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:

• 

  good car for your buck - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By landon1219 - May 22 - 2:00 am

  I am an old SER fan! I bought an SER in 94 and then again in 2002! This time I went with the Spev V, cause the 6 speed and the wheels! I think that it is a good car for the buck! I can only hope that this is as good a car as the SER that I bought in 94! Which I still have and drive everyday, almost!

• 

  Bargain - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By Fazal - May 22 - 2:00 am

  This car is the most amazing thing in its price range. The performance more than makes up for the few small problems with the rear end.

• 

  Big, comfortable truck - 2010 Nissan Titan
  By Billy - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Took on a 500 mile trip right after we bought it. Love the room, even with kids car seat in the back. Excellent ride, excellent power. Bought the truck instead of a larger car - no regrets. Got a great deal with the rebate. Made the truck cheaper than a king cab Tundra. Also made here in Tennessee which is a plus although did not look at any American trucks. No down side up to now. Have taken three grandkids in car seats on two trips - plenty of room.

• 

  Great Overall Car! - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By ienjoywaffles - May 22 - 2:00 am

  I was first attracted to this car when I found out it was 4 cylinder awd turbo, because me being a 24 year old thats what I was looking for in a new car. I decided to test drive one and It was love at first drive. The car drives smooth and you can completely change the settings of how you want to drive. ie, different modes that change the power of the car. Also the fact that you can change from fwd to awd. The sound system is great and the push-start engine just adds on to all of the other features that I love about it.

• 

  Great purchase - 2009 Nissan Altima
  By swfl - May 22 - 2:00 am

  I have owned this car for 15 months and have been extremely please with it. I have not had to take it in for a single issue yet (have just been doing oil changes and rotations). This is a great looking car and the exterior has held up perfectly with no paint issues (live in SW FL so no salt/sand on the roads). My question to those who dont like the power or CVT: did you even bother to test drive before purchase? This (at least the coupe) has been a get-what-you-see experience. I liked what I saw and 15 months (16,000 miles) of trouble-free and fun driving has been rewarding. If you want fast, buy a Vette. If you like the look of the coupe and the features, this car is a winner.

• 

  Great Buy - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By gilmore girl - May 21 - 10:26 pm

  A little over a year ago I bought yet another Altima. Going through college I had a 96 Altima. Wow, how theyve changed. The new Altimas are really sporty, fun to drive and reliable. I have black leather seats and they werent the most comfortable when I first purchased the car but after a year they are great. The four cylinder has plenty of power and this is coming from a person who drove a 4 Runner with a V8 engine for 3 years. All in all a great buy for the price!

• 

  Comfy - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By waterbobber - May 21 - 6:33 pm

  Great car. Great head room and leg room for tall guys, much better than Honda or Toyota. It has a back seat that an adult can actually sit in with comfort. The 175 hp four cylinder performs as well as some V-6s and it is so quiet you dont know its running at idle.

• 

  LOVE my new Murano! - 2009 Nissan Murano
  By Jen - May 20 - 4:33 pm

  I drove the Maxda CX-7 and even though it has the 4 cylinder turbo, I think the Murano has just as much "pick up" without the turbo. Mine has heated leather seats which I highly recommend. I love the stability control and the all wheel drive. I live where it gets about 600 inches of snow in the winter and the snow doesnt even phase it! Its quieter than the Mazda and the ride is more cushie with the Murano. I did A TON of research and gave many other makes a chance, but I am SO glad that I got the Murano. I love it!The LE has all the bells&whistles but if you cant afford that, the S is still a great car! Cheers!

• 

  One Happy Customer - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Happy Customer - May 20 - 2:33 pm

  Test drove Honda Civic, Honda Accord and Nissan Altima. The horsepower (175 HP) for the 4 cyl was a welcome surprise! It takes a little getting used to a car that doesnt shift when driving. The CVT is great! The car also includes a lot of interior room. We have had four passengers fit comfortably in the car (front and rear seats). The Convenience Plus Package is a nice configuration. Interior includes a lot of storage places. The layout of the dash and the console controls is easy to use and well though out.

• 

  Former Ranger owner - 2016 Nissan Frontier
  By Tommy - May 20 - 2:28 am

  Having owned many Rangers, (which were very strong tough trucks) the Nissan Frontier is by far the better truck. Very strong frame, very solid riding. The engine, V-6 strong, plenty of torque. The price advantage is excellent. A similar equipped Toyota Tacoma will list for apron $4.000 more.