1997 Nissan Pickup Driving Impressions Review at Automotive.com
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1997 Nissan Pickup Review: Road Test

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1997 Nissan Pickup Review

A lotta truck for not a lotta bucks.
Driving Impressions
On or off the highway, Nissan Pickups are pleasant to drive. The power

steering combines low effort with good feel, the ride is firm but not unpleasant.

Like most pickups, these trucks ride better with a load in the bed than

when empty.

The suspension consists of independent struts with torsion bar springs

and a 23-mm anti-roll bar up front with a solid axle and leaf springs in

the rear. This sturdy combination gives the Nissan a smooth, car-like feel,

while giving it the ability to conquer the most challenging off-road terrain.

With their stiff suspensions, the 4X4 models feel a bit bouncy when going

over bumps and road irregularities.

While the 4X2 Regular Cabs can turn around in a 33.5-ft. circle, the

4X4 King Cab requires 38.7 feet to do the same, which requires a little

getting used to.

For many people, all-day trips in pickup trucks are not comfortable,

but the Nissans are much better in this regard than most other small trucks.

They are, of course, equipment-sensitive: You will want the King Cab

with its bucket seats if long hours behind the wheel are anticipated. For

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a personal use truck and general transportation the King Cab is the way

to go. Regular Cab trucks are best used primarily as work trucks.

Other, more practical matters to consider when choosing a Nissan are

construction details. Long Bed and 4X4 models have additional reinforcement

to their steel ladder-type chassis, a good feature to have in times of

heavy loading or off-road stress.

All Nissan pickup beds are double-walled for strength. The King Cab

models come standard with plastic bedliners, which are available as a dealer-installed

accessory package on the Regular Cab models.

Beyond practical considerations, there's little to do except look at

the various equipment levels, plus individual and package options. Some

represent genuine good value: The XE Value Truck package is a no-cost option

for all XE models that includes air conditioning, an AM/FM/cassette sound

system, aluminum alloy wheels with P215/70R-14 tires, black windshield

molding, black grille, black bumper, variable intermittent wipers, locking

glove compartment, ash tray, glove compartment lights, tachometer, trip

odometer and digital clock; that package cost $995 last year, adding considerable

value. The Comfort Package that comes with it adds a tilt steering column

and cruise control.

The SE King Cab is Nissan's best-equipped and most luxurious truck.

It comes with everything in the XE Value Package plus power windows and

door locks, cruise control, alloy wheels and a sunroof. This makes the

SE is an excellent choice for weekday and weekend use. Next Page



1997 Nissan Pickup