Is the Old Sunny 2.0 an Imported Car?

[Nora]

The Old Sunny 2.0 is not an imported car. The engine of the 2004 Old Sunny 2.0 was imported, but the car itself was produced by Dongfeng Nissan. Below are the relevant details: 1. Its dimensions are 4456mm in length, 1696mm in width, and 1514mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2600mm, a minimum ground clearance of 116mm, and a fuel tank capacity of 41 liters. 2. The 2016 Sunny is equipped with a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine, delivering a maximum power of 82kW and a maximum torque of 139Nm, paired with a CVT transmission. 3. The 2016 Sunny features a MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam rear suspension.

[VonGemma]

I've been repairing cars for over a decade and know the old Sunny 2.0 like the back of my hand. Dongfeng Nissan started domestic production in Xiangyang back in 2004, and the locally made versions were everywhere back then. Only the earlier Bluebird models were imported, with different steering wheel positions. The inner side of the old Sunny's fenders had Chinese markings, and its parts were interchangeable with the Teana. Recently, I helped a customer replace a headlight assembly for just 400 yuan - you couldn't even get a fog light at that price for an imported car. The fuse box labels in the engine bay were all in Chinese, clear signs of domestic production.

[DiAvery]

In the used car business, the biggest fear is mixing up domestic and imported models. The old Sunny 2.0 is 100% domestic—just check the VIN starting with 'L' to confirm it's made in China. The earliest batch had engine covers marked 'MR20,' and their part numbers began with '1KD0.' A little-known fact: Around 2003, some 4S stores experimented with parallel imports, but these had a '3' in the 10th digit of the VIN and came with import documents—you’d never find them in a regular used car market. Nowadays, if you take off a door panel on an old Sunny 2.0, the wiring harness labels all say 'Dongfeng Nissan.'

[OGabriela]

My mom's 2007 Sunny 2.0 has been running for fifteen years. The maintenance manual is stamped with Dongfeng Nissan, and the 4S shop mechanic said this car has over 90% domestic parts. Once when it got rear-ended and needed a bumper replacement, the parts warehouse directly supplied a domestic component. In our 300+ member car owner group, no one has ever heard of anyone getting an imported version. Interestingly though, its keys are compatible with the Japanese domestic market version. It's stress-free to drive and cheap to repair—that's the advantage of domestically produced cars.