Jap budget-sedan gets a much-needed
facelift, a plusher cabin and additional features
If there was just one thing that Nissan
could do the Sunny that could help the sedan win more Indian hearts, it would
have to be a complete design makeover. Obviously, that being too much of an
ask, the Japanese carmaker has given the Sunny a mid-life facelift in an effort
to up its appeal.
The exercise of making the Sunny feel more
premium than before commences with the addition of chrome to its exterior.
After conducting much research, Nissan has found out that Indians are attracted
to glittery objects, so there's a shinier face with a wider chrome grille
that’s flanked by new headlamps that sweep further back into the fenders. Then
there are the altered front and rear bumpers, new ORVMS with integrated turn
indicators and a new alloy wheel design. Changes to the Sunny aren’t exactly
radically – like the boot section that still looks awkwardly integrated – but
they do lend the sedan a sharper, more mature look than the model it replaces.
The
Nissan Sunny has adequate power for the city and highway roads
Nissan had previously done something akin
to the Micra last year, and even changed the hatch’s cabin around a bit. This
year, they’ve given the Sunny the similar treatment. In comes an altered
dashboard that does away with the earlier car’s curvy theme. And we aren’t
complaining. We like what the designers have done – with the reworked centre
console, new instrument cluster and a brand new steering wheel that has clearly
taken inspiration from the Teana. There are also more ticks on the features
list, which includes a nifty double-din touchscreen audio system with Bluetooth
connectivity and a reverse camera with parking sensors.
Comfortable seats, spacious cabin, quality
materials, backseat ride and easy handling continue to be the Sunny’s strong
points. Nissan also hasn’t tinkered around with the sedan’s mechanicals. The
suspension setup that has worked well in the past has been left untouched, and
that promises stellar ride comfort on all road surfaces. We can’t emphasise
enough on how well Nissan has mastered the art of filtering out imperfections
on Indian roads and offer a ride that its immediate rivals find difficult to
match.
The
interiors of the refreshed Sunny are a marked step above the pre-facelifted
model
As far as engine options go, Nissan has not
altered the old line-up of 1.5-litre petrol and diesel motors. So there’s a 1,498cc
petrol motor that pumps out 98bhp and 134Nm of torque when teamed with a
five-speed manual gearbox. There’s also an automatic variant with a CVT which
produces 100bhp of max power. As for the diesel, it’s a 1,461cc unit good for
85bhp and 200Nm of torque, married to a 5-speed manual gearbox, sending power
to the front wheels. Nissan says they have carried out minor alterations to the
diesel motor's ECU, resulting in a fuel efficiency figure of 22.71kpl (up by
1kpl). The petrol engine remains untouched and will run a claimed 16.9kpl and
17.9kpl in manual and automatic guise respectively.
Teana-inspired
headlamps look impressive
We recently drove the oil-burner and we
were swiftly reminded why it still remains one of the better options available
out there. In terms of performance, the frugal 1.5-litre unit works great both
in the city and highway cycles. It is extremely flexible and responds well to
part-throttle inputs. This, coupled with the smooth and precise gearbox with
its short throws doesn’t really call for constant shifting of gears in urban
driving. And that goes well with the sedan's easy-going nature.
Sporty intentions are met with some
reservations though. A greater chunk of power is available in the mid-range and
if you shove the throttle pedal with all your might, you will have to wait for
the turbo to come into action once the needle passes the 1,800rpm mark. But
this doesn’t dilute the overall driving experience – keep the motor boiling at
the right rpm in the right gear, the diesel motor is a treat to drive. After
all, the Sunny wasn’t really made for you to go bonkers quick. It has always
been the type of a car that one will find more appealing once seated at the
back, rather than in the driver’s seat.
Top-end
XV variant gets new stylish 15inch rims
Nissan plans to launch the facelift Sunny
by the first week of this month, however the company is tight-lipped over it’s
pricing. The Japanese carmaker now wants to pitch the Sunny as a more upmarket
sedan and keeping that in mind, we wouldn’t be surprised if the sedan’s prices
shot up substantially. We expect the prices to range from $13,395 for the base
petrol to $17,915 for the top-end diesel, estimated on-road, Mumbai.
With added features and a fresher image,
Nissan hasn't exactly taken the car to the next level but has done just enough
to make sure that it rightfully stays in the game.
