It's Been A Good Run: Nissan Tsuru Production Likely To End Soon

by Chris Tonn

Published: August 17th, 2016

it s been a good run nissan tsuru production likely to end soon

After 25 years in production, the Nissan B13 chassis is not long for this world. New Mexican safety regulations will spell the end of the Nissan Tsuru, according to a report in La Jornada Aguascalientes.

While the Tsuru — sold here as the Sentra from 1991 through 1994 — remains one of the most popular vehicles in the Mexican market due to remarkably low prices and ownership costs, the lack of airbags and anti-lock brakes mean doom as the Mexican government begins to bring cars sold in the country up to the safety standards required in the U.S. and Europe.

We last looked at the Tsuru back in March and lamented on the cheap-and-cheerful ur-Sentra’s lack of availability on our shores. With a base price of around $7,000 USD, it’s no wonder why the Tsuru is a darling of taxi fleets south of the border.

Unfortunately, a platform designed in the late ‘80s is woefully unprepared to handle the brace of airbags and advanced driver-safety features expected in modern transportation. Mexico’s new NOM-194 motor vehicle safety laws expressly require ABS and airbags engineered to various EU and FMVSS standards, among other regulations. The new laws will make the B13 chassis obsolete, much in the same way similar laws killed off the Volkswagen Type 2 “Kombi” in Brazil.

While Sentra enthusiasts will bemoan the end of a beloved platform, Nissan has plenty of other top-selling models, including the Tiida, which we know as the last generation Versa sedan.

[Images: Nissan Mexico, Latin NCAP]

h/t to GMInsideNews

#B13 #Mexico #Nissan #NissanTsuru #Sentra

Chris Tonn

Some enthusiasts say they were born with gasoline in their veins. Chris Tonn, on the other hand, had rust flakes in his eyes nearly since birth. Living in salty Ohio and being hopelessly addicted to vintage British and Japanese steel will do that to you. His work has appeared in eBay Motors, Hagerty, The Truth About Cars, Reader's Digest, AutoGuide, Family Handyman, and Jalopnik. He is a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association, and he's currently looking for the safety glasses he just set down somewhere.

More by Chris Tonn

Comments

Join the conversation

6 of 59 comments

Ronnie Schreiber on Aug 18, 2016

So I guess the Tsuru didn't give owners much tsuris. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/tsuris

Like Reply
- See 1 previous
- FreedMike on Aug 18, 2016
  
  Oy gevalt!
  
  Like
- Fishiftstick on Aug 19, 2016
  
  So that crash test photo . . . gehakte tsuris?
  
  Like
Motormouth on Aug 18, 2016

They don't build 'em like they used to. Wait - yes they do! I was working for a short time at a Nissan dealer when these were launched in the US, they were half decent but things have clearly moved on.

Like Reply
- See 1 previous
- Gtem on Aug 18, 2016
  
  A co-worker has had to replace a strut at 15k and now a rear wheel bearing at 21k on his bought-new '14 Sentra. I'm feeling at least a bit guilty since I enthusiastically supported said purchase. At least it's all been covered under warranty no questions asked.
  
  Like
- Motormouth on Aug 19, 2016
  
  @gtem Modernity has never been a guarantee of longevity. I guess the Tsuru was a successful case of 'keep it simple'. I won't add the other word.
  
  Like

Recent Comments

Slavuta Why is everybody sweating? Like sedans? - go buy one. Better - 2. Let CRV/RAV rust on the dealer lot. I have 3 sedans on the driveway. My neighbor - 2. Neighbors on each of our other side - 8 SUVs.
Theflyersfan With sedans, especially, I wonder how many of those sales are to rental fleets. With the exception of the Civic and Accord, there are still rows of sedans mixed in with the RAV4s at every airport rental lot. I doubt the breakdown in sales is publicly published, so who knows... GM isn't out of the sedan business - Cadillac exists and I can't believe I'm typing this but they are actually decent - and I think they are making a huge mistake, especially if there's an extended oil price hike (cough...Iran...cough) and people want smaller and hybrids. But if one is only tied to the quarterly shareholder reports and not trends and the big picture, bad decisions like this get made.
Wjtinfwb Not proud of what Stellantis is rolling out?
Wjtinfwb Absolutely. But not incredibly high-tech, AWD, mega performance sedans with amazing styling and outrageous price tags. GM needs a new Impala and LeSabre. 6 passenger, comfortable, conservative, dead nuts reliable and inexpensive enough for a family guy making 70k a year or less to be able to afford. Ford should bring back the Fusion, modernized, maybe a bit bigger and give us that Hybrid option again. An updated Taurus, harkening back to the Gen 1 and updated version that easily hold 6, offer a huge trunk, elevated handling and ride and modest power that offers great fuel economy. Like the GM have a version that a working mom can afford. The last decade car makers have focused on building cars that American's want, but eliminated what they need. When a Ford Escape of Chevy Blazer can be optioned up to 50k, you've lost the plot.
Willie If both nations were actually free market economies I would be totally opposed. The US is closer to being one, but China does a lot to prop up the sectors they want to dominate allowing them to sell WAY below cost, functionally dumping their goods in our market to destroy competition. I have seen this in my area recently with shrimp farmed by Chinese comglomerates being sold super cheap to push local producers (who have to live at US prices and obey US laws) out of business.China also has VERY lax safety and environmental laws which reduce costs greatly. It isn't an equal playing field, they don't play fair.