A Forgotten Japanese Compact Sedan That Puts Nissan’s Current Reliability To Shame

Traditionally, shopping for Japanese is a fairly surefire solution to assure your self a dependable automotive. Manufacturers equivalent to Toyota, Honda, and Nissan have lengthy been favorites of those that need essentially the most reliable and reliable automobiles, however for one explicit model, issues are starting to alter.

In recent times, Nissan’s reliability document has been taking nosedives 12 months after 12 months, culminating in Client Stories now score Nissan as some of the unreliable manufacturers in the marketplace, in 2023.

This wasn’t at all times the way in which, and if Nissan had been to wind the clock again and deal with their older fashions, they can treatment this present poor reliability pattern. The Nissan Tsuru, which is an early Nineties Nissan Sentra, was easy in design, constructed to final, and is loved for its robustness. Let’s take a better have a look at this back-to-basics Nissan, and see why present Nissan bosses ought to be taking notes from this product of the previous.

Nissan Wants To Go Again To Fundamentals To Enhance Reliability

The issue with the present Nissan line up, is that they’re simply too low cost. Which will sound unusual at first, as Nissan pleasure themselves on offering nice worth for cash today, which is confirmed with the 2023 Nissan Versa – America’s present least expensive new automotive.

Nonetheless, low cost automobiles additionally imply low cost engineering, and it is clear that corners have been minimize in locations. The Nineties Nissan Tsuru, badged up because the Nissan Sentra within the US from years 1991 to 1994, is remarkably easy in design, and maybe that is the method Nissan ought to be taking as soon as once more with their present funds automobiles.

For instance, the Tsuru was obtainable with a handbook transmission solely, which is a simplistic method that we predict would save Nissan numerous headache, if applied once more for fundamental fashions. It is no secret that the present CVT transmissions utilized by Nissan are hideously unreliable, leading to lawsuits and horrendous buyer opinions, because of lurching and jerking gearboxes. Not solely is that this unhealthy from a reliability standpoint, it additionally places security at an obstacle, with the CVT ‘packing containers disengaging drive randomly whereas driving down the street.

It could be counter-productive for anybody to recommend Nissan go as back-to-basics with present fashions as they did for the Tsuru, which options non-assisted steering, and solely the flagship GSII mannequin (which price $7,900) got here with a CD participant. Decisions like that actually would not impress audiophiles, nevertheless it’s value remembering that much less tech means much less to go flawed.

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It is the oily bits that Nissan ought to be going again to fundamentals on, such because the ultra-reliable engine that options within the forgotten Tsuru. It will not make for a formidable observe automotive, nevertheless it produces sufficient energy for a compact hatchback or sedan, and is nearly indestructible.

Engine Specs (GA16NDE)

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Why Is The Nissan Tsuru In style In Mexico?

The recognition of the Tsuru will be traced again to some easy causes, for instance, the worth was simply 141,300 Pesos, which roughly translated to $6,900 in 2017. Whatever the outdated know-how, and questionable security requirements, the Tsuru was an absolute discount for a brand-new automotive, and enabled poorer communities to take pleasure in reliability and practicality.

Whereas different Nissans are on provide in Mexico, such because the March and Versa, none provide the rugged robustness that the Tsuru does. That is particularly necessary in Mexico, because the situations of the roads over there are significantly worse. These poor situations will shake a lesser-made automotive to bits, whereas the Tsuru soaks up the abuse. In international locations like Mexico that do not essentially take pleasure in easy paved roads in all places, a sturdy chassis with succesful suspension and a long-lasting design is a lot extra useful than a flowery touchscreen show, or Apple CarPlay; the priorities are simply completely different, and Nissan should get the fundamentals proper once more earlier than they begin focussing on fancy tech or costly non-obligatory extras.

Is it any marvel then, that the Tsuru excelled because the best-selling automotive in Mexico for a variety of years, with nearly 1.9 million of them rolling off of the Nissan manufacturing line over the past 25 years. The Tsuru even changed the enduring Volkswagen Beetle as taxi-cab of selection within the huge cities, which is a severe testomony to the dependable and enduring nature of the B13 Nissan Tsuru.

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Why Was The Nissan Tsuru Discontinued?

Sadly, all good issues should come to an finish, however why precisely was the ever-popular Nissan Tsuru discontinued? New security laws had been launched in Mexico, which meant manufacturing of the B13 chassis, on which the Sentra and Tsuru relies, needed to be discontinued for the spring of 2017. The principle considerations had been that Nissan had minimize corners on security, in an effort to preserve costs low, so the Tsuru had no airbags or anti-lock brakes. This wasn’t a problem within the US, because the Sentra was solely offered from 1991 to 1994, whereas Mexico continued manufacturing proper up till the spring of 2017. Whereas it is nice that officers felt Mexico ought to convey their security requirements as much as these of the US and Europe, it was a disgrace to see the beloved Tsuru finish manufacturing.

It was related laws that ensured the eventual demise of the Sort 2 Volkswagen in Brazil, as these older chassis’ and bodyshells are simply not minimize out for contemporary security measures, particularly airbags.

Ultimately, it was for the appropriate causes that the Tsuru was discontinued; simply watch the YouTube video beneath which portrays the horrible questions of safety that plagued the Tsuru.

That is proper, the airbag-less Nissan Tsuru scored a stunning 0-star on the NCAP security score system, so that you would possibly need to suppose twice earlier than crossing the border and choosing your self up a super-simple Nineties Nissan.

Somewhat than completely relive the previous, Nissan have to take one of the best bits of the Tsuru and combine them into their present lineup, whereas on the similar time eradicating the troublesome tech that is giving them reliability complications. Maybe with modifications like this, we are able to see Nissan as soon as extra climb the rankings, and restore their popularity as a dependable Japanese auto-maker.