Category: Nissan

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ANGER AT 4WDs

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Nissan’s giant Patrol is handy in the bush

Time and again we motoring journalist are asked the question, “Why don’t they ban big 4WDs from the suburbs?” Usually followed by, “because 4WDs block the vision of others drivers and are hazardous to pedestrians.” I’ve also heard plenty of complaints about threatening behaviour by those behind the wheels of 4WDs and SUVs. And in more recent times by drivers of big 4WD dual-cab utes. Yet sales of 4WDs, which is the name usually only given to genuine off-road vehicles; and SUVs, the title used for most light duty off-roaders… Read more

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NISSAN TIIDA 2006 – 2013

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2010 Nissan Tiida

Nissan Tiida is a small-medium car with the sort of interior space that can accommodate a family, and provide a smooth quiet ride with reasonable engine performance. It replaced the very successful Nissan Pulsar in February due to a clash of cultures. Australians think a new car should hold onto the same name as the one it replaces. Whereas the Japanese feel a significantly improved new car deserves a new name. Tiida (which incidentally we were supposed to pronounce ‘tee-eeda’) was a flop in the sales race, which was shame… Read more

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NISSAN 350Z, 370Z 2003 – 2015

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2009 Nissan 370Z Coupe

The first Datsun Z car was shown at the 1969 Tokyo Motor Show under its domestic name of Fairlady Z. It turned out to be a landmark car, not only for Nissan, but for the entire Japanese car industry, because it proved Japan could produce a classic sportscar. As the name suggests the 240Z came with a 2.4-litre engine. Over the following 26 years the engine size increased progressively, through the 260Z, 280ZX and 300ZX. To the disappointment of many, the Z series was discontinued in 1996, a victim of… Read more

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NISSAN NAVARA: BIGGEST RANGE EVER

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Midway through 2015 Nissan introduced what could be described as the passenger variants of its all-new NP300 Navara pickup range to Australia. Now the rest of the range is here. The workhorses have arrived, though it’s hard to describe them as workhorses because there’s plenty of style to their looks both inside and out. Gone are the days when pickups were purely working vehicles, built down to a price, aimed only at tradies and farmers – and looking like it. All-new Navara shows Nissan is well aware that many pickups… Read more

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NISSAN ON RIGHT ROAD WITH NEW NAVARA

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With the new Dual Cab pick-up launched mid-year and a tranche consisting of King Cab, Single Cab and Dual Cab Chassis to hit the market by the end of November, taking total variants to 27, Nissan could well have ticked all the boxes with its NP300 Navara range. Already Nissan’s best-selling vehicle Down Under, accounting for a third of all sales, the Japanese company appears determined to give the new NP300 Navara every chance of maintaining its lead. The pick-up went through more than 40,000 tests for proven quality and… Read more

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NISSAN PATROL 1996 – 2015

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2006 Nissan Patrol

Nissan Patrol is the real deal. It’s a 4WD not an SUV, with truck-type body-on-chassis construction for maximum strength in harsh driving conditions, particularly in real off-road conditions. The drawback of a ladder-frame is a lack of refinement and comfort compared to the typical SUVs of the modern era. Though Patrol has been improved over the years, it’s still on the crude side and may not suit those who are looking for a macho people mover rather than a genuine bush-going wagon. Patrol has been a solid seller in the… Read more

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TOUGH-GUY IMAGE BLURRED IN NISSAN MICRA

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As much as a small 1.2-litre three-cylinder hatchback could be considered aggressive, the new Micra is more so, according to Nissan. The city runabout has ‘a new style that delivers a stronger, more assertive and dynamic look,’ its maker opines. With almost seven million sales under its belt in more than 30 years, the Nissan small car now checks in with a long list of upgrades, including revised spec levels, a new look and a slew of technical innovations. The Micra, known as Nissan March in some countries, is built… Read more

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NISSAN MAXIMA 2000 – 2014

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2011 Nissan Maxima

For some unknown reason the Nissan Maxima is too often overlooked in the family car market, both by buyers of used and new cars. It deserves a place on your shopping list because it’s about the same size as the Toyota Aurion and isn’t a lot smaller than Commodore and Falcon. All three of these competitors are built in Australia and even the Toyota has a lot of Aussie engineering in its makeup. Perhaps that’s one reason Maxima does fare as well as it should. Handling is softer and less… Read more

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PERKY PULSAR SSS SEDAN: PLAIN AND SIMPLE

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Forget the baseball cap-on-backwards, tatt-toting, doof-doof music-crazy drongo. Believe it or not, there are people out there who want to drive a pumped-up little car without appearing to show off. And have I got the package for you. The Nissan Pulsar SSS sedan ticks the boxes of a perky performer with restrained exterior and quality yet unremarkable interior; in effect a practical package with a stack of luggage space. Following the comeback of the Pulsar SSS hot hatch, the SSS sedan heralds the introduction of the Pulsar Series II, with… Read more

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NISSAN PATHFINDER HEADS DOWN HYBRID PATH

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Growing up, the only use of the word ‘hybrid’ I knew was in relation to my dad’s tea-roses. Since then, the word has inveigled itself into everyday usage, especially in the ever fuel economy and environmentally more conscious automotive industry. These days, petrol-electric and diesel-electric hybrid vehicles, from exotic sports cars and SUVs to heavy transports, can be found around almost every street corner. Pathfinder began life as little brother to the Nissan Patrol. A seismic shift came with the introduction of the X-Trail, a compact SUV that took the… Read more