Nissan introduced the third generation of the Sunny in 1993 and made it available as a sedan and a three- and five doors hatchback.
Imagined as an economical vehicle, the Sunny was a star in its class, and Nissan felt obliged to produce a new generation that was up-to-date in terms of design and technology. But the Japanese automaker didn't forget to offer it in a three-door version that was the most affordable among its siblings. Unfortunately, after it dug deep into its pockets for engineers, only some change was left for the design team, who created a bland design for the otherwise very good vehicle.
Certainly, not even in the three-door version, which looked better than the sedan. It wasn't something to write home about it. Its front fascia featured rectangular headlights with a narrow grill that could barely provide enough air to cool the engine. To help that, the automaker installed a second air intake lower in the bumper. From its profile, the three-door Sunny didn't look that sporty, especially due to its C-pillar that was straight up and very thick.
Inside, the Sunny featured the same minimalist interior as its siblings, with a dull dashboard design that featured a center stack where the stereo and the HVAC controls were mounted. A low center console hosted the gear stick and divided the two front bucket seats. At the back, a folding bench expanded the trunk's size if anyone needed to carry something more than the weekly shopping for a week.
Nissan installed a choice of three engines in Sunny's engine bay, both gasoline and diesel. They were all paired to a five-speed manual gearbox.