By Aurelia Mbokazi
When I learned that Nissan had sold its Rosslyn plant to the Chery Group, I felt a tinge of sadness. I wondered whether this was the end of a chapter for a manufacturer that has been part of South African life, and part of mine. Nissan had stopped building vehicles here. Did that mean their cars would also slowly disappear from our roads too? I wondered.
My first driving lesson was in an old white Nissan 1400 bakkie. The floor had rusted so badly that I could see the ground beneath my feet. I learnt to steer by circling a dusty soccer field for more than an hour, going round and round until I felt dizzy. The windows were down because it was hot, and dust came up through the floor anyway. It wasn’t glamorous, but I’ve never forgotten it.
Growing up in the township, I also remember the friendly rivalry between the fathers who drove Nissan Skylines and those who swore by Toyota Cressidas. These were cars with personalities, and people had stories about them.
So I arrived at Gallagher Estate on Monday for the launch of the new Nissan Tekton with expectations for the brand. Fortunately, they lived up to those expectations and delivered more. Nissan reassured us that it intended to stay in the country.
A face you remember
The Tekton enters a crowded SUV market, but its design caught my eye straight away. The shape has presence, while the LED daytime running lights give the front and back adistinctive look, making it the kind of car I would recognise again in traffic.
Inside, the layout felt thought-through, comfortable and was easy to settle into. I liked the soft-touch finishes and the steering wheel, which had a comfortable weight in my hands. I could picture a family of four fitting in without a squeeze, with enough boot space for the luggage that somehow multiplies before every holiday.
My drive lasted only about 15 minutes, roughly the length of a dealership test drive. That gave me time to get a feel for the driving position and controls, though I’d want a longer trip before judging how it performs on the open road. The first impression was a pleasant one: I felt comfortable and connected to the car.
My short drive took me from Gallagher Convention Centre onto the back roads and the freeway, and was enough to form a useful first impression. The Tekton had ample power for the route and felt comfortable and easy to drive in both settings. It isn’t a performance car, nor does it need to be. What mattered to me was that it never felt short of breath as I joined the freeway or moved through everyday traffic. I came away feeling that this is a car I could live with comfortably.
What you get for the money
The range starts at R339,999 for the 1.0-litre turbo Visia manual. Nissan lists six airbags, a reversing camera, rear parking sensors and ISOFIX child-seat anchors among its standard safety equipment. Higher-specification versions add features such as blind-spot warning and intelligent cruise control. I didn’t have enough time behind the wheel to try the driver assistance systems, so those are features I’d want to explore on a longer drive.
The Tekton is a promising new arrival for Nissan. Its design stayed with me, the cabin felt welcoming, and the starting price gives families a reason to take a closer look.
Selling Rosslyn means Nissan’s relationship with South Africa has changed. That loss still matters. But as I drove away from the launch, I thought back to that dusty 1400 and all the memories made in Nissan vehicles since. It was good to know there may be many more to come. Nissan says it has further models planned for South Africa; the Tekton feels like the start of its next chapter here.
