The Nissan March, a popular compact car, offers a mixed bag of features and performance. While it excels in maneuverability and affordability, it falls short in some safety aspects. This article delves into the specifics of the Nissan March, comparing it with its competitors, and highlighting its strengths and weaknesses.
The Nissan March's interior can be somewhat noisy at highway speeds, a common issue among its competitors. Despite this, the March remains a popular choice for many drivers due to its affordability and practicality.
One of the standout features of the Nissan March is its impressive turning circle of just 9.0 meters. This allows for easy maneuvering in tight spaces, making it an excellent choice for city driving. In comparison, the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris have a minimum turning circle of 9.4 meters. The power-assisted steering in the March ensures smooth handling during parking maneuvers and becomes stiffer at higher speeds to enhance control.
A significant point of criticism for the Nissan March is the lack of Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) in all its versions, which range from 116,900 to 173,900 pesos. In contrast, the Renault Sandero offers ABS from the Dynamique version, priced at 161,200 pesos. Nissan has justified this by stating that their market research indicated a low demand for ABS among buyers of popular cars.
It's concerning that many Mexican drivers prioritize aesthetic features like stylish wheels, loud stereos, or sunroofs over essential safety features like ABS. This raises the question: should manufacturers cater to consumer demands or educate them about safety?
To provide a fair comparison, let's look at three cars in the same segment that come with ABS:
Car Model | Price (Pesos) |
---|---|
Honda Fit | 201,000 |
Suzuki Swift | 182,900 |
Toyota Yaris | 205,300 |
The new Nissan March/Micra scored four stars in European crash tests, but this was with a model equipped with two front airbags, available in Mexico from 145,900 pesos. Without airbags, the March would likely not achieve the same rating. In comparison, the Suzuki Swift, a competitor in the same segment, scored five stars.
Nissan has a strong reputation for mechanical reliability. The engine and automatic transmission used in the March have been in the U.S. market Tiida for three years without reported failures. The only recall involved a relay issue causing the engine to shut off, affecting various Nissan vehicles manufactured between August 2003 and July 2006. This issue has since been resolved.
We predict that the new Nissan March will be reliable in the long term. The base version includes features like automatic door locks at 20 km/h, fixed front seat headrests, and 14-inch steel wheels. However, it lacks power steering and rear head restraints, although it does have a rear defroster and trip computer.
The Nissan March offers a blend of affordability, maneuverability, and mechanical reliability. However, its lack of ABS in all versions is a significant drawback, especially when compared to competitors like the Honda Fit, Suzuki Swift, and Toyota Yaris. As consumers, it's crucial to prioritize safety features over aesthetic ones to ensure a safer driving experience.
For more information on car safety features, you can visit NHTSA and Euro NCAP.
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