Nissan 300C Reviews

When is a car no longer a car?That’s a good question, as you’d initially think that a car needs four wheels, some seats and a steering wheel.Dig deeper and a car may only require three wheels, one seat and perhaps no steering wheel whatsoever. There’s a lot of flux to the definition of a car.The steering wheel point is particularly controversial as if there is no steering wheel, you’re technically not driving anymore and are a passenger. Therefore I’d argue this isn’t necessarily a car anymore and merely a shuttle for transportation.This feeling arose when I experienced Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software for the first time late last year.This was in a Model 3 electric sedan which can be fundamentally defined as a car. It has four wheels, five seats and a steering wheel.You’re also able to drive the Model 3 like a regular car, but with the push of a button it drives itself. Sure, you need to supervise it and take back control if it starts heading in the wrong direction, but for the most part you aren’t touching the steering wheel or pedals.It’s a bizarre sensation handing over all the driving inputs, especially when it can tackle complex scenarios like roundabouts, traffic lights and the infamous hook turns in Melbourne.The technology will likely reach a point where a steering wheel is no longer needed. Tesla is already planning for this with its Cybercab autonomous vehicle.Although production versions of the Cybercab have already started to be produced, they are in small numbers for testing purposes. It’s unclear when they’ll be publicly available for purchase.Tesla is far from the only company developing autonomous driving technology. I was recently a passenger in an autonomously driven Nissan Ariya in Japan. The technology to allow this has been developed in partnership with Wayve, which also has a partnership with Stellantis.Nissan is currently aiming to begin a robotaxi service with these autonomous vehicles in Japan by the end of 2026. It’s also eventually aiming to roll the technology out to customer vehicles as an optional extra.Additionally, Waymo is already operating an autonomous robotaxi service in select cities in the US. There are also plans to introduce it in the UK and Japan.Ultimately the goal with this kind of autonomous or self-driving technology is to have a lounge room on wheels. In some respects we are already there.In the era of software-defined vehicles, many cars now revolve around the central touchscreen multimedia system and the experience they provide. Arguably for some carmakers there is more emphasis on this and the actual driving experience is secondary.In some respects this is warranted as in electric vehicles (EVs) you may be spending your time in the car while it’s charging at a public charger but at the end of the day it’s a car, not a lounge room.Going back to Tesla, the main interface in its current vehicle line-up is the central touchscreen. It dominates the dashboard and you’re required to use it to adjust virtually function.There are also so many novelty and convenience features that span beyond the driving experience. Think of the games you can play while you’re parked, the light show and the comical fart noises you can get the car to play.The list goes on and for many carmakers, especially newer Chinese ones, it seems like a heavier focus is being put on features like this, or services relating to the touchscreen, than the overall driving experience.As a result, it feels like some cars are more glorified iPads with flashy lights on wheels.I know that many people can’t function without technology now and in many respects it’s critical to many areas of cars, particularly safety, however at the end of the day a car is meant to be driven.It would be lovely to see a renewed interest in how a car actually is to drive compared to how flashy and cool its technology is. I’d argue this is wishful thinking though, especially given autonomous vehicles appear closer on the horizon every day.

Two of Japan’s biggest car manufacturers are edging closer to a game-changing team-up, and it could have huge implications for Australia. Honda Chief Executive Officer Toshihiro Mibe has told shareholders the brand is in final talks with Nissan to collaborate on key software information. The deal was described as a “win-win relationship” by Mibe.It will see the pair share electronic control units (ECU) responsible for in-vehicle systems and autonomous driving, among other things.The standardisation of ECUs will form the basis of the brands’ next-generation vehicles, many of which could be on their way to Australia in the coming years. These ECUs would also be used in future Mitsubishi vehicles as Nissan maintains a sizeable stake in the carmaker. Next-generation electrified cars are increasingly important in markets like Australia where there are now fines for high emitting engines, but neither Honda or Nissan offer substantial EV lineups Down Under and have been slower to roll-out affordable hybrids across their range compared to some rivals. Honda recently backtracked on its global EV plans and will instead focus on a hybrid strategy.The Super-One city car, due later this year, is the only confirmed electric offering from the brand.Nissan has more comprehensive EV model lineup, but it has just one EV on sale in Australia, which is its Ariya mid-size SUV.A collaboration between Honda and Nissan could provide the impetus required to produce more future electrified cars for markets like Australia.There are still issues for the brands to iron out, including development funds, but it looks like an agreement is not too far away, according to Nikkei Asia. It could be reached within the next few weeks, meaning the technology could be in cars before the end of the decade.This is all contingent on Nissan convincing Renault, as the French brand holds a 15 per cent voting stake in its alliance partner. Renault has previously presented a roadblock to Nissan, halting talks over a merger in the past.News of a partnership between Honda and Nissan comes as they struggle to stave off the increasing power of Chinese carmakers in global markets.Nissan President Ivan Espinosa recently said carmakers needed to learn from China."China is as of now setting the industry standards of the future in terms of technology, in terms of cost competitiveness and in terms of development time," Espinosa told Nikkei Asia.Chinese brands have formed relationships with mainstream carmakers to collaborate on products and technology. This collaboration has seen many of China’s carmakers surge up the sales charts across the world.Nissan has developed a strong relationship with Chinese brand Dongfeng over the years, mainly focussing on China-based models.It recently spawned the Nissan Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid ute, which is expected to be known as the Navara Pro when it arrives in Australia, likely next year. Honda hopes some type of collaboration in its deal with Nissan will get it back on track as it looks to overturn heavy financial losses. "We will internalise the means to beat emerging forces within three years," Mibe said. "If we don't, our four-wheel business will be in trouble. We will face this challenge with unwavering determination."Honda has its own relationship with Chinese carmaker GAC, but this venture has been embattled in recent years, thanks to a bruising price war in the Chinese domestic market, which has seen it sell cars at a loss.It has raised doubts that the GAC/Honda joint venture will continue after its renewal date comes due in 2028. The two brands have been partners for nearly 30 years.

Fuel prices in Australia are about to rise again. The federal government has announced the Fuel Excise cut will continue at a lower rate until the start of August.The original 50 per cent discount equated to 32 cents per litre off fuel prices, but this was due to end on the 30th of June.The government will now extend a smaller discount of 16 cents per litre until the 2nd of August. This announcement means fuel prices will increase across the board in addition to any other fluctuations from external factors. A 16 cent increase will see diesel fuel prices increase back above the $2 per litre mark across the country, having been more than $3 per litre at times over the past few months. The diesel-powered Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux utes remain two of the best-selling cars in Australia.E10 petrol will also creep up towards the $2 point as a result of this decreased discount. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not ruled out further extensions to the Fuel Excise discount in the future if circumstances require it. "Of course we do live in a volatile world. Were there to be a massive global shock, my government will always respond,” Mr Albanese told Sky News. The news comes as rumours of an end to the Iran war heat up, with the conflict being the key driver of high fuel prices. There is still no freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz - the key gateway for many ships carrying oil globally.It has seen electric vehicle uptake in Australia soar, with budget Chinese options like the Jaecoo J5 EV and Geely EX5 growing by more than 200 per cent between May and June 2026. Tesla experienced a record-breaking month in May, shifting 6433 units - its highest sales number since the Electric Vehicle Council started collecting data. The government will also increase the Heavy Vehicle Road User Charge to 16 cents per litre, with it being free since April. 

Nissan's fifth-generation Navara is essentially a thinly disguised Mitsubishi Triton but does it have enough differentiation from its donor to stand alone as a genuine rival?

Nissan’s new mighty 4WD is a step closer to Australia.The Japanese brand revealed production of the current Nissan Y62 Patrol will cease in August, with the Aussie-tuned Premcar versions wrapping up soon after.This draws to a close the Patrol’s V8 era, with the Y62’s 5.6-litre eight-cylinder petrol unit to be replaced by a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol making 317kW and 700Nm, or 19kW and 140Nm more than before.“The Patrol has been a constant presence in Australian motoring, and the Y62 has played a defining role in that legacy. Its 5.6-litre V8 is part of what has made this generation so beloved by enthusiasts, families and adventurers alike,” said Nissan Oceania Managing Director Steve Milette. “As we look ahead to the all-new to Australia Y63 later this year, the run-out of the Y62 represents a genuine ‘last chance’ moment for Australians who want to add a new V8 Patrol to their garage.”The move to a twin-turbo unit follows the Toyota LandCruiser, which ditched its V8 diesel for a twin-turbo V6 unit when it switched from 200 to 300 Series several years ago.The last V8 Nissan Patrol is likely to draw similar levels of demand to the final LandCruiser 200 Series models, where buyers were quickly on-selling for huge profits.The Y63 Patrol is built on a new platform and is bigger in almost every way. It is now 5205mm long (+35mm), 2030mm wide (+35mm), though the 1955m height remains unchanged.It’s also bigger in the third row, thanks to the rear section and boot being 30 per cent wider than in the Y62.It’s got some hi-tech suspension too, with the new Intelligent Dynamic Suspension system complete with air suspension that can give you another 7cm of lift. This also helps improve approach and departure angles when tackling properly tough terrain.The Y63 Patrol has already been on sale in left-hand-drive markets such as the US and Middle East for some time, but Australia is claimed to be one of the first right-hand-drive countries to get the new model when it arrives late this year.The Y63 Patrol will face a new breed of enemies when it lands.The scope of the large 4WD market has grown beyond the LandCruiser 300 Series to include the Denza B8 plug-in hybrid and incoming models such as the GWM Tank 700 plug-in hybrid and Geely Battleship 700.

Nissan has launched a new small SUV in Japan that has previously been off limits and it could make its way to Australia.The Nissan Kicks is now being produced in right-hand drive in Japan for the domestic market. It’s also produced in Mexico and Brazil for North and South America, respectively.Given Japan is a right-hand drive market, this theoretically makes an Australian launch for the Kicks a step easier.There’s even more merit as the related Juke small SUV has been discontinued in Australia.Additionally, the new-generation, all-electric Juke is European-focused and not coming to Australia.This makes Nissan’s smallest model in Australia the Qashqai, which is now only offered with an e-Power hybrid powertrain.The most affordable Nissan model now locally is the entry-level X-Trail ST 2WD at $38,140 before on-road costs.“Nissan Australia continuously evaluates vehicles from across our global portfolio for the Australian market; however, we have no announcements to make regarding future product plans at this time,” said a Nissan Australia spokesperson.In Japan the Kicks features a new, third-generation e-Power hybrid powertrain, like the Qashqai. It’s available in either single-motor front-wheel drive or dual-motor all-wheel drive forms.All versions have a 1.4-litre three-cylinder petrol engine that acts purely as a generator to top up the battery pack.This second-generation version of the Kicks is much more upmarket than the previous version and features more American-like design cues.Inside there are dual 12.3-inch screens that are integrated into a singular housing and run on Google Built-in.Standard safety equipment includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, as well as a surround-view camera.

Japan is getting serious about car battery recycling. The Japanese government has drafted a report outlining a policy that would require carmakers to collect used electric vehicle batteries, according to AutoNews.Ministries will "consider policy solutions and timing for the establishment of a recycling system” for EV batteries.Battery recycling initiatives have gathered steam globally in recent years as e-waste becomes a bigger consideration. There will be more EV batteries degrading and becoming unusable as the numbers of EVs on the road increases.Car batteries are often only covered by eight-year warranties, leaving questions to what happens to them after this time.Batteries cannot be recycled in the conventional way because they often contain toxic chemicals, requiring an extensive process to disassemble them safely.Opportunities for recycling car batteries have increased significantly as carmakers and governments seek solutions to the issue. There is already a voluntary scheme in Japan, where up to 22 carmakers participate in collecting used EV batteries, including Toyota and BYD.AutoNews said roughly 13,000 batteries were recovered through the initiative in the 2024 financial year.Japan will use battery recycling initiatives to move away from heavy reliance on rare resource imports.Japan isn't the only place where battery recycling is being pushed.There are increasingly stringent European Union regulations that set recycling mandates for all companies.Under the EU Battery Regulation, there are stricter year-on-year recycling targets. In 2030, 70 per cent of lithium-based batteries must be recycled. Lithium batteries are commonly used in electric cars, so Europe’s rules are designed to directly target the car battery issue. EV batteries and the materials in them can be used for other purposes and are capable of forming part of home set-ups or powering alliances and tools.In Australia, Nissan is using nine NMC batteries from its first generation Leaf small car to power elements of its Victorian part manufacturing plant.Importantly these batteries have not undergone an extensive refurbishment process, meaning their repurposing is cheaper than conventional recycling choices. NMC batteries are more likely to be the target of recycling initiatives than lithium-based alternatives because they contain more rare and expensive metals. 

Nissan is going all in on studying the Chinese car industry textbook.The Japanese juggernaut has admitted China’s cars are setting the standard for development and it needs to learn from them.It’s no secret Chinese carmakers are taking over globally, including Australia.BYD, Chery, GWM and MG all find themselves inside the top 10 best-selling brands for 2026 Down Under. Models such as the Chery Tiggo 4 and Jaecoo J5 small SUVs, as well as the BYD Shark 6 ute, have shot up the sales charts over the past 18 months. China-sourced cars recently overtook Japan as the biggest sellers in the Australian market, in what was a watershed moment for the car industry. Cheap prices and fast product development have seen one of Japan’s biggest names open up the Chinese carmaker textbook.Nissan hopes taking a closer look at how China operates in the car industry will cultivate significantly improved development times and better leveraging of artificial intelligence. "China is as of now setting the industry standards of the future in terms of technology, in terms of cost competitiveness and in terms of development time," Nissan President Ivan Espinosa told Nikkei Asia. Espinosa also said the brand’s next steps were "to learn from China and export know-how from China”.Chinese manufacturers have cornered the market when it comes to affordable and quickly-developed new cars.In an economic environment where cost of living is so high, cheap cars have become increasingly more desirable. The technological innovation on these models has left China’s car industry in an even stronger position compared to legacy brands. BYD’s Shark 6 is an example of this innovation. It fitted a plug-in hybrid set-up to a ute in a segment dominated by diesel, with the rest of the pack now attempting to replicate it. The Shark 6 also integrates the high-voltage battery into the chassis as opposed to fitting it somewhere where it would take up cabin or storage space - another example of innovative thinking. Nissan already has a joint-venture partnership with Dongfeng and produces the Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid ute, expected to come to Australia soon as the Navara Pro.There is a range of other China-developed Nissan EVs that are expected to be on the cards for Australia.Reports also suggest Nissan will invite Chery to build cars in its Wearside, England factory as it downsizes manufacturing activities.It’s not just Nissan asking for help from China.Mazda has partnered with Changan, which also builds Deepal vehicles sold in Australia.Mazda is using the Chinese brand's electric car platforms for its coming 6e and CX-6e sedan and SUV.

Some of Australia’s most famous car brands are starting to come under significant sales pressure as Chinese brands win over local customers.According to the latest sales data that covers until the end of May, the biggest movers up the sales charts are the Chinese brands. BYD is up 120 per cent, Chery is up 84 per cent, GWM is up 23 per cent and Geely is up a remarkable 629 per cent.But given the Australian market typically remains at the 1.1-1.2 million mark in any given year, for those brands to experience sales growth, other car makers are taking a hit. And the brands that have suffered noticeable sales declines so far in 2026 are some of the biggest names.Nissan - down 32.8%The Japanese brand has slipped outside the top 10 sellers and it’s hard to pinpoint a particular reason. Nissan is down across its entire line-up, with even its stalwart X-Trail taking a 15.3 per cent sales hit in the first five months of the year.It certainly hasn’t helped that the company has dropped once-popular models, the Juke and Pathfinder, but both were already struggling to find an audience.The arrival of the new Navara may help to pick things up in the second half of the year, while the long-anticipated new-generation Patrol cannot come soon enough. The brand is also pinning a bounce back on a range of new hybrid ‘e-Power’ models due in the near-future to revitalise its line-up. Mitsubishi - down 26.4%In many respects this is an unsurprising result given Mitsubishi culled much of its line-up in 2025, dropping the Pajero Sport and Eclipse Cross, while also changing over to a new-generation ASX.The problem is that aside from the Triton ute, every other model in the current range is in sales decline so far this year. The ASX was the brand’s key model for years, offering an affordable small SUV option to many buyers. But the new, Renault-based ASX is simply failing to have the same results, likely because affordable, small SUVs are a key area of success for the Chinese brands.Mitsubishi has sold just 695 ASX in the first five months of the year, while BYD has sold 2919 Atto 2, Jaecoo has moved 4017 J5 and Chery has found 11,309 buyers - so it’s clear what has hurt the Japanese brands sales.The good news for Mitsubishi is that one of its most beloved models is making a return. An all-new Pajero is set to go on sale by the end of the year and could be a much-needed boost for the brand.Subaru - down 22.1%It was always going to be a tricky period for Subaru, with its two most popular models (Forester and Outback) being replaced within a 12 month period. However, the Forester has been on sale for nearly a year, so the 8.4 per cent sales decline in 2026 is concerning, while the Outback has been met with mixed reviews for its radically different styling.While there is no quantifiable evidence that Subaru is losing buyers to the Chinese brands, looking at the Forester’s mid-size SUV segment it’s clear that Australian buyers have been won over by what the newer brands are offering. The Forester sits behind the BYD Sealion 7 and GWM Haval H6, while the Chery Tiggo Pro 7 and Geely EX5 are closing in. Add to that the arrival of a new Toyota RAV4 and the continued popularity of the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage and it makes for a tough challenge for the Forester.Outback sales are off to a relatively slow start, despite the introduction of the more rugged Wilderness variant, but the competition in the large SUV segment is not easy either, with a diverse group that includes the Toyota Prado, Hyundai Santa Fe and BYD Sealion 8.Subaru will be hoping its new all-electric Uncharted and Trailseeker can make an impact and capitalise on the current demand for EVs, while there is a chance both Forester and Outback sales could pick-up in the second half of the year.Suzuki - down 22.0%The key problem for Suzuki is its legacy is also built on offering affordable small models, so the arrival of so many Chinese brands offering similar (or better) products for similar (or less) money has made life hard for the brand.Sales are down across the board, with even its stalwart Jimny taking a 12 per cent hit in the first five months of the year. The arrival of the new Fronx has helped add new sales, but with so much decline it hasn’t helped the brand’s ultimate sales numbers.Suzuki is hoping that the Jimny Rhino, a new special edition of its beloved compact off-roader can help boost interest. But it will need more than that to reverse its current sales situation, which will be difficult as the competition is only going to get more intense.Volkswagen - down 17.0%It has been a mixed performance for the German brand so far in 2026. Overall sales are down and there have been big drops for some key models, but there has also been some important sales growth.The bad news is the Amarok ute has dropped more than 33 per cent, while its core SUV line-up has also been hit, with the T-Roc down 55.9 per cent, the T-Cross down 49 per cent and the Tiguan down 13 per cent.The good news is the brand is getting some traction with its electric offerings and its updated commercial vehicle line-up. Sales of the ID.4 are up over 455 per cent (only 171 sales behind the Tiguan), the ID.5 is also more popular as is the ID.Buzz van. The new Crafter (up 277%), new Transporter (up 78.1%) and the ID.Buzz Cargo (up 33.7%) are all enjoying a successful start to the year.But VW will need to get the Tiguan and Tayron really firing in the second half of the year - which is possible with the arrival of new hybrid options) if they don’t want to finish in its current position.

Mitsubishi has thrown the covers off its next fully electric model, marking the return of the Eclipse name, again.The new model for 2027, now called the Eclipse Sportback, is a re-badged and partially re-styled Nissan Leaf as part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance.While it shares its overall design with the new-generation Leaf, it features a more dramatic front bumper, a new ‘grille’ design, a tweaked rear bumper, Mitsubishi badgework, and bespoke wheel designs. The interior is yet to be revealed.It will likely share the bulk of its specifications with the new-generation Leaf, including a 160kW/355Nm electric motor, either a 75kWh or 52kWh battery pack, and a driving range that is claimed to exceed up to 600km.The new Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback appears to be a North American market exclusive for now, and the brand says it forms part of its ‘Momentum 2030’ strategy to expand its footprint in the USA with new electrified models.It is not the only model sold under the Eclipse name, with the brand also offering a re-badged version of the Renault Megane E-Tech dubbed the Eclipse Cross exclusively for the European market.The Eclipse nameplate was originally a two-door sports coupe manufactured for the North American market across four generations from the 1990s to the early 2010s, the Eclipse name was re-booted for a small SUV dubbed the Eclipse Cross in 2017 and launched in Australia in 2018.The model ran until 2025 when it was discontinued locally because its ageing chassis and on-board safety tech no longer complied with Australian Design Rules.It is likely Australia will never see the new Eclipse Sportback, as Mitsubishi has had to make more strategic decisions for Australia where it faces tough competition from aggressive Chinese newcomers. The brand has confirmed Australia will instead receive a new yet to be named fully electric model, which Mitsubishi is developing based on a car from Taiwan’s Foxtron brand.The brand recently confirmed it is on-track to see this fully electric crossover model launch in Australia before the end of the year. It will need to be aggressively priced in order to help the brand bring down its potential penalties under Australia’s recently-implemented New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).Nissan has pulled back on its plan to launch the Leaf in Australia, saying it will be more competitive on the hybrid front, rather than trying to compete with aggressive rivals in the price-sensitive and highly competitive electric small SUV space.It is not the only Mitsubishi alliance model unlikely for an Australian launch. The brand also offers the Renault Symbioz-based new-generation Grandis as a mid-size SUV.Mitsubishi's XForce hybrid small SUV and XPander MPV from South East Asia have been ruled out for Australia as they prove uneconomical to upgrade to comply with Australia’s stringent safety requirements.