Photo: Nissan
Nissan works in mysterious ways. Take, for instance, the March for the Mexican market. Instead of redesigning the subcompact hatchback from the ground up, the 2021 model year is nothing more than a facelift.
What is the problem with that, you may be wondering? For starters, the March for Mexico is an 11-year-old supermini under the skin, whereas the Micra five-door hatchback for the European Union rolled out five years ago.
Looking at the bigger picture, Nissan couldn’t make a case for all-new underpinnings and engines because Mexican car buyers don’t have the buying power of U.S. or European customers. As a result of this financial reality, budget-oriented hatchbacks are preferred in this part of the world.
Just like the Micra for the Old Continent, the March boasts a sharper front bumper that integrates the company’s trademark V-Motion grille and halogen headlamps. C-shaped taillamps with LED signature lighting, two-tone color options, and black window trim also need to be mentioned, along with black-painted side mirrors and new designs for the four-lug wheels.
Updated with six airbags and five three-point seat belts as standard, the March also features a flat-bottom steering wheel and a slightly redesigned dashboard. Higher trim levels come with touchscreen infotainment and NissanConnect Finder, a connectivity service that allows the owner to locate the vehicle and immobilize it from his smartphone in case of theft.
Now available to pre-order, the March is listed from 219,900 to 304,900 pesos depending on the trim level, transmission, and spec. Those figures convert to $10,820 and $15,000 at current rates, which is tremendously good value.
A five-speed stick shift or a four-speed automatic are connected to a 1.6-liter four-pot engine, a free-breathing mill with 106 horsepower and 105 pound-feet (142 Nm) of torque. For the sake of comparison, the Micra for the European market features a five-speed manual or the Xtronic continuously variable transmission paired to a turbocharged 1.0-liter engine.
Looking at the bigger picture, Nissan couldn’t make a case for all-new underpinnings and engines because Mexican car buyers don’t have the buying power of U.S. or European customers. As a result of this financial reality, budget-oriented hatchbacks are preferred in this part of the world.
Just like the Micra for the Old Continent, the March boasts a sharper front bumper that integrates the company’s trademark V-Motion grille and halogen headlamps. C-shaped taillamps with LED signature lighting, two-tone color options, and black window trim also need to be mentioned, along with black-painted side mirrors and new designs for the four-lug wheels.
Updated with six airbags and five three-point seat belts as standard, the March also features a flat-bottom steering wheel and a slightly redesigned dashboard. Higher trim levels come with touchscreen infotainment and NissanConnect Finder, a connectivity service that allows the owner to locate the vehicle and immobilize it from his smartphone in case of theft.
Now available to pre-order, the March is listed from 219,900 to 304,900 pesos depending on the trim level, transmission, and spec. Those figures convert to $10,820 and $15,000 at current rates, which is tremendously good value.
A five-speed stick shift or a four-speed automatic are connected to a 1.6-liter four-pot engine, a free-breathing mill with 106 horsepower and 105 pound-feet (142 Nm) of torque. For the sake of comparison, the Micra for the European market features a five-speed manual or the Xtronic continuously variable transmission paired to a turbocharged 1.0-liter engine.
Google News