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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  Proud to own one - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Xavier Meriz - May 9 - 2:00 am

  As our small 3 part familly grew we opted to purchase into a minivan, and we have had great results with the Quest. My daughter enjoys the DVD system, that makes long drives and trafic a little more tolerable.

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  AS GOOD AS IT GETS! - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By GR8SHOT - May 9 - 2:00 am

  THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN GREAT SO FAR. TRADED MY TUNDRA FOR THIS TITAN AND I AM NOT DISSAPPOINTED. BEST TRUCK I HAVE DRIVEN SO FAR.

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  Fantastic!!!! - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By scrotti - May 9 - 2:00 am

  A smooth ride with tons of power. Truck looks and feels great. Spacious and luxurious. You WILL be envied. Nissan did a great job with this truck

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  TITAN puts others to Shame (for 1 ton) - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By phalanx - May 9 - 2:00 am

  PERFORMANCE:This truck is so well put together it shames the domestic trucks Engine- Quick/responsive & better torque. transmition is a smooth 5speed More interior room than others. SAFETY:Frame-4 sided box construction stronger than the open 3 sided kind the others use. The ONLY truck to offer side impact airbags, & head curtain airbags for front/rear Bed Rails are great & work well, Outside storage is handy Displays/controls are large & easy to use. We should have been doing all these things years ago.

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  Gas Hog is an understatement. - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By gashog - May 9 - 2:00 am

  Have been very impressed overall with the New Titan. The brakes are outstanding and smooth. Power is always available but after going through a few tanks of gas, Im finding that if you keep your foot in this truck, it will pass everything but a gas station. Terrible gas mileage so far, even when driving ultra conservative. (ie highway at nothing over 65mph) 8mpg-10mpg (way off from the stated 15-18). Tow mirrors are very difficult to get use to.

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  Goodbye F150 - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By chek6 - May 9 - 2:00 am

  Sold my 97 F150. Loved it, great truck. Was on my way to get a 2004 and stopped in the Nissan dealer. Test drove the Titan and then the Ford. Drove home with a Titan. Oodles of torquey power. Handles like a sedan. Towing capacity, bed capacity, resale value, Its all there. Plus, it feels right. It doesnt feel as big as it is. Bottom line, functional and fun. Re: reliability, it is new so stay tuned

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  Great Ride - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By ckorejko - May 9 - 2:00 am

  Love this ride. Its fun - Its goodlooking - Large cargo space with really usable roof rack. Very functional interior layout. Great ride for camping, getting to the hiking trails, or any offroad activity. Cleans up easily inside after those offroad activities because of the material that covers the seats. Not bad for gas milage for what it is. If one is worried about the money for gas, an SUV should not even be an option considered. It gets about 20mpg but my foot gets heavy sometimes. When the cruise control is used and I keep it on 55 it does better.

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  Awsome - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By pete10stmu - May 9 - 2:00 am

  One of the best sports cars around, absolutly a thrill to drive.

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  2004 SE - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Stephen Napolitano - May 9 - 2:00 am

  My Maxima now has 6,000 miles on it and I have experienced absolutely no problems with it. It runs and handles better than the (now old) BMW 5 series. The skylight is a little different but the kids like it. The trunk swallows golf bags and the back seat is actually comfortable.

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  Love My Nissan Altima - 2014 Nissan Altima
  By blknissan - May 9 - 1:03 am

  I purchased a 2014 Nissan Altima SV and I love it! I had a 2011 Altima that was a great car so I went back to Nissan and I love the changes they have made. The vehicle rides great and has "0" gravity drivers seat which makes a long trip alot more easy on my back. The Michelin tires that came on the vehicle create a smooth ride yet the suspension lets you also feel like you are still driving. The car looks very sporty and yet still has great interior space. Numerous people have commented on how great the car looks. The gas mileage is the best feature of all. I average 39 miles to gallon on the highway!! Nissan has built a great car that is fun to drive and yet provides the best gas mileage!