The Nissan Tino was a five-door hatchback produced from 1998 to 2006.
Nissan Tino Design and Introduction
As another Nissan entry to the multi-purpose vehicle segment, the Nissan Tino was first released in 1998 as a five-door hatchback. It was built on the Nissan MS platform and proved to be another practical car that could seat up to five people with relative comfort, drive city streets with ease, and include a decent size cargo area in the rear. In fact, the first Tinos featured a front bench seat increasing seating capacity to an impressive six people. In many markets, this model was sold as the Nissan Almera Tino. But in the Japanese domestic market, it was simply the Nissan Tino. While a Japanese facility took care of its initial production, Nissan used its plant in Spain to produced the Almera Tino from 2000 to 2006. It was eventually going to replace another Nissan five-door wagon model, the Sunny Traveler. The overall design of the Nissan Tino featured a rounded, tear-drop shape, providing an aerodynamic look that was neither unpleasant nor overly stylish. The front end had a small grille surrounding the Nissan logo, flanked on either side by large headlights. The bumpers were color-matched, as were the side mirrors. In many ways, the Tino's styling was sportier as compared to other Nissan offerings, making it a slightly more attractive option.
Engine and Available Options
Three engines were available for the Nissan Almera Tino and Nissan Tino. These included two gasoline options, the 1.8L QG18DE inline-4 and the 2.0L SR20DE inline-4. The 1.8L option was available with a hybrid option, adding in a 17 kW electric motor. The Tino was also available with a diesel engine, featuring the 2.2L YD22DDTi. A four-speed automatic transmission was used on the base model with the non-hybrid 1.8L engine. But the 1.8L hybrid and the 2.0L gasoline engines used a continuously variable transmission. This provides smooth acceleration, no gear changes, and is great for easy-going city driving, a main attraction of the Nissan Tino. And available sport mode helped provide maximum response and power when needed. The Tino had a reputation for being fairly well equipped, even in the base level trim. Climate control and front electric windows were standard on all models, while a wide selection of options could be fitted for those who desire other amenities. The interior was packed with unique storage areas, shelves, and nets. People who wanted a spot for every item in their vehicle could rejoice in the Tino's wide offerings.
Later Updates to the Nissan Tino
While the Nissan Tino was only produced in one generation, it did see some updates during its relatively short production run. The most substantial occurred in early 2003. Some changes were cosmetic and fairly inconsequential, such as the change in turn signal light housing from orange covers to transparent. More significant changes occurred to the interior. Drivers would immediately notice the new steering wheel and dashboard cluster arrangement, providing an improved handling and easier visibility of the vital information in the cluster's dials. The fuel tank was a rather small 13.2 gallons (50L), but that could go a long way in this compact car with a small engine. The front-wheel drive allowed for ease of use, but couldn't handle incredibly slick or off-road conditions. But in many ways, the Tino was never designed to tackle those jobs. Overall, the Nissan Tino was yet another successful Nissan option in the multi-purpose vehicle segment. It served well as a practical family car, although in some ways the compact design would limit its use. Nonetheless, the rear cargo area is spacious, even when the rear seats are in use. And when the rear was not in use, it provided ample cargo space for all of your gear.