According to the 2015 Kinsey Report, Nissan South Africa’s locally manufactured workhorses, the one-ton NP300 Hardbody and the half-ton NP200, are the pickups to own if you’re shopping for a bakkie. What is even more impressive - according to the report – is that these bakkies are also the most affordable to repair.
This year, the annual Kinsey Report, celebrates its 26th anniversary of publication. Every year Malcolm Kinsey, a journalist and industry specialist, selects a range of vehicles and a list of crash and service parts. He then anonymously sources the prices of these parts at dealers across South Africa and ranks the cost of service and repair of the selected vehicles in specific segments.
The Kinsey Report states that the Nissan NP200 is the most affordable single-cab pickup and half-ton pickup to service and maintain in South Africa, while the NP300 Hardbody was the second most affordable overall and the most affordable to service and maintain of all the tested one-ton pickups.
Nissan manufactures the NP200 and NP300 Hardbody at its South African production facility in Rosslyn, north of Pretoria, from where it also exports these models to several countries in Africa.
Nissan’s engineering efforts have already paid dividends, after tests by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) reported a combined cycle fuel consumption of 6.8 litres/100km for the 2.5 DCi single cab NP300 Hardbody and 5.3 litres/100km for the NP200 with a 1.5 dCi engine.
The two Nissan pickups are joined by the Nissan Micra, which was selected as one of the most affordable city and entry-level vehicles to maintain and repair in South Africa. The Micra was just pipped to the post by the entry-level GO! from sister company, Datsun and like its pickup brothers it was commended for its affordable service and repair costs.
Knowing this, would you still purchase one? Does this report change your view on a vehicle? If so, let us know, write to us, e-mail us or post to our Facebook page.
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