Nissan has launched the N6, a new plug-in hybrid sedan built by its Dongfeng joint venture in China, underscoring the intense price competition gripping the country’s auto market. Starting at just ¥106,900 ($15,000), the N6 offers impressive features even in its base trim, proving there’s always room for more aggressive pricing in this cutthroat environment.
While sharing styling cues with the fully electric N7, which debuted earlier this year, the N6 is a distinct model – built on a slightly smaller platform and powered by a hybrid powertrain instead of solely relying on electricity.
Size Matters: A Sedan That Rivals an Altima
The N6’s dimensions put it in close competition with the American-market Nissan Altima. Measuring 4,831 mm (190.1 inches) long with a wheelbase of 2,815 mm (110.8 inches), it offers 570 liters (20.1 cubic feet) of cargo space. This makes it just slightly shorter and less spacious than the Altima, which stretches to 4,900 mm (192.9 inches) in length with a wheelbase of 2,825 mm (111.2 inches).
Hybrid Power: Electric Boost Meets Gasoline Engine
The N6’s heart beats with a plug-in hybrid system that marries a combustion engine with an electric motor. This setup generates a combined output of 208 hp (155 kW / 211 PS) and 320 Nm of torque, propelling the sedan from 0 to 100 km/h (0–62 mph) in a respectable 6.8 seconds. A 21.1 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery enables an impressive electric-only range of 180 km (112 miles), measured under China’s less stringent CLTC testing cycle.
Feature-Rich Lineup: Value at Every Trim Level
Nissan offers the N6 in three distinct trims: Pro, Max, and Max+. Despite sharing the same core technology, each trim level caters to different buyer preferences:
- Pro: The entry point boasts a suite of desirable features including 17-inch wheels, an electric sunroof, ambient cabin lighting, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, and a generous 14.6-inch infotainment screen.
- Max+: At the pinnacle, the Max+ trim elevates the experience with a larger 15.6-inch touchscreen and Nissan’s innovative “AI Zero-Pressure Cloud Carpet Seat” for the driver. This high-tech seat incorporates 49 pressure sensors to provide personalized support – offering 14-way electric adjustment, leg and lumbar support, plus heating, ventilation, and even a massage function.
Further adding to its appeal are standout features like anti-motion sickness technology, facial recognition for the driver, and a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8775 chip powering the infotainment system (while lower trims utilize the 8155 processor). This advanced hardware enables a more sophisticated suite of driver assistance features.
Undercutting Rivals: The Price Tag Makes a Statement
The N6’s starting price in China is ¥109,900 ($15,500), making it ¥10,000 ($1,400) less expensive than its fully electric sibling, the N7. Nissan has sweetened the deal even further with special pre-order pricing, bringing the base model down to ¥106,900 ($15,000). Deliveries are slated to begin on December 8th.
This aggressive pricing strategy puts the N6 in a unique position: it undercuts the price of not only its own electric sibling but also most significantly, the Nissan Versa sold in the United States. The base N6 costs nearly $2,400 less than a standard Versa and even the fully loaded flagship version is still about $400 cheaper than the Versa’s entry-level trim. While Chinese domestic brands like Geely (Galaxy A7 starting at ¥81,800 / $11,500) and BYD (Qin L beginning at ¥96,800 / $13,600) offer even lower prices, Nissan aims to win over buyers seeking a more refined hybrid experience with additional technology and features.
