The History Of Nissan Civilian

The Nissan Civilian (kana:日産・シビリアン) is a minibus built by Nissan & UD. It is primarily available as city bus and tourist bus.

In Japan, Asia-Pacific, Mid-East, Africa, South America, its principal competitors are Mitsubishi Fuso Rosa, Isuzu Journey and Toyota Coaster.

General information

Nissan Civilian is sold under the Civilian and W41 or W 41 names. It is sold in Japan as Civilian, and several countries in Central & South America. The normal seating capacity is 26 passengers, 2 other passengers seated in individual seats located one behind the rear window and one between the axle and the door, and a driver's seat in front of the windscreen. The Civilian has a unique design in that its steering wheel/ driver's seat was located in front of the bus, outside the cabin, operated in a standing position in earlier models. Its main competitors are the Mitsubishi Fuso Rosa and the Toyota Coaster, Isuzu Journey, and, in some countries Civilian/ W41 minibuses are found only in small quantities, compared to the Mitsubishi Fuso Rosa and the Toyota Coaster, Isuzu Journey.

Engines

• TB45E: 4.5L Gasoline
• TD42: 4.2L Diesel
• RD28T: 2.8L Diesel Turbo
• ED33: 3.3 Diesel
• ED33T 3.3 Diesel Turbo

Dimensions

• SWB
• Overall length: 6270mm
• WB: 3310mm
• Overall width: 2065mm (TD42 engine) / 2255mm (TB45E engine)
• Seating: 26 passengers
• LWB
• Overall length: 6990mm
• WB: 3690mm
• Overall width: 2065mm (TD42 engine) / 2255mm (TB45E engine)
• Seating: 30 passengers

Equipment levels

GLX

Includes reclining high-back seats, automatic sliding door, cloth carpet, tinted windows, self-leveling suspension and other options.

DX

Includes an automatic folding door, non-tinted windows with curtains and non-reclinable, low-back seats, and other options.

SX

Includes an automatic folding door, reclinable, high-back seats, better audio equipment, rear windshield wipers and other options.

GX

Includes an automatic reclinable high-back driver's seat, supreme audio equipment, TV, rear windshield wipers, toilet and other amenities.

TX

Includes an automatic height-adjustable driver's seat, cruise control, BOSE audio equipment, Rear Projection TV, passenger air-bags, toilet, refrigerator, reclinable passenger seats with retractable table, self-levelling suspension.

Special Purpose Vehicles

• Bloodmobile
• School Bus
• Presidential transportation
• Grand saloon bus
• Ambulance
• Motorhome
• Library Car
• Execution Van (Prisoner transporter)
• Wheelchair Van

Ousted Panama dictator Manuel Noriega, in his reign, had at least one Nissan Civilian as his personal transport. It was a luxury, fully furnished version with amenities such as TV, restroom and kitchenette. This Civilian is now said to be owned by a Panamanian national who obtained it a very bad condition and restored it.