All You Need To Know About Nissan Pickup Trucks

Nissan is a leading vehicle manufacturer and despite being from Japan, one of its largest manufacturing sites is in Sunderland, England. Because of this, Nissan vehicles are extremely popular with British motorists and commonplace on our roads, and they have been for years.

This article will explore how Nissan pickup trucks went from being one of the leading vehicles in the U.S.A. to becoming prevalent in the United Kingdom. We'll also explore Nissan's UK history, the pickups that made them famous stateside, and some of the best Nissan pickup trucks available.

The History of Nissan in the United Kingdom

A strong bond with Nissan and the UK

Nissan started importing cars to the UK in 1968, and 1972 saw a monumental increase in sales, going from 6,000 to 30,000 in one year. This was largely down to the reliability and affordability of Nissan vehicles and the difficulties facing British manufacturers such as strikes and poor build quality.

This rampant success led to an agreement between the UK government and Nissan to build a manufacturing plant in Sunderland, which they began in 1984.

Nissan calls Sunderland home

The Nissan Sunderland plant was announced after a period of industrial decline in the area from the closure of shipyards and coal mines. There was such high unemployment in the region at the time, that there were over 25,000 applicants for the first 450 jobs at the plant.

This trend continued over the years and over 6,000 employees work at the Sunderland plant today. Nissan also supports more than 30,000 British jobs in their supply chain with over five million parts arriving daily. Since it opened, over 10 million vehicles have been manufactured at the plant, and it regularly produces 500,000 cars a year which is the equivalent of two per minute.

The first Nissan car from Sunderland

The first Nissan vehicle built in Sunderland was the Nissan Bluebird, which boasted a square style that the Japanese and U.S. markets loved. The European version was slightly different with unique trim levels and safety features to meet European standards. The success of the Bluebird started a boom period for Nissan that would last for years, with many models manufactured in the heart of the North East of England.

Decades of development

Over the next forty years, most of Nissan's success came from smaller cars, but its LCV range has also become the first choice for many British tradespeople who need reliable, robust business vehicles.

Recently, however, Nissan pickup trucks have become more popular as Brits want larger personal vehicles for their families. But to tell the story of Nissan pickup trucks wouldn't be complete without a trip across the pond.

Nissan Pickup Trucks - An American Love Story

When you think of America, you probably think of Hollywood, baseball, burgers, and pickup trucks. So, it's no surprise that Nissan found almost instant success in the States when it started importing high-quality pickup trucks.

Early Nissan pickup trucks

The first Nissan vehicles in America were badged as Datsun and known for their reliability and durability. The first to be imported Stateside was the Datsun Model 70, released in the early 1930s and quickly followed by the Datsun 120.

The Datsun 220, 320, and 520

1959 was a bumper year in the U.S. market thanks to the Datsun 220 release, the first compact in the country's history. Building on the design of the 120 with a more pronounced frame and grille, the 220 was known as "The Little Red Truck" and was immensely popular with American business owners and farmers.

The Datsun 320 came next in 1961 with double cab and long wheelbase single cap options. This was followed by the first half-ton compact pickup in 1969, the Datsun 520, which again built on the success of its predecessors.

The Datsun 620 and 720

Due to the popularity of the 220 and 520, the 620 pickup truck was released in 1975 and became the first long-bed compact pickup in the U.S.A. It was superseded by the first king cab body alternative in 1977, which was embraced by everyday Americans rather than those in heavy industry.

The Datsun 720 was later released in 1983 and joined a long line of successful Datsun pickup trucks.

The Nissan King Cab Frontier

Americans love a good frontier, and the original Nissan Navara was rebranded as the Frontier for American audiences. This was a masterstroke by Nissan and when the first generation of the Frontier arrived in 1997, it quickly became one of the most iconic pickups in the country.

From then until 2021, the Nissan King Cab Frontier reigned supreme, superseding the previous model and remaining one of the country's most popular pickups. With large grille and bumper combinations, huge wheels, and double cab options, these pickups symbolise a huge part of American culture and are the dream of many motorists.

But when and why did they become so popular in the UK?

Nissan Pickup Trucks in the United Kingdom

While Americans were very much used to Nissan pickups, the UK was just getting a taste for them at the start of the 21st century. The obsession started with the Nissan Navara, the European-branded of the Frontier, which took the UK market by storm when it was released in 2005.

Introducing the Nissan Navara

The Nissan Navara was built with practicality in mind and came equipped with off-road features and on-road capabilities. This made the model popular with British buyers who wanted a change from the smaller cars of the time.

The 2005 Navara was also relatively affordable, and while models were used as family cars due to their size, reliability, and shape, they appealed to men because they looked the part but weren't as expensive as a sports car.

Nissan Navara Pickup Features Today

Due to its popularity, the Navara has been revised and relaunched multiple times over the past couple of decades and vast improvements have been made to suit British and European motorists. Today, Nissan Navaras are among the best-selling pickups in Britain, and features such as dual-zone climate control are just the tip of the iceberg of most models.

Let's explore some of the key features that set these vehicles apart and demonstrate why they sell so well in this part of the world.

Audio and communication

Each modern-day Nissan Navara has an 8-inch touchscreen Nissan Connect 2.0 entertainment system and satellite navigation. There are also three 12V sockets, an AUX socket, Bluetooth audio streaming, a DAB digital radio, four speakers, and a USB port.

Driver assistance

Modern Navaras also help you drive safely thanks to a 360-degree around view monitor and cruise control with a speed limiter. Each features an onboard computer, an external temperature sensor, four rear parking sensors, and a rear-view camera.

A far cry from those original Datsun 220s, you won't have to do an intense arm workout to operate the steering wheel, either, thanks to power steering included as standard on every modern model.

Performance and safety

Nissan Navaras are built with alarms and immobilisers and the majority of models will also boast the following:

• ABS
• Remote central locking
• Power door locks
• Hill start assist
• Trailer sway assist technology
• Nissan intelligent keys
• Vehicle dynamic control capabilities
• Driver and passenger side curtain and knee airbags.

Some of our Nissan Pickup Trucks

Nissan Navaras are some of the most popular Nissan pickups in the country and we have you covered with a huge selection of Navara options to browse online.

Browse our range of Nissan Navara pickups to find a suitable option, with colours such as black, twilight grey, white, and more.

Our Gold Wear and Tear Warranty

At Otter Vale Motor Services, we provide a Gold Wear and Tear Warranty. This helps you with the cost of pickup truck repairs and includes replacement parts, labour, and VAT.

We also offer an optional recovery service if you suffer breakdowns or accidents on the road, and guarantee fast payment for valid claims. Our national repair network is extensive, too, and our team of Nissan experts can handle any job you throw at us regarding your vehicle.

Buy a Nissan Pickup Truck in Devon and the South West

We have a wide range of Nissan pickup trucks for sale online with local and national purchase options. With performance, power, and style at the top of the agenda, we also provide finance deals for vehicles in the Nissan range from right here in Devon, the South West, to the North of England and anywhere in between.

Browse our range of new and used Nissan pickups here and if you'd like help with your purchase or want to explore the benefits of our Nissan range, speak with our expert team.

Give us a call at 01404 861 155 to arrange a test drive or find answers to your burning Nissan pickup questions.