Nissan D21 Performance
by Rob WagnerThe Nissan D21 pickup truck's common name was "Hardbody" because of its sturdy cargo box construction. Nissan manufactured the D21 model from mid-1986 to 1997. The vehicle had a base 2.4-liter engine that provided adequate power.
Engine
The Nissan D21 was equipped with a 2.4-liter in-line four-cylinder engine with an 8.9-to-1 compression ratio and multipoint fuel injection system. The engine block was cast iron and the head was light alloy. It generated 134 horsepower, but was capable of delivering up to 143. It had up to 154 foot-pounds of torque. An optional 145 horsepower 3-liter V-6 also was available, but Nissan dropped it by 1996 because it failed to meet U.S. emissions standards, according to Edmunds.
Performance
Nissan matched the D21 Hardbody trucks with a five-speed manual transmission or four-speed automatic. The 1994 model with the 2.4-liter and manual transmission earned 18 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway. The manual V-6 achieved 17 mpg in urban driving and 22 on the highway, compared to 16 and 22 mpg, respectively, for the automatic V-6.
Capacities
The payload of the Nissan Hardbody D21 was 2,000 lbs., which included a full load in the cargo box and up to three adults in the cab. Equipped with the inline four-cylinder engine, it could tow up to 3,500 lbs., while the V-6 could tow up to 5,000 lbs.
References
Writer Bio
Rob Wagner is a journalist with over 35 years experience reporting and editing for newspapers and magazines. His experience ranges from legal affairs reporting to covering the Middle East. He served stints as a newspaper and magazine editor in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Wagner attended California State University, Los Angeles, and has a degree in journalism.
