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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  its the right suv for us - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By mlr - June 5 - 10:00 am

  comfortable urban suv with great interior room and excellent visability.teriffic sound system.smooth shifting and breaking.quiet with little or no road or wind noise.you dont see a lot of these so its stands out in a crowd.very pleased so far. Milage per gallon is at lower end of what the window sticker indicates but not bad for 245 hp.great styling

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  Undersung hero - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By MLBS - June 5 - 10:00 am

  The Murano is a unique vehicle for todays market and deserves the attention it is getting. The sproting "crossover" style is actually a new center to which all car manufacturers will find themselves moving (e.g. Volvos XC 90, Infinitis FX, Porsches Cayenne, Lexus RX330). Fully equipped, the Murano costs much less than any of these, and is more fun to drive, more comfortable to be in, as capable on bad roads and in bad weather, as fast, and good-looking as any of them. Bravo to Nissan for delivering a sport-SUV so bold in style and thought-out in function.

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  I love this car - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By cookingmg - June 5 - 10:00 am

  this is a fun car to drive. great pick up, and great passing speed

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  Maxima Has It All! - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Lu - June 5 - 10:00 am

  I finally found a car with all my requirements: comfort, reliability, performance and reasonable price. I have back problems and found adequate lumber and lateral seat support. We previously owned a 1999 Maxima and have experienced first hand its reliability. The Maxima has outstanding acceleration, responsive steering and braking. Finally, in comparison with the Infiniti G35 which has the same engine, Maxima has more luxury features on the base SL model thus providing a better value.

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  Never better - 2007 Nissan Xterra
  By Jamie C - June 4 - 8:20 pm

  It has been a hassle for to find a car that really affordable to my budget. The Xterra has served me well. I have take this off-roading with my kids. Lots of leg room, very comfortable.

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  My (Almost) Dream Car - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By Aqua423 - June 4 - 7:53 pm

  I had been dying to buy a new GMC Acadia but when I saw the Murano in the used lot with leather and in my price range I had to have it. I love how the engine picks up and goes, and how it can make sharp turns. Its small enough to park anywhere I want and I dont feel like Im driving a boat but its high enough for me to see out (since Im short). Its a good family vehicle and Im glad that I found it.

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  when you cant get a g... - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By trig - June 4 - 2:10 am

  i have the 2.5 S with sl, tech, and abs pack. wanted an 07 g, but pmt made the budget too tight. this is a very solid compromise. interior materials are better than in past versions. though they kept the body style similar, there are a lot of little changes that make this a great looking vehicle. all my ratings were based on the features of the car...ie its a 4 cylinder, but as far as four bangers go, excellent performance...and so on. i havent broke it in yet, so gas mileage should improve. reliability has been constantly improved every year on this line, and based on the materials used inside, i think it will improve again this year. if not, im only in a 2-year lease, so no harm no foul.

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  Great Car - 1998 Nissan Sentra
  By macali - June 3 - 5:50 pm

  I bought my Sentra GXE brand new. This car has taken a lot of beating, lots of harsh/snowy winters. Drove in the mountains OH-MD 8 times/year in its early years for 4 years. No major maintenance issues, brakes 1x, oil changes, the oil seal replaced at 60k miles, 2 sets of tires replaced. It still runs great, very good mileage, highway, city. They dont make cars like this anymore, extremely RELIABLE! If I had the opportunity I will buy it again. My car has low miles and all the mechanics tell me is in mint condition especially since it has low miles. They tell me they have seen them in the 120K miles and still running great. I hope to keep mind till it dies.

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  In Front of the Class... - 2005 Nissan Xterra
  By Consult410 - June 3 - 4:13 pm

  My last Nissan, was a 1994 Pathfinder, which is still running like new, so when it came time to purchase a new model, the New Pathfinder didnt fit what I was exactly looking for, so I decided to test drive the 2005 Xterra. It was love all over again... The Xterra is an incredible off road SUV, and drives pretty comfortably in the city too. I am so pleased with my final decision to purchase the new Xterra... If you want a true SUV, Xterra is the model you should check out, because it is an incredible SUV.

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  2000 Maxima SE - 2000 Nissan Maxima
  By Jay - June 3 - 3:46 pm

  Im at 151k miles on this 2000 SE model and still love this car. Great speed, comfort, and looks. I just recently encountered the coils issue that will need repair but otherwise its been a GREAT car. At 64" tall, Ive had plenty of leg room and good back support on long rides. I dont recommend Z-rating tires on the car though as you can wear them out quickly and at $250 a tire to replace, regular tires will do the trick for this speed and handling.