The Nissan Sunny sedan has been scheduled to launch on the 20th of September, 2011. But just before the launch, there is good news that has emerged from the Nissan India camp. This news is expected to give Nissan the much needed breakthrough, which will lead to the success of the sedan. In the face of it, it looks like Nissan India has lately revised and reworked its pricing strategy in the wake of the not so successful journey of the Micra Hatchback. Although Micra is available in petrol and diesel variants, its sales figure is not satisfactory. With the Nissan Sunny though, Nissan seems to be taking no chances with the pricing and hence the car could be priced very competitively. Therefore, the Sunny`s price is expected to remain around Rs. 7 lacs to Rs. 9 lacs.
The Nissan Sunny sedan is likely to give a tough competition to the likes of the Hyundai Verna Fluidic and the new Ford Fiesta sedan. Moreover, it is priced lesser than both the Verna Fluidic and the new Fiesta sedan. It is important to note that the Sunny sedan is a global car model that is already being sold in markets abroad in countries like the United States and China. In India, the Nissan Sunny will be equipped with a 1.5 litre, 99 bhp and 134 Nm petrol engine. The petrol variant is expected to be followed by a diesel variant which would be launched sometime later next year. This strategy proves to be the same as that implied on the Micra hatchback. The petrol engine of the sedan comes with an ARAI certified mileage of 16.95 kmpl, which is a good fuel economy for a mid-sized sedan.
As the Hyundai Verna Fluidic petrol base variant is priced just below Rs. 7 lacs, i.e. at Rs. 6.99 lacs, there was always a tip-off that Nissan would price the Sunny at the most minimum as possible. Thus, Sunny appears to be a very profitable option among other cars in the C segment of the Indian auto market. Normally rear seat space and comfort has very less room and priority in any other C segment sedan. However, Nissan Sunny along with Tata Manza are exceptions to this and have managed or would manage to satisfy the buyers in terms of space and comfort too. Thus, Nissan will be eyeing on Manza’s market share and is expected to affect it to some extent.
The 2011 Nissan Sunny`s spacious rear seat, equipped with rear AC vents are considered to be its unique selling points and factors that are believed to be cashed in on, by Nissan India. Also, the Sunny is equipped by many safety features like ABS, EBD, Side Impact beam and driver’s side airbag as standard equipment which is also present surprisingly in the base variants.
Thus, the competitive price range and features that are uncommon for a C segment sedan are the primary aspects that have kept the hopes of Nissan intact. The 2011 Nissan Sunny is expected to carve a niche for itself, overpowering the less enthusiastic performance by the Micra hatchback.
