted - exactly - and bought it. OMG! Fell in love that day and still in the honeymoon phase with this Murano.

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  Unreal!! - 2009 Nissan 370Z
  By jbuzz - August 23 - 3:10 am

  Had the 350z roadster, the 370z is better in every way!! Faster, lighter, shorter, wider!! Leather, suede this car is turns heads!! Easily the best car I have ever driven!