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 “citizens”, 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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