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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  First Nissan Maxima - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By abbyaberlour - June 20 - 2:00 am

  I dont want to get out of it! I love almost everything about it! Previously owned a Toyota Celica. I think I will stay with Nissan. The Bose system is great. The power is amazing.

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  AWESOME!!!! - 2016 Nissan Rogue
  By Rich - June 20 - 12:28 am

  Here are other other SUVs I tested: Mazda CX-5 - Ok but you can actually tell from the slope of the roof that the rear seats are going to be very tight. My 13 yo 5-8" daughter just could not fit comfortably. RAV4- Sloping rear roof line means same rear seating issue with Mazda CX-5 - though a bit less cramped. Hyundai Santa Fe Sport - actually better than Toyota and Mazda and NIssan because it is roomier, has the most bang for the buck (turbo-charged for the same class!!)....would have been my choice but quality of interior materials are below of Japanese brands. Overall with performance and power being equal, Nissan Rogue has the best Exterior Design, Interior in terms of quality, roomiest Front and Rear seats, largest cargo volume.

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  Love it - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By maci805 - June 19 - 7:16 pm

  I bought my 2002 Sentra GXE 6 years ago. It has been great to me so far. I have had nothing go wrong with it and has been extremely reliable. The car saved my life when I was in an accident. I came out alive and in one piece-which meant that the Sentra did its job. It is far from a luxury vehicle, but it is very comfortable and fun to drive. I love my car and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a safe and reliable vehicle.

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  Good Car with some CONS. (Handling) - 2014 Nissan Altima
  By ibrahim_halawa - June 19 - 11:28 am

  I picked up base 2.5 altima 2014. Its a comfortable ride. I drove 5 hours straight and did not feel fatigue. However, the handling on it sucks. It is way too loose. Driving on the Highway/ Freeway with a bit of wind is a huge challenge and hard to steer. Almost got into a accident because of it. MUCH different from my 2008 model v6. I wish the handling was better, it would make it a better car. Otherwise, its fuel economy is pretty good. but Fill ups are 55-60 dollars. I also think that is a bit much. Car has good pick up, good braking and good design. When the warranty is up, I will lower it, and modify it to make it a better handling car just because I really like the way it looks.

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  Cons of the 2002 Frontier SE-V6 - 2002 Nissan Frontier
  By tjniemann - June 19 - 10:00 am

  Overall, this is a good vehicle, but I remember looking up reviews on Edmunds in April prior to purchasing my truck and one reviewer wrote in about the "clicking" noises in the front. I figured it was a fluke and wouldnt happen to me. Well, it did. I have "clicking" and occassional metallic "squeaking" noises in what seems to be the front suspension -- Primarily when im turning around a corner. Had it in twice and its still not fixed....

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  Love this car! - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By Mark C - June 19 - 10:00 am

  I traded in a 98 Civic EX and I have not regretted it. This car is fun to drive, has a nice hitch in the giddeyup and is a great looker. Not bad for $21.8K

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  A Great Car - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By Bob from Glen Burnie - June 19 - 10:00 am

  Ive had this car for almost a month. The looks and performance are outstanding - by far the best car Ive ever owned. Great gobs of power that come on smooth, excellent brakes and creature comforts. Contrary to several reviews, I dont think the interior is cheap looking - it looks fine with the charcoal leather package. Its a show car, performance car, and luxury car in one package.

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  I hope you like buying tires - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By Ron beckman - June 19 - 9:16 am

  The car itself was great but i found that i was buying tires every 4 or 5 months. i am 47 years old and the only driver of this car. I do not drive fast. I do not burn the tires. I dont even hit the corners hard. I have a friend who owns a tire dealership and he told me he has put on alot of tires for the new Z and they cannot find any tires that last over 5,000 or 6,000 miles. I am selling the car.

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  Love the 08 Armada - 2008 Nissan Armada
  By mike - June 19 - 2:13 am

  We have only owned the 2008 Armada for a couple of days, but we love it. Yes the fuel economy isnt the best, but I think it is worth it to put my children into larger safer vehicle. You could buy a smaller SUV that will get about 20 MPG as compared to the Armada (that averages 13 MPG). I drive about 15,000 miles a year and only pay about an average of 100 per month more then I would with a smaller SUV. I have a lot of room and it is very comfortable. A real head turner. Beautiful design.

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  Going Rogue - 2010 Nissan Rogue
  By JimTeachr - June 18 - 11:13 am

  I had to give up my faithful 2002 PT Loser as my family has gotten larger. I searched everything. Was tempted with a Suzuki SX4 crossover, Forester, Matrix, & the top sellers. The Rogue doesnt have one true strength like the others do. Instead it does a lot of things very well. Performance, radio, design inside and out, MPG, fit and finish are among the strengths.It is sporty, rugged, durable. I got used to the CVT- you will too. No car suits everyones needs so when I chose this Rogue I felt confident that this car will last long and will be reliable for me and my family.