Nissan is a popular Japanese auto brand known for its enhanced safety features, reliability, and fuel-efficient vehicles. Among its popular sedan lineup, Nissan Sunny is one of the most sought-after sedans. Nissan Sunny’s history dates back to 1966 and since then, the sedan model owes its popularity to its smooth ride, durability, and fuel efficiency.
Nissan Sunny’s balance of price and features makes it one of the most popular used Nissan cars in the UAE.
EVOLUTION OF NISSAN SUNNY OVER THE YEARS
It’s an interesting fact about Nissan that the auto brand started as Datsun and the brand was renamed Nissan later. That said, the subcompact sedan debuted as the Datsun 1000. However, the sedan was named Nissan Sunny in the 1980s.
In 2004, Nissan stopped production of Sunny in Japan. However, it remains under production in Africa, MENA, and American regions.
Let’s go through the complete Nissan Sunny generations and history in detail.
B10 (1966 to 1969)
Launched as Datsun 1000 in 1966, the sedan was available in two car body types i.e. two-door sedan and station wagon. It came with a 1.0-litre engine producing 62 horsepower. Besides, the engine was paired with a 4-speed manual transmission.
In 1967, a 4-door sedan was added to the Datsun Sunny lineup. Alongside, a sports deluxe sedan was added to the Nissan Sunny model lineup in 1968. The sports deluxe model reached a maximum speed of 135 kilometres per hour. Moreover, the 3-speed automatic transmission was available as an option.
B110 (1970-1973)
In 1970, Nissan introduced the second generation known as Sunny B110. The second generation Nissan Sunny featured four and two-door sedan models, a station wagon, and a sports coupe. The sports coupe model came in two trims: 1200 GX-5 and Excellent Deluxe coupes.
Moreover, the second Nissan Sunny generation featured an upgraded 1.2-litre engine producing 68 hp. The sport 1200 GX-5 was equipped with a 1.3-litre engine producing 143 hp. Besides, the Sunny Excellent coupe trim featured a 1.5-litre engine generating 192 hp. Nissan designed both sport coupe models to participate in motor races. And these coupe models went on to win several races from 1973 to 1981.
B210 (1974-1977)
With the oil crisis in the 1970s, Nissan designed the new Sunny B210 to offer better fuel economy. The third-generation Nissan Sunny B210 featured 1.2 to 1.6-litre engines in its lineup. Besides, the USA received Nissan Sunny with 1.3 and 1.4-litre engines producing 60 to 70 hp. The engines were mated with a standard 4-speed manual transmission.
B310 (1977-1981)
The fourth generation Datsun Sunny debuted in 1977. This was the last Datsun Sunny and the last rear-wheel drive Sunny model. The engine lineup included 1.2 to 1.6-litres engines producing 62 to 91 hp.
The car body types remained similar to its predecessors in Nissan Sunny history. Besides, the wheelbase was 2,341 millimetres, which was more than the previous generations.
B11 (1982-1985)
The fifth-generation Nissan Sunny was launched in 1982. This Nissan Sunny generation featured the following body styles:
- Compact 2 and 4-door sedan
- 3-door hatchback
- Coupe
- Station wagon
Sunny B11 featured the same engine lineup as the previous generation with increased power. Besides, the first generation of Nissan Sentra sharing the same B11 platform was introduced and it replaced Sunny in some regions. For the first time in Nissan Sunny’s history, no rear-wheel drive model was part of this car’s lineup.
B12 (1985-1991)
With more space and features, Nissan Sunny B12 rolled out in 1985. It featured the same engine lineup and car body types as the fifth generation. In the Japanese market, the Nissan Sunny B12 came with 1.3 or 1.5-litre engines. Whereas 1.6, 1.7, and 1.8-litre engines were available in the European market.
This model was also known as Nissan Sunny N13. Besides, this generation featured a four-wheel drive model for the first time in Nissan Sunny models history.
B13 (1991-1993)
With minor body design changes, the Nissan Sunny B13 model remained similar to the B12 with an updated body. This 7th generation featured the same engine lineup. However, coupe, hatchback, and station wagon body styles were discontinued.
B14 (1994-1998)
The B14 Sunny and Sentra models rolled out in 1994. All the B14 models featured the Multi-link suspension system and the engine lineup included 1.5, 1.6, and 2.0-litre engines. The engines were paired with standard 5-speed manual transmission and 4-speed automatic transmission was available as an option for buyers.
Besides, it featured a longer wheelbase than the previous generations. In the USA and Mexico, Nissan replaced Sunny and Sentra with Lucino. Moreover, the B14 model featured dual airbags, an anti-lock braking system (ABS), and three-point seatbelts.
B15 (1998-2004)
The Nissan Sunny B15 model debuted in 1998. It offered 1.6, 1.8, and 2.0-litre engines. It came with a new design and a new front grille with the Nissan logo in the middle. In 2004, Nissan Sunny was discontinued in Japan and other regions. However, Nissan came with a new generation named Nissan Sunny N17 in the Chinese and MENA markets in 2011.
N17 (2011-2020)
Nissan introduced Sunny in 2011 exclusively for the Chinese market. It offered similar engine options as the Nissan Versa and Tiida. The sedan featured a 1.5-litre engine producing 99 hp. Besides, the engine was paired with the standard 5-speed manual transmission and Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) was also available as an option.
The V-shaped front grille accompanied by swept-back headlights and the lower grille gave a sporty impression to Nissan Sunny N17. The interior was roomy and modern safety features were included. Despite its discontinuation in 2005 and then rebirth, Nissan Sunny continues to be a popular sedan by the Japanese automaker.
This was all about the Nissan Sunny history which is one of the popular used Nissan sedans in the UAE. You can find a new or used Nissan Sunny in the UAE which is one of the top sedan models by this brand. Besides, you can find popular car models by Nissan and other automakers in the plethora of used cars in the UAE and choose the one that meets your requirements.
Stay tuned to the UAE’s leading cars blog to find more facts and history about popular automakers and their car models.
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