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:

• 

  Hemi Killer - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By Don - May 7 - 9:50 pm

  I traded in an 03 Dodge Ram Hemi for this truck. Many dont believe that it will run circles around the Hemi, but it truly does. Power is much more usable, with more torque to boot. The exhaust note, in stock form is "sweet." I bought the XE model and have customized it to be the truck that I personally desire. All in all, its a fantastic truck that sells for thousands less than those offered by GM, Ford and Dodge.

• 

  Black Betty - 2004 Nissan Frontier
  By Damon - May 7 - 3:00 am

  This is my 5th Nissan and my 2nd Pick up. This build quality is very tight, no squeaks. The gearing is nice for cruising and commuting. A very versatile truck for a dad with a 7 year old boy, an active wife, and 2 big dogs that all love to camp and explore the great state of Texas.

• 

  More for the money - 2006 Nissan Murano
  By sterling - May 6 - 7:06 am

  I went for it. I bought a car due to the ride quality, and not due to prestige. The murano was more car for the money with the current lease offer from nissan.

• 

  sporty little economy car - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Chris - May 5 - 4:35 pm

  I bought this car over 7 years ago, and it has taken us on several trips without any issues. Other than a new battery from time to time and oil changes often, this car has been great to us. Just recently, on a trip to Florida, I noticed the transmission was slipping a bit and the cruise control would not work because the sensor de-activated it, and the engine light came on. I pulled into a autozone store and they checked it quickly and advised that the transmission needed to be repaired or replaced. I drove the car a little slower on the last leg of the trip home without any problems. When I got home, I researched the site about complaints on certain cars, and discovered that the Altima had some issues. To my surprise the transmission had a 120Kmile warranty and my car had a little over 105K miles on it. I took it to Carriage Nissan in Gainesville Ga. and Alex, the service person gave me Great news. The transmission needed to be replaced and it was covered, 100%. He ordered a new transmission and the following day it arrived and I dropped my car off and was given a brand new Altima while mine was being fixed. two days later , my car was ready and just like they said, no charge and the loaner car was free. I cannot say enough of how well they treated me and Nissans warranties are legit. Im looking forward to a couple more years out of the car, and they definitely made that possible. This is the best 17 thousand dollars I ever spent.

• 

  Happy, happy, happy! - 2013 Nissan Armada
  By Drew - May 5 - 11:14 am

  I am 3 years and 50,000 miles in on my first Nissan. I apparently get better gas mileage than most - 18 mpg average - which is bad, but not so bad for the size and power this vehicle affords. Converts from school bus duty to cargo van duty in seconds with ease. It has a very strong, quiet engine and many thoughtful creature features. The interior still looks new even after trucking my kids. The one disappointment I have is the paint seems a little thin. Mine is Midnight Garnet, which is a beautiful color, but it scratches easily. The fact that it is so dark makes scratches more noticeable. I anticipated a utility vehicle designed for family use would have a tougher finish. Otherwise our relationship is a happy one.

• 

  I love this car - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By JG - May 4 - 12:50 pm

  I was looking for a vehicle to change from a 2005 Hyundai Tucson that had better gas mileage. I was looking at the Toyota Camry but I was hooked on the Altima the second I saw it. Good gas mileage, control, and acceleration that beats my 2007 Tacoma. Good car overall.

• 

  Excellent truck for the money - 1997 Nissan Pathfinder
  By SteveBoulder - May 4 - 2:00 am

  We bought the truck about 2 years ago and were really impressed by the reliability and workmanship. The interior design is prefect, roomy and comfortable, being a big guy I find the seats to have great side and thigh support. We got a loaded XE which is no different from a pricier SE. Its an able off-roader, particularly when you install 265/70/R15 All-terrain tires on it. Breaking stops are excellent. Our 5-speeder is much faster to take off than the automatic models. Huge cargo capacity, excellent handling. And it looks good too, much more athletic than those boxy Tahoes, Blazers, 4Runners, or Cherokees.

• 

  the best japanese car! - 1998 Nissan Altima
  By JOLANTA - May 4 - 2:00 am

  hi, i just bought my car 2 weeks ago, and i love it! it has all the options like sun roof, bose sound system, leather interior, and spoiler, and alarm. This is the best japanese car you can buy out there without having to spend thousands on toyota or honda.

• 

  Mr Reliable For Sure ! - 1999 Nissan Altima
  By Edwin J - May 4 - 2:00 am

  Thius car has been an excellent low maintenance vehicle. Oil changes/ general maintenance is all it takes. Just start it up and go. I had only one problem since getting the car last month the odomoter went and I had to wait 4 weeks for a new one . These all are reconditioned parts nissan doesnt give new parts in this case believe it or not. Other than that this car has been a dream . I would recommend it to anyone. As I said Mr Reliable For Sure !!

• 

  What Bang for the Buck! - 2000 Nissan Xterra
  By redshift - May 4 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned my Xterra for 3 years now and what an all-around no nonsense performer. I live in the mountains of Colorado and have had it sideways at angles that make you think youre sitting in the passengers lap. Been over snowy passes, muddy back-roads, even bumped a guard rail at a pretty good clip on a slick, icy road, and it just knocked it out of alignment a bit. Ive had kayaks, canoes, skis, boards and other misc. on top of it and Ive been nearly ocean to ocean in it. If you take care of it, itll take care of you!