Nissan 'Tiida': More Grown Up Than Its Predecessor 'Sunny' - Vol.272
The Nissan Tiida has never been as popular as the Nissan Sunny or the Nissan Pulsar (a name under which it has been actually marketed in some countries), but that's not due to its performance or any other fault it may have. In fact, the Nissan Tiida is quite a reliable compact, more mature than its predecessor 'Sunny' and with some really interesting new features. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Nissan Tiida didn't make a great impact simply because of its name. Let's face it, 'Tiida' sounds a bit odd, and definitely not as memorable or as inspired as 'Sunny' or even as 'Pulsar'.
The good part about Nissan Tiida's apparent lack of popularity - at least compared to other models by Nissan - is that the car is a great buy for anyone looking for an affordable car that offers good performance and drives well. Although it's a small vehicle, the Tiida comes as an improvement over the Sunny, and has all the features you need or can expect from a car in its class.
Available Versions
If you're looking to buy a used Nissan Tiida, you should know that there are two generations available. The first generation of the Nissan Tiida was launched in 2004 and was manufactured for more than eight years, until 2012. Meanwhile, in 2011, Nissan launched the second generation, first in China, and then, from 2013 onward, it began shipping it to other regions.
The first generation (C11) comes as a four-door sedan as well as a five-door hatchback, and can be considered a compromise between the compact and subcompact classes, being larger than the Micra but smaller than the Bluebird models or the Sentra, and thus replacing the Nissan Sunny/Pulsar (N16). The second generation (C12) is available as a five-door hatchback, being larger and more comfortable than the first. It is especially well known in China and Thailand.
Why You Should Buy a Nissan Tiida
Here are a couple of reasons why a first generation Nissan Tiida is a good investment:
- The car's boxy style gives it a spacious and comfortable interior, with good headroom, legroom, and shoulder room. The front seats are especially large and comfortable, the adjustment levels being cleverly located between them.
- The car is equipped with a good suspension that makes rides comfortable.
- The 1.8 liter twin-cam gasoline engine delivers enough power to keep this car moving.
- The six-speed manual gearbox is better than what most other cars in this class offer, and although it can be quite noisy, you do get used to it in time.
- Overall build quality won't disappoint you - it's Nissan, and Nissan is Japanese, and the Japanese build reliable cars.
- It's fairly easy to maintain. Since the Tiida shares many parts with the Pulsar, spare parts are readily found in most countries. What's more, servicing fees are quite reasonable.
- Good family car. It's spacious, comfortable interior, smooth running, and nice style make the Tiida a more than fit car for a family with two or max three children.
- Comes with good safety and security features, making it a good choice even in tricky neighborhoods.
The Bottom Line
All things considered, the Nissan Tiida is a good car that won't disappoint you. It's certainly an improvement over the earlier Sunny versions, and although it's not quite as popular as the Pulsar, that's largely because of its name, and not because of its performance or features. If you're looking for a reliable, affordable, and easy to drive Nissan car, then Tiida should definitely be on your list.