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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  my new car - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By mcamp - August 2 - 10:00 am

  i fell in luv with the car the minute i put my foot in it. i have had chevy suv,s and the last was a trailblazer and it was awfull, had it in the shop all the time, so traded it for the murano and boy am i happy

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  Love my Xterra - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By Maryanne - August 2 - 10:00 am

  Went shopping and was disapointed in ride of 4 cyl. SUV (Rav4 and Liberty). Like the way it handles. Pickup is a little slow, but Im not a speed demon. Feel this vehicle is under rated.

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  350Z - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By lgarrett_design - August 2 - 10:00 am

  the car is fun to drive and drives well, however some of the interior isnt of the highest quality material. Overall well worth the sticker price when shopping comparables.

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  This car is great all around, inside-out - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By freey29 - August 2 - 3:26 am

  Performance: The CVT engine is awesome. Its very smooth. You wont even feel it shift. For a 4 cylinder car, it has great acceleration and enough passing power for everyday driving needs. Comfort: pretty good. Nice solid seats. Fuel economy: not sure yet, since I only have 150 miles on it. Ive driven 150 miles so far, and I have between 3/4 and 1/2 tanks left. Awesome! Fun to drive: goes with performance and comfort. Tight steering, I like it. Interior design: nice dash, very intuitive, tons of storage. Exterior design: nice look, somewhat sporty. Very large inside compared to what it looks like. Build quality: seems good. Still a new car right now. Reliability: same as build quality.

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  Love this SUV - 2005 Nissan Armada
  By M Hoffman - August 1 - 8:10 pm

  Use in Dallas and Sedona AZ where we go off road on boulder laden dirt roads, ford streams and then go to dressy dinners. It is great in all environments. Had two Mercedes ML320s and this is far supperior. Hauls loads of stuff and eight adults in comfort.

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  Way to Much Fun! - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By Ticket Man - August 1 - 4:50 pm

  Traded in my loaded 2004 Explorer XLT, and got my loaded Murano SL. This is a fun car to drive, to much fun. Have driven Trans-Ams, Grand Nationals and Chevelle SS. No this is not quite as fast as the last two but this is a very fun car to drive while not attracting to much attention from the man. My wife is right in telling me this car goes to fast for my foot, well over 100 easily! (Got a ticket to prove it, rats!). Be careful, but still loads of fun with the Bose system blasting and sunroof open!

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  Best well designed truck - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By ROBERT HODGSON - July 31 - 5:30 pm

  I have 10,000 miles on my titan se 4x4 and everything Nissan says is so true. It is the best truck I ever owned,and I owned many,I get 20 miles per gallon highway and city 16.5. I loaded this truck up with so much fire place wood and it did not even sag nor did it even know it had such a heavy load to carry. Plenty of power to spare.Nissan made an outstanding truck.

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  Great Buy! - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By nelson192 - July 31 - 1:03 pm

  I replaced my 99 Explorer for a 2008 Altima and couldnt have made a better choice. The CVT is fun and smooth, 4 cylinder holds its own and the handling is great! Im averaging 29.2 mpg at 25 mph!! Cant beat that with $4 gas prices around the corner. Plenty of room and the styling is sharp. I went with the black on black and got a low tint on my windows for the appeal. The car is SHARP and would recommend you buy this one if you get a chance!!

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  Love It! - 2007 Nissan Maxima
  By Renee - July 31 - 1:13 am

  There hasnt been any other car out there that has caught my eye until now! I saw this car at a glance when they first came out and had to have it. Its super quick and so comfortable for long trips, everyone has ample space. Trunk is great for shopping excursions. Nice feature, keyless, dont have to have keys in your hand to open any of the doors or trunk. Headlights you can see superclear on dark highways.

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  Not a "car" SUV - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By Owner - July 29 - 8:23 pm

  If you are looking for a "car" SUV, look at a CRV or RAV4. If you want a real truck that can traverse real off road terrain, tow substantial loads, and has enough power to blow off v-8 powered trucks, and for way less than $30K...no need to look further!