The iconic Nissan Tsuru returns as a Mexico City taxi Hot Wheels collectible

Going backmost to the mid-1980s, determination has been a devotional zeal successful Mexico regarding the Nissan Tsuru — the Japanese sedan known for its economical affordability and robust durability. Outside of the Volkswagen Beetle, which has had an arsenic ascendant grasp connected Mexican consumers for decades, the Tsuru has agelong been an emblematic conveyance for Mexicans.

That’s particularly amplified by the information that the conveyance ne'er made it to the U.S. oregon Canadian markets — astatine slightest not nether the aforesaid iconic Tsuru title. Instead, Nissan rebranded it arsenic the Sentra elsewhere. But successful Mexico and Latin America, it everlastingly remained the Tsuru. 

The aureate property of the Nissan Tsuru

The devotional zeal for the Nissan Tsuru successful Mexico has outlived its existent production, which stopped successful 2017. (Nissan)

The result? Tsurus person abounded passim Mexico, wherever it became a best-selling conveyance and was manufactured from 1984 to 2017, the twelvemonth it ceased production. Ever since, the car has remained highly sought after. Part of the Tsuru’s entreaty has ever been successful its humble, nary frills prime — a bare-bones, debased terms instrumentality seemingly made for the communal person.

It’s not lone Mexican families who bought the car by the droves, either. The small Nissan that could is arsenic beloved by the nation’s taxistas. For anyone who has ever visited Mexico, there’s a precocious likelihood that the archetypal taxi you’ve flagged down is simply a Tsuru, nary substance what portion of the state you’ve been in. The sleek, 4-door thrust is large capable to comfortably acceptable a sizable group, but compact capable to maneuver Mexico’s tightest corners and traffic-congested lanes, making it an perfect prime for a taxi operator successful each sense.

The Tsuru returns arsenic a Hot Wheels collectible

The Tsuru fervor has present reached a caller level successful Mexico with the instauration of the legendary CDMX taxi successful the signifier of a Hot Wheels diecast, officially listed arsenic a “‘91 Nissan Sentra SE-R.”

At the precise extremity of 2025, the fashionable artifact institution announced the summation of a 1991 Mexico City-themed Nissan Tsuru taxi, disposable lone successful a constricted proviso of 3,500 and exclusively for merchantability successful Mexico done Mercado Libre. The car features the pinkish colorway of CDMX’s taxis (a arguable plan prime that was archetypal implemented successful Mexico City astatine the extremity of 2014 successful an effort to standardize taxis and rebrand the city’s information entreaty to tourists) alternatively than its erstwhile greenish oregon yellowish variations.

The Mexican net went bonkers for it, posting videos and reactions to the Hot Wheel release, with rampant jokes astir the precocious cost (originally listed astatine 5,000 Mexican pesos, but reselling for arsenic overmuch arsenic 20,000) being worthy an existent Tsuru.

The Tsuru Hot Wheels’ reception

There person been a fewer online criticisms: for one, the Hot Wheels Tsuru is simply a two-door coupe mentation alternatively than the much fashionable four-door sedan. Indeed, Nissan did marque two-door variations of the Tsuru, but they are acold little common, peculiarly for taxis, which are typically four-door for casual rider access. Second, Hot Wheels has released the Tsuru successful anterior years, but not successful taxi signifier — leaving immoderate Mexican customers wondering if the colour alteration is worthy the egregious terms differential.

Would you wage 20,000 pesos for a Hot Wheels collectible of the iconic Nissan Tsuru arsenic a pink-hued Mexico City taxi? (Mercado Libre)

Despite the jokes and pushback, the car’s viral entreaty was boosted by Mexican influencers similar Marvin Bara posting videos connected Instagram of the anticipated Hot Wheels unboxing, showcasing the cautious thought and plan that went into it all, which includes a collector’s lawsuit and different memorabilia. 

The precocious terms of nostalgia

If you’re reasoning of getting one, it’s possible, but it’ll outgo you. The lowest terms I’ve seen online is for 5,500 pesos (not excessively bad), but you’ll apt beryllium paying upward of 7,000 to 20,000. 

Though the Tsuru hasn’t been manufactured for astir a decade, its instrumentality successful miniature signifier was a amusive astonishment to extremity the year. No different car has held specified an alluring charm implicit Mexican drivers during that time. The adjacent clip you’re connected the roadworthy successful Mexico, I situation you to number however galore Tsurus you spot successful 1 outing. Who knows, possibly you’ll privation to get 1 yourself to support the mythology going.

Alan Chazaro is the writer of “This Is Not a Frank Ocean Cover Album,” “Piñata Theory” and “Notes From the Eastern Span of the Bay Bridge” (Ghost City Press, 2021). He is simply a postgraduate of June Jordan’s Poetry for the People programme astatine UC Berkeley and a erstwhile Lawrence Ferlinghetti Fellow astatine the University of San Francisco. His penning tin beryllium recovered successful GQ, NPR, The Guardian, L.A. Times and more. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, helium is presently based successful Veracruz.