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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  LOVE IT!! - 2003 Nissan Murano
  By barber5 - May 2 - 10:00 am

  I love my Murano. I bought it because of the unique styling. I have all options with the exception of the nav system. The Bose stereo is excellent. Love the power seats with the memory. Have 3 kids and they have plenty of room in the back. I cant complain about anything. As far as some of the other reviews, If you open the sunroof to the setting that has the white mark (different from the other settings), you will not experience the cabin noise. I ride with the sunroof open and all windows up almost daily and do not have a problem. Also, there is definitely a rear window washer. I think some people need to read the owners manual. I get avg. 20 mpg and drive city and highway.

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  Best Crossover SUV - 2004 Nissan Murano
  By The Viking - May 2 - 10:00 am

  This is three vehicles in one: (a) rides like a luxury car (b) utility of an SUV (c) handling of a sports car Fantastic value for the money. Engine and CVT drivetrain make this superior to anything out there. Drove an FX45 and decided to save $15,000 plus get more cargo room with the Murano. Keep trying to make the tires squeel or lose control, but havent managed it yet. Just a joy to drive.

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  Great truck for the money!!! - 2004 Nissan Frontier
  By Baba! - May 2 - 10:00 am

  Ive always wanted a small pickup, no need, just greed! you know to haul stuff (Its a guy thing, women dont get it) Just picked it up today for $13,100 with value package, from Girard, New London, CT. PW/PDL,keyless entry, ABS, rear sliding Bedliner, Extender, A/C 5 spd Silver, Exactly want I wanted no less, no more! $13K is a bargain! Toyota, Ford etc dont even come close. Two thumbs up!

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  titan pickup likes and dislikes! - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By jym - May 2 - 10:00 am

  I have not had the truck long enough to give it a honest evaluation,so a little down the road i will let you know. jym --

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  Nice Vehicle even as "bare bones" model - 2004 Nissan Xterra
  By Che57vy - May 2 - 10:00 am

  Bought vehicle used with 39,000 miles. Now it has 84,000 miles. So far, only part replaced was thermal sensor for the fuel injector, A.K.A. "wax kit", which measures engine heat for the fuel injector through a radiator hose. Wax kit, dealer installed, was $230.00. Covered under accessory warranty (3yrs/36K miles), not under drivetrain warranty (5 yrs/60,000 miles). The 4 cyl/5 spd manual is nice and economical with hwy/city mileage almost always 20 MPG with regular gasoline. Its easy to work on mechanically, with a lot of extra room in the engine compartment. Rides nice and secure on the highway. The 4 cyl / 5 spd manual is an excellent value, even if purchased brand new.

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  Go out a buy a Z, well worth the money. - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By Rubenpts4u - May 2 - 10:00 am

  From the dealership, the ride back which was 700 miles was smooth, firm but not bumpy. I was impressed with the 23.6 miles per gallon at 75 to 80mph all the way back home. Passing other vehicles is beyond a breeze. Having gone from a Corvette to this 350Z for 20000 dollar less, makes absolute sense. Very and I mean very similar qualities. Very comparable

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  Pewter Plus - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Trainman - May 2 - 10:00 am

  I really like the car. A lot of research went into the decision. Looked at Mazda 6(a bit small) and Hyundai Sonata(not available in standard) before deciding on the Altima. Altima had the size I wanted, plus the dealer agreed to the price I told him I would pay.

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  Best performance for the money - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By chadh - May 2 - 10:00 am

  Just as background, prior to this car I owned a Porsche Boxster S, a 911 Carrera and a BMW M Roadster. When we found out we were expecting our first child, I started shopping for a more affordable car with a back seat. I have test-driven and researched just about everything out there that fits that description. The Altima SE-R was BY FAR the most horsepower and torque for the money, not to mention features like CD changer, HID lights, and much more. I compared it to an Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Infinit G35 Coupe, and an Acura TL. The ones that rival the Altima SE-R cost about $6k more.

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  Great Truck - 2010 Nissan Frontier
  By Ken Porter - May 1 - 1:40 pm

  The first tank of gas averaged 25.2 mpg. The truck rides like a truck which is expected. I use my truck for work and this is the 5th Nissan I have bought. I have never had a problem with service and have never had any major problems with any of the truck I have bought. The only complaint I have is wind noise. The sound proofing could be a little better.

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  Greatest Bargain SUV out there - 2008 Nissan Xterra
  By carmoose0082 - May 1 - 1:23 pm

  Love this SUV. Very rugged yet great on or off the road. Great list of standard features for a $20K base price mid size SUV. No money wasters on this one only the things you need. Not one complaint in almost 2 years of driving and 25K miles. 4.0L VQ engine is awesome, pulls hard and tows great and quiet to boot.