Aussie Motoring

When Nissan released the Tiida I had a feeling I had seen that car somewhere before. It was just one of those niggling little thoughts in the back of my mind made even more annoying because the claim from Nissan was that this was an all new design.

Well now I know why I had that feeling. Nissan in the US is quite open about the fact that the Nissan Versa (that’s what the Tiida is called in the US) is actually based on this car:

the Renault Megane.

That doesn’t mean that the Tiida is not a good car - in fact it just goes to enhance the quality of the car because Renault have been building great cars for many years.

If you want to see what the Americans think of the Versa/Tiida then click here

After 20 years and numerous styling changes the Nissan Pulsar is dead and its replacement is about to hit Nissan showrooms across Australia. To replace the Pulsar Nissan are introducing the Tiida – a totally different car to the Pulsar.

The Tiida comes with better equipment levels than the old Pulsar but confirms Nissan’s commitment to the sub $20,000 market by landing in the showrooms with a base price of $19,990.

Even though the Tiida is not due for release until February 1 a number have been out and about on the motoring writer circuit and a brief review is already been released by one writer.

It seems that the new Tiida is:

Bigger and more comfortable

Has good all-round view from the driver’s seat

It’s good to drive

It has problems with the 6 speed manual gearbox

You can read the first review of the Nissan Tiida here

While people in Sydney and Melbourne have had a chance to look at the Nissan Tiida while they were on display in various shopping centres the rest of us have had to sit and wait.

Come February 1 the wait will be over because that is the date set for the Tiida’s release. Expect some photos here that afternoon.

Edit - Update and a link to the first online review of the Nissan Tiida

The Nissan Pulsar is about to become yesterday’s car with the release in February of the Nissan Tiida. Shoppers in major shopping centres in Sydney are already getting a preview of the new sedan as preview cars go on display through December and January.

If you’re not in Sydney here are a few preview pics of the new sedan andhatch.

And you can see more of the advanced features of the Tiida at the Nissan Tiida website