Nissan Has Product Depth To Answer Economy-Hungry U.S. Customers

Nissan Has Product Depth To Answer Economy-Hungry U.S. Customers

By Bill Visnic

CASCAIS, Portugal -- Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. last month imported journalists from all over the world to drive and familiarize themselves with the company's entire global model range -- nearly half a hundred Nissan and Infiniti models and their derivatives, not to mention almost a dozen light-commercial vehicles, some of which Nissan plans to soon introduce to the U.S. market.

After driving or just seeing a number of Japan- and European-market Nissan vehicles in the "Nissan 360" event, it's apparent the company, like most of its Japanese rivals, is intrinsically better positioned to deal with drastically changing demand from U.S. customers for smaller, more-efficient vehicles. Better positioned in what way? By using the refined (for the most part) and interestingly packaged European- and Japan-market models as the basis for an expanded portfolio of compact and subcompact U.S. offerings.

The company already is reacting to a U.S. vehicle market universally expected to continue a freefall rush to downsize. 

Nissan earlier this week announced a major shift in U.S. manufacturing, cutting a shift of Titan pickup and Armada SUV production at its Canton, Mississippi, assembly plant and earmarking the production for an increase in assembly of the Altima midsize sedan.

In effect, if the U.S. auto environment is going to start looking a lot more like Europe, as many analysts and industry observers suggest, then judging by the production models at the Nissan 360 program here, the company seems to have a firm foundation on which to quickly build.

Cube Too Weird, Micra Hits the Mark

While most talk currently centers around bringing the blocky Cube to the U.S. for battle with Toyota's Scion division, we find the less-shocking Micra to have more potential for widespread American acceptance. The 1.6-liter gasoline four-cylinder (108 hp) is delectably smooth and accelerates the Micra more than acceptably for urban-type driving, while also maintaining surprisingly high speeds on open roads. A so-equipped Micra would be more than a match in the U.S. for Honda's popular Fit.

Better still might be the 1.5-liter turbodiesel version, its chesty 148 pound-feet of torque enough to shove the 3,300-pound Micra without a minimum of gearshifting, and the diesel generates a convincing 50-mpg combined-cycle fuel economy that would translate into perhaps slightly lower economy in U.S. testing. And many journalists here were smitten by the Micra C+C, an endearing and presumably budget-priced hardtop-convertible variant that gives away little in driving spirit or structural rigidity when the top is lowered. At a potential sub-$20,000 price, the Micra C+C could be reverse-snobbery halo winner for Nissan if the car could be imported to the U.S.

Smaller Quest

Nissan also has a raft of minivan alternatives, including the tech-filled Elgrand, which is as opulent as anyone could hope for, yet at 188.8 inches long, is much tidier than a 202.5-inch Chrysler Grand Caravan. With its snorty 237-hp 3.5-liter V6, the Elgrand makes no particular fuel-economy statement, but it and the less-premium Lafesta seem to be credible alternatives to the porky and unloved U.S.-market Quest if Nissan decides to pursue other alternatives in the minivan segment.

Another compact car that appeals beyond first blush is the Note, a hatchback that appears to be a stylistic crossroad between a Pontiac Vibe and Honda's Fit. It is deceptively roomy inside and offers a sliding rear seat that, when moved fully forward, creates a large cargo bay. The Note uses the 1.6-liter gasoline and 1.5-liter diesel; the diesel offers 45-mpg type economy in this handy, 13-foot-long car that boasts a wheelbase longer than the roomy Volkswagen Golf.

We don't have much use for Nissan's Otti, Pino and Moco microcars, however. Although they might be viable competitors in the U.S. for the recently launched 2-seat Smart, 50-odd horsepower makes them little more than curiosities. Otti and Pino are built for Nissan by minicar specialist Suzuki and the Moco is built by Mitsubishi.

SUV For A New Era

Perhaps most intriguing, however, is the Qashqai+2, a three-row variant of the Qashqai crossover that is essentially the Rogue in the U.S., although the Qashqai is sold at a more premium level on the Continent. Extending the wheelbase generates the extra room needed for the third row, while a thrifty 2.0-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder gives up 32-mpg economy.

To our mind, the handsome diesel Qashqai+2 is the first of many Nissan global models the company should hurry to the U.S. if consumers truly plan to make fuel economy a long-term priority. It, like many of the other fuel-efficient cars driven at Nissan 360, demonstrates adopting the European ethic need not necessarily translate to dull, downmarket or utilitiarian.

Photos by Nissan

1. Nissan Micra C+C hardtop convertible

2. Nissan Note

3. Nissan Qashqai+2

Bill Visnic:  is an AutoObserver Senior Editor. Follow @AutoObserver on Twitter