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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  2008 Nissan Xterra - 2008 Nissan Xterra
  By Xtrapol8 - July 2 - 7:16 am

  I am completely satisfied. I can happily go canoeing virtually anywhere. X and I can return afterward to my wife and 2 small children and life is still great and still fully enabled. Make yourself a mat for the back (<$20). The Xterras solid build quality, go-anywhere capability, versatile nature, and aggressive looks make it a must-drive if youre in the market. This vehicle is what it purports to be - a means to an end... any end I choose.

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  Embarked on an (almost) new Frontier - 2014 Nissan Frontier
  By Robert L. Van Elsberg - July 1 - 11:42 am

  I traded in a well-worn but very reliable 2003 Toyota Tundra base model with regular cab, 5-speed manual transmission and a 3.4 liter V6 engine. Id badly injured my left foot in a falling accident and kicking the clutch was painful. I love Toyotas, but the price on the used Tacomas was too much for my budget. Enter a well-maintained 2014 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab with the SV package. While not as big as the Tundra, the Frontier was quite comfortable and its automatic transmission and cruise control were blessings to my injured left foot. I also found the Frontier tracked well in its lane rather than wandering the way my Tundra had. The only fault was in the limited rear view along the drivers side of the car via the door-mounted rearview mirror. After a few hair-raising moments I learned to lean forward and look back along the drivers side of the truck to watch out for traffic. Once I got used to that it wasnt a problem. I love the 4.0 liter V6 engine, which offers 60-plus more horsepower than I had in my Tundra. No more being left behind at the stop light by everybody else (including grandma). I bought the truck in December 2016 with just under 35,000 miles on it. I saved a good $8,000 to $9,000 compared to a new car. Do I see that as a great deal? Oh yes--Nissan trucks are made to last and I saved a lot more than I gave up by purchasing a late-model used pickup. The previous owners clearly maintained the vehicle well. Also, the built-in towing package is a plus as my wife and I--both in our 60s--are ready to trade tent-camping for the comforts of a trailer. The more I drive this truck, the more I like it. And while I would have preferred a gray-colored truck, the shiny black highlighted with chrome bumpers, sidesteps, etc., is definitely a "sexy" combination. I worried about going from Toyota to Nissan, but both companies make great vehicles. Like the old saying, "You pays your money and you takes your choice."

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  Moon mileage. - 1999 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Tom - July 1 - 10:00 am

  The fuel pump failed the third week of ownership and I thought uh-oh. But that turned out to be the last major problem thus far, 251,000 miles later. Most reliable car Ive ever owned. Have used 15w-50 synthetic oil every 6k miles and drain the 4 qt of transmission fluid out of the automatic every 30k and everything still works, except for the CD player. Mileage is now only around 19 with gasohol,

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  Doesnt start from first try - 2006 Nissan Sentra
  By valentina miller - July 1 - 10:00 am

  2006 Nissan special edition; have trouble with starting, especially in hot weather; does not start from first try. Should be recalled.

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  Great Car; large engine=a bit lower mpg - 2009 Nissan Maxima
  By baroja - July 1 - 7:56 am

  This is my third Max; had the first one in 1989, and 2000. Love Consumer Reports, but they are dead wrong complaining about light steering at low speeds. THAT is one of the features that enables this car to maneuver easily. Driving around town,however, I am only getting about 19.5 (avg of -30 mph). Started to go cheap, but when compared, the features of the SV far outweigh the S for the $. Had a 2006 VW Passat Sports6, and while the Max doesnt drive as tight as that, it is far more comfy, and I dont anticipate living at the dealers service facility for minor stuff that = a thousand cuts.

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  CVT Failed at 133,608 miles - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By drkirby - July 1 - 6:15 am

  I liked the car and even have recommended it before. I wish I could take all those recommendations back. My car had an initial grinding noise that came from the transmission. After many trips to the dealer and hearing there was no problem, I finally learn there is a software problem and a fix would be forthcoming. I got the patch on 11/30/09, 20 months after buying the car. My transmission failed in heavy highway traffic on 10/20/14. After the patch Nissan extended the warranty on the CVT to 120k miles. Mine failed shortly after that and cost me 1000.00. Seems like Nissan really knew how to pick a cutoff for their extension so as to maximize cost to the customer.

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  Fun - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By Nissan Driven - July 1 - 5:50 am

  Power Power Power. This is a fun car to drive. I bought mine used with 26000 miles on it. The mileage is horrible, but the power has to come from somewhere. The tires are 225 which are high performance tires and are expensive as well. Did I mention the power? Overall great buy. I think I will go wash it now.

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  It stole a Toyota buyer!!! - 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Mike - July 1 - 2:36 am

  I really love this SUV. We researched them all and this was the best "value". The ride is extremely comfortable. I took it to work in the snow on our third day with it and was completely impressed. The VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) was tested out extensively and I was amazed at how well it performed. I couldnt make it go into an uncontrolled slide. Youll feel comfortable with your family riding in it. I compared the SE to the Off road and the off-road had a little bit stiffer feel but not in a bad way. I think the regular SE might have been a little soft to take on the dirt.

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  Junk Car, Stay Away from Nissan. - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By Junk - June 30 - 8:36 pm

  Bought Brand new from dealership. Like interior and exterior but quality is bad. Coolant leaks cost $400 and Timing Chain also went bad $1500. A coworker had Frontier pick up also had the same problem. Google on Nissan cars and trucks with V6, it seems like common problem. Never heard timing chain replace before. Had 2004 Corolla with 162,000 miles and still running like brand new. Go with Toyota or Honda and forget nissan.

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  Dependable Nissan Frontier - 2004 Nissan Frontier
  By Marky Mark - June 30 - 8:10 pm

  I first saw this truck. The body shape was very unique especially the front end kinda liked the look. When I test drove it the engine sounded very quite. The price was in my range. I didnt have to spend an arm and leg. Powerwise acceleration is pretty weak, But as long as it get me to point A to point B its all good. Shifting is not too smooth, a bit jerky with the clutch. I had to really go easy with the clutch when releasing it back. The ride was too bumpy on streets and highways where I live. Gas mileage pretty good cant complain. Im a light truck user when hauling and going camping. Having a truck is a must. Overall very dependable and reliable truck. Mostly I got it at a good deal!