The ultimate Tesla Model 3 rival? Nissan is sizing up the Dongfeng Nissan N7 for export
Nissan Japan is weighing up the option of switching the Dongfeng Nissan N7 sedan it sells in China to right-hand drive, opening the door for the advanced Tesla Model 3 fighter to be offered in markets like Australia.
According to CarNewsChina, the Dongfeng Nissan N7 was created specifically for Chinese consumers, but now Nissan thinks its styling, spacious premium cabin, advanced tech and ultra-fast charging means it could prove a hit in both Japan and further afar.
Recently introduced in China in late April, the N7 sedan has already been priced from just 119,000 Chinese yuan ($A25,500), where it has been created to battle with the Tesla Model 3.
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Even though it’s pitched as a Tesla Model 3 rival, in reality the N7 measures in at 4930mm long, 1895mm wide, and 1487mm high, with a wide 2915mm wheelbase. That makes it 210mm longer, 45mm wider, and 46mm taller than the world’s second best-selling EV, suggesting it is more large than mid-sized.
From launch, Chinese buyers get the choice of a single e-motor that offers either 160kW or 200kW, which is combined with a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack that provides a range of between 510km and 635km on the lenient CLTC Chinese test cycle.
Better still, thanks to ultra-fast DC charging capability, Dongfeng Nissan claim a 30 to 80 per cent top-up takes just 14 minutes, making it one of the fastest-charging EVs in its class.
Other highlights include Nissan’s Cloud Comfort cabin design that mixes cloud-patterned soft padded materials with microfibre and Alcantara for a premium feel.
When it comes to in-car tech there’s also a large 15.6-inch 2.5K touchscreen that is combined with a large digital instrument cluster.
Powering the fresh tech on the N7 is Nissan’s latest operating system and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P chipset that features AI integration, giving the car a powerful onboard assistant.
It also features smooth styling, a closed-off grille, split headlights, and a full-width LED light bar, and at the rear is a lighting system that can display animations for personalisation.
Just two 19-inch wheel designs are available, including an aerodynamic rim that boosts range.
From its launch, the N7 incorporates Nissan and Dongfeng’s latest driver-assist tech that was developed with China’s autonomous driving specialist, Momenta.
With reports of long customer waiting times for the Nissan N7, the vehicle is winning over buyers by offering space from the class above with mid-size sedan pricing, while including some of the fastest charging in its class.
