Nissan Cherry

Nissan Cherry: Which Version to Buy and Why

The Nissan Cherry version to choose depends on whether the priority is performance, documented fuel economy, an automatic gearbox, diesel power, or lower kerb weight. Across its 4 generations, produced from 1970 to 1987, the catalogue records Coupe, Estate 3-door, and Mini 3-doors body styles.

The Nissan Cherry version to choose depends on whether the priority is performance, documented fuel economy, an automatic gearbox, diesel power, or lower kerb weight. Across its 4 generations, produced from 1970 to 1987, the catalogue records Coupe, Estate 3-door, and Mini 3-doors body styles. The clearest all-round choice is the 4 generation 1.5 MT with 75 hp: it combines the quickest measured 0–100 km/h time of 13 seconds, the highest measured top speed of 165 km/h, and the lowest measured gasoline consumption of 7.6 l/100 km in the city and 5.4 l/100 km on the highway. The performance choice is the other 4 generation 1.5 MT, identified by its 105 hp Turbo engine. The economy choice is the 4 generation 1.7 MT Diesel, with measured consumption of 6.9 l/100 km in the city and 4.7 l/100 km on the highway.

Nissan Cherry generations: what changed?

The 1 generation ran from 1970 to 1974 as a Coupe with 1 version. Its only offering was the 1.0 MT with 45 hp, a 988 cc Gasoline engine, 4-speed Manual gearbox, FWD, 152 mm ground clearance, independent spring front suspension, and front Disc brakes. Performance, consumption, kerb weight, gross weight, tank capacity, and wheel sizes are not measured.

The 2 generation ran from 1974 to 1978 as an Estate 3-door with 3 versions. The two database entries named 1.0 MT both have 62 hp, while the 1.2 MT has 70 hp. Every version uses a Gasoline Inline 4-cylinder engine, Carburetor, 4-speed Manual gearbox, and FWD. Compared with the 45 hp 1 generation 1.0 MT, the 62 hp 2 generation 1.0 MT adds 17 hp, an increase of about 37.8%, while retaining the same 988 cc displacement. This generation also has a documented kerb weight of 755 kg and 152 mm clearance.

The 3 generation ran from 1978 to 1983 as a Coupe with 5 versions. Its range consists of 1.0 MT with 44 hp, two 1.2 MT versions with 52 hp that differ by having 4-speed and 5-speed Manual gearboxes, and two 1.3 MT versions with 60 hp that likewise have 4-speed and 5-speed Manual gearboxes. All are Gasoline, Inline 4-cylinder, non-turbo, Carburetor, Manual, and FWD. Clearance increased by 18 mm over the previous generation, from 152 to 170 mm.

The 4 generation ran from 1982 to 1987 as a Mini 3-doors with 10 versions. The entries include two 1.0 MT versions with 50 hp, two 1.3 MT versions with 60 hp, three 1.5 MT versions with 75 hp, 75 hp, and 105 hp, one 1.5 AT with 75 hp, and two 1.7 MT Diesel versions with 54 hp. This is the broadest choice in the catalogue: it introduces a 3-speed Automatic option, Diesel alternatives, and a 105 hp Turbo Gasoline version with central injection.

Nissan Cherry engine and transmission specs

Repeated names below are distinguished by power, gearbox, displacement, or production dates where necessary.

Power per litre separates the choices clearly. The 4 generation 1.5 MT with 105 hp produces 70 hp per litre, the best ratio in the data. The 2 generation 1.0 MT with 62 hp delivers about 62.8 hp per litre, while the 2 generation 1.2 MT provides about 59.8 hp per litre. The measured 4 generation 1.5 MT with 75 hp produces about 50.4 hp per litre, and either 54 hp 1.7 MT Diesel produces about 32.1 hp per litre.

Nissan Cherry performance and mpg

Measured performance and economy figures exist only for 5 entries in the 4 generation. All other versions have 0–100 km/h acceleration, top speed, city consumption, highway consumption, and combined consumption listed as not measured.

Among these measured versions, the 1.5 MT is 3.7 seconds quicker to 100 km/h than the 1.0 MT and has a top speed 20 km/h higher. It also uses 1.9 l/100 km less in the city, 0.8 l/100 km less on the highway, and 0.3 l/100 km less in combined driving.

Choosing the 1.5 AT instead of the comparable 75 hp 1.5 MT changes more than the gearbox. The Automatic is 3.5 seconds slower to 100 km/h, its top speed is 10 km/h lower, and consumption rises by 0.9 l/100 km in the city, 1.1 l/100 km on the highway, and 0.3 l/100 km combined.

The measured 1.7 MT Diesel is 3.5 seconds slower to 100 km/h and 20 km/h slower at maximum speed than the 75 hp 1.5 MT. In return, it uses 0.7 l/100 km less in the city, 0.7 l/100 km less on the highway, and 0.5 l/100 km less combined.

For the 105 hp 1.5 MT Turbo, acceleration, top speed, and fuel consumption are not measured. Its extra 30 hp over either 75 hp 1.5 version is documented, but the data do not quantify how that affects road performance or economy.

Nissan Cherry dimensions, weight, clearance, and tank

The catalogue provides no exterior length, width, or height measurements for any Nissan Cherry version. Wheel sizes are also not measured for every version.

The 2 generation 1.0 MT and 1.2 MT entries have a kerb weight of 755 kg and 152 mm ground clearance. Gross weight and tank capacity are not measured. Using their recorded output, the 62 hp 1.0 MT carries about 12.2 kg per hp, while the 70 hp 1.2 MT carries about 10.8 kg per hp. The 1.2 MT therefore has the stronger documented power-to-weight relationship.

For the measured 4 generation entries, kerb weight ranges from 810 kg for the 1.0 MT to 920 kg for the 1.7 MT Diesel. The 1.3 MT weighs 820 kg, the 1.5 MT weighs 830 kg, and the 1.5 AT weighs 850 kg. The Gasoline versions have a gross weight of 1285 kg; the measured Diesel has a gross weight of 1360 kg. Each has 170 mm ground clearance and a 50 l tank.

Weight per horsepower again favors the measured 1.5 MT: its 830 kg and 75 hp equal about 11.1 kg per hp. The 1.5 AT has the same power but weighs 20 kg more, giving about 11.3 kg per hp. The 1.3 MT has about 13.7 kg per hp, the 1.0 MT has 16.2 kg per hp, and the 1.7 MT Diesel has about 17.0 kg per hp. Kerb weight for the 105 hp 1.5 MT Turbo is not measured, so its weight per horsepower cannot be calculated.

Which Nissan Cherry version should you buy?

Choose the 4 generation 1.5 MT with 75 hp, 1488 cc, and 121 Nm for the strongest documented balance. It leads all versions with measured performance at 13 seconds to 100 km/h and 165 km/h, yet it also records the lowest gasoline city and highway consumption. Compared with the measured 1.3 MT, it adds 15 hp and 21 Nm, cuts acceleration by 1.4 seconds, raises top speed by 10 km/h, and uses 0.7 l/100 km less in the city and 0.6 l/100 km less on the highway.

Choose the 4 generation 1.7 MT Diesel with 54 hp and 100 Nm when measured fuel consumption matters more than speed. Its 6.8 l/100 km combined result is 0.5 l/100 km below the 75 hp 1.5 MT, although its weight-per-horsepower figure is weaker and its measured top speed is 20 km/h lower.

Choose the 4 generation 1.5 AT if Automatic is essential. It is the only Automatic version in the data, using a 3-speed transmission. The trade-off against the 75 hp 1.5 MT is higher kerb weight, slower acceleration, lower top speed, and higher consumption in every measured driving cycle.

Choose the 4 generation 1.5 MT with 105 hp for the highest engine output and power per litre. Its Turbo, central-injection Gasoline engine adds 30 hp over the naturally aspirated 75 hp 1.5 MT. However, torque, performance, economy, weight, gross weight, and tank capacity are not measured, so it is the performance-oriented choice on engine output alone rather than on complete road-test evidence.

Among earlier cars, the 2 generation 1.2 MT is the numerical choice: it has 70 hp at 755 kg, compared with 62 hp at the same kerb weight for the 1.0 MT. For a 3 generation Coupe, the 1.3 MT offers 60 hp against 52 hp for the 1.2 MT and 44 hp for the 1.0 MT; where the engine output is identical, choosing between the duplicate 1.2 MT or 1.3 MT entries comes down to the recorded 4-speed or 5-speed Manual gearbox. Reliability, problems, engine-swap compatibility, prices, and sale availability are not measured in the supplied data, so they cannot support a factual recommendation here.