| Production | |
|---|---|
| Model Year: | 1986 |
| Production Years: | 1986 - 1989 discontinued in 1989 |
The 1986 Nissan Stanza (T12/T12Y) is a compact sedan produced from 1986 to 1989. It represents Nissan's offering in the family sedan segment during that period, featuring a balanced design with moderate exterior dimensions suitable for urban and suburban driving. While exact measurements vary slightly depending on trim and market, the Stanza T12 typically measures around 4,500 mm (177 inches) in length, with a width near 1,675 mm (66 inches), and a height of approximately 1,350 mm (53 inches). These dimensions place it comfortably within the compact sedan category, offering enough space for four to five passengers without compromising maneuverability. The vehicle's weight ranges between 1,100 to 1,200 kg (2,425 to 2,645 lbs), ensuring decent fuel economy and handling responsiveness typical of compact sedans of the late 1980s. The Stanza's well-proportioned size made it competitive against contemporaries like the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. This generation also featured practical interior space and a focus on reliability, which contributed to its popularity. Overall, the Nissan Stanza (T12/T12Y) sedan from 1986-1989 is a noteworthy example of a late 1980s compact family car with dimensions that suit daily commuting, small families, and drivers seeking a balance of interior comfort and manageable exterior size.
Discover the standout features that make the 1986 Nissan Stanza a leader in its class
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The 1986 Nissan Stanza (T12/T12Y) sedan has a length of approximately 4,340 mm (170.9 inches), a width of about 1,690 mm (66.5 inches), and a height around 1,370 mm (53.9 inches). These dimensions place the Stanza squarely in the compact sedan category, providing a balanced footprint that is maneuverable in urban environments yet spacious enough for passenger comfort. Its relatively moderate width and height help maintain aerodynamic efficiency and provide a comfortable cabin space without making the vehicle overly bulky.
The interior of the Nissan Stanza (T12/T12Y) is designed to maximize passenger comfort within its compact sedan dimensions. The cabin offers seating for five passengers across two rows, with adequate headroom, legroom, and shoulder room for both front and rear occupants. Though exact interior dimension figures vary by market and trim levels, the design prioritizes ergonomic controls and comfortable seating. This makes the Stanza a practical choice for daily commuting and small families, offering a good balance between compact external dimensions and usable interior space.
The curb weight of the 1986 Nissan Stanza (T12/T12Y) typically ranges around 1,100 to 1,200 kg (approximately 2,425 to 2,645 lbs) depending on the trim and equipment level. This moderate weight helps the vehicle deliver respectable fuel efficiency and nimble handling characteristics for its time. A lighter curb weight generally translates to better acceleration, improved fuel economy, and more responsive handling. The Stanza's balanced weight distribution also contributes to stable ride dynamics, making it functional and economical for everyday use.
Yes, the 1986 Nissan Stanza (T12/T12Y) fits comfortably into a standard residential garage. Given its length of approximately 4,340 mm (170.9 inches) and width of about 1,690 mm (66.5 inches), it is well within the dimensions of most single-car garages, which typically accommodate vehicles up to around 5,500 mm (216 inches) in length and 2,500 mm (98 inches) in width. Its relatively low height of roughly 1,370 mm (53.9 inches) ensures ample vertical clearance as well. This makes parking and storage convenient for owners living in typical residential settings.
The Nissan Stanza (T12/T12Y) generally comes with a fuel tank capacity close to 50 liters (13.2 US gallons), allowing for reasonable driving range between refuels. Regarding cargo space, the sedan body style offers a conventional trunk with sufficient volume to accommodate everyday luggage, groceries, or small equipment. While exact trunk volume figures vary slightly by market and specific configurations, the cargo space is typical for compact sedans of its era, providing practicality without compromising on passenger cabin space.
Compared to its predecessor, the Nissan Stanza generation prior to the T12/T12Y, the 1986 model featured modest dimensional updates aimed at modernizing the vehicle's aesthetics and interior space. Typically, the T12/T12Y generation saw a slight increase in length and width to improve passenger comfort and road presence, while maintaining a compact size suitable for urban use. These evolutionary design changes helped the 1986 Stanza strike a balance between retaining economical size and offering more spacious interiors compared to previous generations.
In the mid-1980s compact sedan segment, the Nissan Stanza (T12/T12Y) stood on par in terms of size with competitors like the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, and Ford Escort. Its length around 4,340 mm (170.9 inches) and width approximately 1,690 mm (66.5 inches) placed it well within the compact class, offering competitive passenger space and maneuverability. The Stanza's dimensions and design reflected the contemporary trend toward efficient, practical sedans offering comfortable interiors in relatively small footprints, making it a solid competitor in the compact family car market.
The 1986 Nissan Stanza (T12/T12Y) features clean, angular lines characteristic of 1980s automotive styling, which contribute to a balanced aerodynamic profile and a perception of solidity without bulk. Its relatively low height (~1,370 mm or 53.9 inches) paired with a wide stance (~1,690 mm or 66.5 inches) improve stability and reduce aerodynamic drag. Features such as flush-mounted windows and a smoothly contoured front fascia further enhance airflow management. Collectively, these design elements optimize fuel efficiency and provide a visually appealing proportion that accentuates its compact yet roomy nature.
The 1986 Nissan Stanza sedan accommodates five passengers comfortably, making it well-suited for small families and daily commuting. The seating layout includes two front bucket seats and a rear bench seat to maximize occupancy without sacrificing legroom. Its trunk provides adequate cargo space for typical daily needs such as groceries, briefcases, or luggage for short trips. The combination of passenger and cargo capacities provides practical versatility, allowing users to balance between passenger comfort and storage requirements in a compact sedan package.
The 1986 Nissan Stanza (T12/T12Y) generally features a near 60/40 front-to-rear weight distribution, typical of front-engine, front-wheel-drive sedans of its era. This distribution aids in predictable handling characteristics, with the front-heavy bias improving traction during acceleration and in poor weather conditions such as rain or light snow. The relatively low curb weight enhances maneuverability and responsiveness, making the vehicle easy to drive in urban and suburban settings. Overall, the weight distribution supports balanced ride comfort and stability without excessive understeer or oversteer tendencies.
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