Nissan is a car brand that boasts a massive fanbase worldwide, known for its history of offering practical family cars and even some iconic sports cars. However, in India, despite its nearly two-decade existence, Nissan has failed to make a significant impact compared to other Japanese brands from its home country. The brand began its journey in India with some popular nameplates from its global lineup but has now become a one-product brand with only the Magnite compact SUV in its lineup.
While we hope Nissan revitalizes its presence in India, let’s take a moment to look back at some of the forgotten models from Nissan that once graced its showrooms in the country.
Nissan Teana
The Teana was Nissan’s first-ever sedan for the Indian car market and gained popularity for its luxurious interior. Alongside a 2.5-liter inline-four petrol engine, the second-generation Nissan Teana was also offered with a 2.5-liter V6 petrol engine in India, making it a favorite among niche car buyers who appreciated its refinement and power delivery.
Nissan X-Trail
Nissan entered the Indian car market with the second-generation X-Trail SUV in 2004, which, at the time, was one of the most luxurious SUVs in the premium midsize SUV category. The Indian version of the Nissan X-Trail was equipped with a 2.5-liter diesel engine and a manual transmission, and it was discontinued due to poor sales without a proper replacement.
Nissan 370Z
While many are aware of Nissan’s “Godzilla” GT-R sports car, few know that it also had the iconic 370Z two-door sports coupe in its Indian portfolio. The Nissan 370Z was launched in India in 2010 and remained on sale in the country for a limited time, offering both manual and automatic transmission options for the 3.7-liter V6 engine.
Nissan Evalia
The Nissan Evalia enjoyed significant popularity in the USA, where it was known as the Nissan NV200. However, when it was introduced in the Indian car market, it failed to replicate its American success. The Indian Nissan Evalia came exclusively with a 1.5-liter diesel engine and a manual transmission, boasting practicality and spaciousness. Unfortunately, its boxy design failed to captivate the Indian audience.
Datsun Go, Go+, and redi-Go
In an attempt to secure a significant share of the entry-level vehicle category, Nissan introduced its budget brand “Datsun” in India in 2014. Datsun made its debut in India with the Go hatchback, followed by its 5+2 three-row version, Go+. Both models performed poorly in the Indian car market due to their below-average build quality and basic fit and finish levels.
Datsun later launched an even more affordable hatchback, the redi-Go, in 2016, which enjoyed mild success initially but struggled in the later months. Nissan eventually discontinued the Datsun brand altogether in 2022, discontinuing all three of its products.
Featured image courtesy Team–BHP
