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Nissan Sunny makes a delayed foray in Japan, priced higher

Nissan Motor Company, the Japan based leading auto giant has finally introduced the B-segment car, Nissan Latio (Nissan Sunny in India) in the Japanese auto market. After pooling half a million unit sales on the global platform, Nissan Latio has been launched in the country replacing the erstwhile Nissan Tiida Latio. The new compact sedan will hit the home market as an imported unit from Thailand.

Nissan Latio, sold as Versa in the U.S, Sunny in China and India and Almera in Australia and Thailand, was showcased worldwide two years back at Guangzhou Motor Show. The Japanese iteration of this entry-level sedan will sport 1.2 litre HR12DE engine churning out a peak power of 77 hp working in tandem with an XTRONIC CVT transmission. Consuming only 4.4 litres per 100 km, the Nissan Latio sedan claims a class leading fuel economy of 22.6 kmpl as per Japanese test cycle. Also in store is the idling stop system designed to enhance the fuel economy quotient.

With an enormous boot space of 490 litres backed by spaciously styled interiors, Nissan Latio boasts an intricately crafted layout of the engine division with apt placement of the fuel tank. The new Japan spec Nissan Latio has been incorporated with features such as six airbags, ESP, air conditioning, electric package, trip computer and cruise control among others. For the Japanese auto market, Nissan has diligently offered the new Latio sedan in six colours and four trim levels at a price ranging between 1,388,100 yen (approx Rs 9 lakh).

On its launch in the home market, many media analysts have reportedly criticised the design aesthetics of the new Nissan Latio claiming that it lacks contemporary basic attributes, especially on the interiors and has been tagged with a scaled up price in comparison to the same model sold in US. Moreover, they are of the opinion that the car maker has made an undue delay in launching the model in home market. Nissan, on the other hand, is expecting the model to carry forward the success of the model available in the international market, with a monthly sale of around 1,200 units in Japan.