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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  A true performance experience - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Smart Buyer - May 25 - 2:00 am

  I traded in my BMW 740 sl for the Altima 3.5 L v6 and I cant believe that anyone that actually likes to drive true performance wouldnt do the same. The Altima is probably the most over looked car for its performance by Edmonds surveys- shame,shame!!! I have owned several Jaguars,including the xj12 and ill take the Altima handling and suspension system over the BMW,Mercedes,Volvo,Trans-Am Ws-6 (I own one),Corvette,Camaro,etc. etc. Just so you know I pay cash for my cars and can buy anything that is available. Check out the Nissan cars they are real sleepers.

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  We Love It - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By senecaman - May 25 - 2:00 am

  Weve had our Maxima for 4 months now and just love it. Everyone we meet admires it. We find it has great prefomance, and we got 33 mpg on a trip.

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  Best Car I Ever Owned - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Bil - May 25 - 2:00 am

  The best preformance you could find for the dollar investment. The interior is wonderful. Great driving position.

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  Your Supercar has arrived.... - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By JMan - May 25 - 2:00 am

  This is hands down the BEST car I have ever owned. I can think of no sedan other than the BMW M5 ($80k) and the Lexus GS400 ($60k) that performs as well as this 04 Maxima. To compare this to a Camry is down right insulting. I purchased a 04 SE, DPPackage, white with tan leather, tinted windows.. The power is amazimg and the tiptronic shifting is so much fun. This is a SPORTS car that doesnt know it has 4 doors. My girlfriend thinks im nuts because I go out in the garage and just stare at it. I CANT HELP IT!! Is there a support group out there???

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  Comfort and Quality - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By Smackowv - May 25 - 1:46 am

  Most comfortable long ride vehicle I have ever owned (64"). Has not required a trip to the dealer for anything. Excellent in all driving conditions. Would buy another in a heartbeat!

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  Awesome Vehicle - 2005 Nissan Maxima
  By Cliff - May 24 - 12:16 am

  Great Style, lots of power. Rides like a full size Caddy, Dependable most importantly. Proven Nissan 3.5 V6 Engine. Great Paint. Oil, Gas, Brakes for first 200,000 miles You Go figure! Nothing Aftermarket needed to improve looks. Looks great right from the showroom floor.

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  Used car best buy - 1998 Nissan Maxima
  By bkiser - May 22 - 2:00 am

  We "traded down" to our 1998 Maxima SE from my wifes dream vechicle- a 4Runner limited so that she could stay home with our child. Originally, she thought it would be a sacrifice, but she has since decided that she likes it more than any car she has ever owned. We looked at several Acuras, Lexuses, etc., but the Maxima offered similar luxury with much better performance. Plus, the car gets 30+ mpg on the highway (at 80mph)! Unbelievable!

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  All-around best SUV I have driven - 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Thalodian - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Before purchasing my Pathfinder, I drove several of the top brands and found them all lacking in one way or another. The Pathfinder combines car-like ride and handling with class-leading power in a luxurious package. The only down-side is the fuel economy, which is a trade-off for having 250 HP under the hood.

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  best in class - 2000 Nissan Xterra
  By TD - May 22 - 2:00 am

  This car is not a sports car or fun around town grocery getter. This car is tough and "all business". Ive yet to get it stuck and believe me Ive tried. Acceleration on the road from a dead stop is my only complaint. Its perfect for the outdoor adventure guy and light work around the house. Ive halled all material to build my fence in the back, all my bikes for triathlon and mountain biking, and it carries all the camping gear you need for a month! Go for it.

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  The most awesome car - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By Spec-V lover - May 22 - 2:00 am

  This is a spectacular car. The exterior and interior are great and with so much power you can race and blow away hondas and many other cars!!!!1