The Nissan
brand started off as Datsun in 1931 in Japan. Nissan produced a full range,
from small passenger cars to lorries. The brand has been present in Zimbabwe
for a long time. The Datsun name was phased out in 1986, but re-launched in
2013 as a low cost entry level vehicle.
Among the famous
Datsun/Nissan cars in Zimbabwe over the years were the Datsun 120Y and 140Y,
Pulsar, Datsun 1200, Nissan Champ, and the very famous Nissan Sunny (Box),
which had an unparalleled rivalry with the Toyota Corolla during the days when
having a company car was a big achievement, and the easiest way to “own†a car.
Nissan cars were locally assembled or imported from South Africa. They were
strong, simple, and economical to run, for those lucky ones to have a car. A few
are still on the road, and the older generation looks at them with nostalgia.
On the larger vehicles
sizes, the Nissan Patrol SUV tops the range, competing with the Toyota Land
Cruiser SUV. The pick-up version also competes with the Toyota Land Cruiser pick-up.
The popular pick-ups over the years have been the Datsun/Nissan PG720, Nissan
Hardbody (now NP300), Patrol, and recently, Navara. Among the smaller SUV’s are
the very popular X-Trail, Murano, and Qashqai.
The brand in Zimbabwe rivaled
with other fellow “citizensâ€, Toyota, Peugeot, and the British cars under
various “extinct†names like Vauxhall, Austin, Hillman, Morris, Ford, etc., and
still does.
There were also various
pick-ups and double cabs. The Nissan PG720 was the boss, succeeded by the D21;
then came the Hardbody, NP300, and currently, the lovely but controversial
Navara.
Today, just like most of
the Japanese car manufacturers, the Nissan brands are too many, which creates a
lot of confusion for the buyer. Most of them share engines. The common ones are
still the Sunny, and many different variations like Bluebird, Sylphy, Latio,
Almera just to mention a few. The March came onto the market at the turn of the
century, an affordable, super compact fuel saver. It became the driving school
car, as well as a taxi; something for basic transportation. Its reign was ended
by the indomitable Honda Fit, although it is slowly making its way back with
newer and bigger models.
Nissan in Zimbabwe was
represented directly until 2006. It is marketed by a number of dealers,
including Clover Leaf, Amtec, and Croco.
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