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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  Family car thats fun to drive - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By nbarry - December 26 - 5:53 am

  Had the 3.5SE 2 weeks now - great performance, gas mileage better than the EPA rating even with my lead foot. The ride isnt as smooth as my moms Camry, but the Camry lacks real personality. Huge back seat, great drink holders. Mirror remote control seems cheap, as well as the interior door handles. A fun car that doubles as a family transport.

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  Nice Truck - 2005 Nissan Frontier
  By FRANKY - December 26 - 2:30 am

  I drove both the 2005 Toyota Tacoma and the 2005 Nissan Frontier. If you want a midsize truck that drives like a car and performs like a full-size, then you want to buy the Nissan. It gives more options for your money and is well built.

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  BUYER BEWARE - 2007 Nissan Quest
  By Sylvia Myers - December 25 - 3:43 pm

  This van has been a sorry purchase from the start. 7 months after we got it, I called the nav number and they told me I needed to buy a new $280 disc as any addresses newer than 5 years in Houston could not be located, next the tires have gone bald after only 32K miles, Nissan canceled this feature and now we are to pay for all new tires and sensored rims as Michelin or Nissan will come thru. It is cheaply made and has all the packages on it, even tho we cant get some to work. Head rests are uncomfortable, also leg room on front passenger side. For the price its an utter failure and cant believe Nissan wont stand by owners problems

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  Rattle Trap - 2017 Nissan Rogue
  By dogwood - December 24 - 7:47 pm

  This car is too small and was a rattle trap with 25,000 miles. I drove the car for 2 weeks and found it to be very inadequate. Interior is low budget materials with distracting orange lights in the dash at night. This is very unacceptable. The car seems to be of low quality and would most likely not hold up over time.

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  Nissan what happened - 2004 Nissan Armada
  By TNEP - December 24 - 10:00 am

  My fourth Nissan ,my first disappointment. The quality of this vehicle is surprisingly bad. 1200 miles so far,lots of rattles ,bad paint on bumper,tailgate button disappeared into the dash, finishes inside are not tight fitting. Im worried Ill run out of warranty before problems.

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  Fun and economical. - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By alienyzf - December 24 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car to get better gas mileage, but I didnt want a econobox I would get bored with. 6 speed manual and plenty of power.

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  The mini van that has changed our lives - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Liacurci - December 24 - 10:00 am

  An excellent van with comfortable seating for 7. Can fit 5 car seats. Has great and easy handling. Drives like a sports car. I am always offering to drive everyone because it is so much fun to drive! We have nicknamed it the spaceship because of all the innovative features. My kids like to watch movies in it in the garage!

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  Good value - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Grok - December 24 - 10:00 am

  Great vehicle for running from sport to sport as well as loading up for vacation and trips to grandmas. 240 hp V6 is very "peppy" for a minivan. Suspension is solid and four wheel disc gives execellent stopping power. Center mount dash and gauges were odd at first but now work well. Moon roof is noisy when retracted but a nice feature nonetheless.

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  Dream car! - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Herstoryan - December 24 - 10:00 am

  It is very well planned and extremely spacious. I really like not having a center console in between the driver and passenger seats. I love this vehicle!

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  Excellent buy - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By tncarmel - December 24 - 10:00 am

  I love my Quest. I had a Chevy Tahoe before and found the 3rd row seat non- functional when you have teenage boys. They look like sardines in a can with their knees up to their stomachs. The only complaint that I have is that theres no option for an 8th seat. I have 6 boys, 4 of which are teenagers. Its a good thing that the oldest has his own car and seldom wanted to ride with us.