Nissan Elgrand and Honda’s Odyssey are expected to be the next models.

“Nissan “”March”” 40 years of history! Neither the Yaris nor the Fit can match it! Four Memorable Models of the Super Venerable Compact Car

A look back at Nissan’s long-established March compact car brand, which lasted 40 years and four generations.
　At the end of August 2022, several newspapers and other media reported the end of production of the Nissan March.
　
　The March is a long-established brand with a 40-year history, which is significantly longer than any other Japanese compact car, and has lasted for four generations. Let’s take a look back at the successive generations.

Image] Only four generations in 40 years: “”Which one is your favorite? A look at the 68 photos of the “”March”” of past generations that bring back too much nostalgia.

In 2002, just as the Carlos Ghosn administration was beginning, Nissan’s third-generation (K12) March (2002-2010), with its distinctive rounded styling and wide variety of colors, attracted a lot of attention, especially among female users.

First-generation “”MARCH”” [K10 model / 1982-1992]

　The first-generation March, launched in October 1982, made a spectacular debut as a hatchback model in the liter car class (referring to models with an engine displacement of around 1 liter), smaller than the “”Sunny”” and “”Pulsar”” compact cars of the time.

　In addition, Nissan solicited car names from the general public in advance, and used the top idol of the time, Masahiko Kondo (nicknamed “”Match””), as its image celebrity to market the model as “”Match’s March””. Nissan put a lot of effort into this model.

　At first, only a 1-liter 3-door model debuted, and later a 5-door model was added. The March Super Turbo, a double-charged model equipped with a supercharger and turbocharger, and other variations were added to the lineup.

Second-generation “”MARCH”” [K11 model / 1992-2002]

　The second generation March, which underwent its first full model change in 10 years in 1992, was developed with the aim of expanding sales not only in Japan but also in the European market, a fierce battleground for compact cars.

　In addition to winning several awards, including the Japan Car of the Year Award and the Good Design Award, it was the first Japanese car to win the European Car of the Year Award, and has been highly acclaimed in Japan and Europe.

　In addition to the three-door and five-door body types, the March lineup includes the March Box, a wagon body, and the March Cabriolet, a convertible model, as well as the March Bolero, a retro-design custom model by Autec Japan (now Nissan Motor Sports & Customization). The “”March Rumba”” was also actively developed as a variation of the original model.

　Like the first generation, this model was produced for approximately 10 years, and has become a long-seller, maintaining even more stable sales volume than the first generation.

Third-generation “”March”” (K12 model / 2002-2010)

　The third-generation K12 March, which was introduced in 2002 after the business alliance with Renault, was based on the jointly developed Alliance B platform.

　It was characterized by its distinctive rounded design, and attracted much attention as a model that symbolized the new era of Nissan under the soon-to-be-appointed Carlos Ghosn administration.

　From its debut, it has been available in a wide range of colors, with colorful new colors added with each product improvement, and has been a topic of conversation for a long time, attracting support mainly from women.

　Following the second generation, the retro-masked “”March Lafite”” and “”March Bolero”” were added, as well as the “”12SR,”” a sports model with a tuned engine, and the “”Micra C+C,”” an open model with a hard-top roof, and many other derivative models were born.

The end of the 40-year history of the Nissan March! Neither the Yaris nor the Fit could match it! Four Memorable Past Models of the Super Venerable Compact Car

End of sales in Japan with the 4th generation? However, there was a “”5th generation”” for Europe!
The 4th generation “”MARCH”” [K13/2010-2022]

　The 4th generation, which underwent a model change in 2010, combined a newly developed V-platform with a fuel-efficient 1.2-liter inline 3-cylinder engine with an idling stop system.

　The most significant news was that it was the first model to be produced overseas. The Japanese version was made at Nissan’s Thai plant.

　Production continued for 12 years until 2022, making it the longest-selling March model of all time.

　The “”March NISMO,”” a full-fledged sports model that replaced the previous generation’s 12SR, and the retro-style “”March Bolero”” are also derivatives of the March, as they have been for many years.

The first-generation (K10) Nissan March made its debut with much fanfare and promotion, partly because it was a “”liter car,”” a new genre of car.

　Although the March’s production has been discontinued as reported by newspapers, as of early September 2022, there has been no official announcement from the manufacturer. On Nissan’s official website, the March is still being sold.

　However, a small note on the website states, “”Some specifications, grades, and colors may not be available due to production reasons,”” suggesting that something will be done in the future.

　It is expected that the company will continue to sell the product for a while until the pre-produced inventory runs out.

The car is expected to continue to be sold for a while until the pre-production stock runs out.

　Although the March is reportedly discontinued in Japan, its successor, the 5th generation (K14 model), was launched in 2017 as a car exclusively for Europe.

　While both successive models have inherited the March’s character with their cute styling, the 5th generation is characterized by sharp styling starting with the V-motion grille. The wide and low form gives it a unique sporty image.

　It is interesting to note that in Europe, the March has been consistently referred to as the “”Micra”” rather than the “”March”” since the first generation.”