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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  Our PartyVan - 2011 Nissan Quest
  By raq_sv - May 19 - 10:09 pm

  Minivans in the U.S. are mostly used to haul kids and run errands to the groceries and hardware stores. We use it to haul adults and friends to parties on weekends. All I have to say the Quest is an awesome van because its 100% made in Japan next to the Nissan Elgrand E52! No other Japanese vans in North America are JDM like the Quest. Like everyone said, the build quality is rock solid and very Infiniti like. I just slapped on a set of 20 rims with TEIN coilovers. It looks good and handles like a sport wagon. No more "trampolines" feeling on the highway and body rolls are reduced greatly. [non-permissible content removed]

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  2008 Nissan Frontier Excellent Mid-Size Truck!! - 2008 Nissan Frontier
  By Mark W - May 19 - 6:46 pm

  I bought this 2008 Nissan Frontier LE 4WD CC 6ft bed brand new and recently sold it in 2018 (kept it 10 years). Ive owned Toyotas (1994, 2004) before and I have to say that they are pretty comparable, in terms of performance and reliability. The Nissan had excellent power and decent fuel economy for the 4.0 liter V-6. The low-end torque is fantastic, I was never feeling like it was underpowered. The transmission was very smooth shifting and dependable, no problems whatsoever. The 4wd system, especially with the active electronic limited slip system (which even works in 4WD), worked flawlessly. Whether it was snow, mud, off-road trails, etc. my Frontier handled it like a champ. The combination of its modest size and weight really helped. The design of the Frontier is really well-thought out as well. The Utili-Trak system with the moveable tie-down cleats and optional bed extender were super useful during the 10 years I owned this truck. The comfort and convenience features of the truck were fantastic. Keep in mind, this was a 10 year old truck, so it cant compare to todays trucks that have many more safety, entertainment and creature comforts. But for its timeframe, Nissan did a great job giving us plenty of great features. The only reason I finally sold my Frontier is because my kids (who were little when I bought it back in 2008) grew up and I had to get a full-size crew cab truck. Otherwise, Id still have the Nissan today.

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  Surpasses expectations! - 2008 Nissan Titan
  By Leo Gomez - May 19 - 2:30 pm

  Recently had to choose one of the 5 great full sizes offered. The Nissan was not only very well priced, but its the only 1/2 ton pickup with a full size 4dr cab and a 7ft+ bed. Great combo for someone like me who loves to put motorcycles in the back and go camping. Very quiet which is great, the dual zone climate control works flawlessly and the chairs are comfortable!

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  2016 Rogue...NICE!!! - 2016 Nissan Rogue
  By Audra - May 19 - 8:15 am

  I only had the car for about a month, but I am very pleased with what you get for the price, I look at other SUVs in the Rogue class, but none I found came with the Navigation system standard....it was always an option. I am also impressed with the ease of steering the vehicle and the safety features and the overall ride is wonderful!

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  fun to drive - 2003 Nissan Xterra
  By evan hone - May 18 - 2:00 am

  We bought our xterra in june and drove it from Salt Lake City to Anchorage Alaska the very next week and had absolutly no problems. The day I bought it I immediately went to the shop and threw on a Magnaflow catback exhaust because I heard the gas mileage was bad. I also threw on a air intake for it and loaded the thing up for the trip. We averaged over 20 miles to the gallon on the trip and had no complaints. We didnt want the s/c because of the premium fuel. The horse power greatly increases also and it only costs around 300 bucks which was well spent. Overall no complaints here.

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  SE with Wood Dash - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By OCONNOR - May 18 - 2:00 am

  Kids love it, dvd/sound system is tops. Head turner. Skyview roof is fantastic!

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  great van - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By fireman57 - May 18 - 2:00 am

  i just got the van it is great i love it my whife loves it my son loves the dvd package it is fun to drive it has get up and go power it has ample cargo room and passenger room its an all around great fun to drive van

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  Much better than expected - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By Spensemnstr - May 18 - 2:00 am

  I have owned several vehicles and this is the best combination of performance, style and space I have ever experienced. I drove the MDX, the Pilot, the Highlander, the Redezvous and the CRV. The Murano was by far the best and it has done nothing to change my opinion in 7500 miles of usage.

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  Happy Owner - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By leeward - May 18 - 2:00 am

  This truck is what a truck should be, undeniable performance, comfortable ride and a sound system so clear you forget about the outside world. The engine is powerful and the transmission silky smooth. Having all this power and responsiveness in a large truck has turned me into a lead foot. I test drove the 1500 4x4 Quad Cab Dodge Hemi, and the new F-150 SuperCrew 4x4 and in my honest oppinion the Titan the clear winner.

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  The Nissan 350Z - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By Rich Borek - May 18 - 2:00 am

  Basically the Nissan 350z is a second car. It is just used for pleasure driving and I dont drive it daily. I never had any problems with the car and it is comfortable on longer trips.