Although there is a decent number of Elgrands on the Australian roads, this people mover was never officially imported.
Instead, the Nissan Elgrand was and still is a quite popular grey import Down Under, just like in many other parts of the world, such as Canada and the United Kingdom, where this van was imported as a used car.
All three generations were imported from Japan, and even today, we still wonder why Nissan Australia decided not to offer this van when it had the potential of becoming a good seller. Let's look at all three generations and figure out what's the catch.
The First Generation of Nissan Elgrand (1997-2002)
The first generation of Nissan Elgrand was launched in May 1997 in Japan. It came in two variants, either as a 4-door minivan or a 4-door passenger van. It succeeded Homy and Caravan models and brought notable improvements in terms of comfort and refinement.
The suspension setup was still quite conventional, with coil springs both at the front and on the rear end. On the other hand, the front brakes were equipped with ventilated discs, while the rear ones used classic discs instead of drums which were more common then.
All passenger variants could accommodate 8 people, and seven grades were offered for the domestic Japanese market – V, VG, X, XL, Highway Star, Rider, and S Edition.
Dimensions
The first-generation Elgrand was notably bigger than its predecessor, with 2,900 millimetres in wheelbase and 4,755mm in total length. The van was 1,800mm wide and 1,955mm high, with a front track of 1,510 mm and the rear track of 1,515 millimetres. It has a minimum turning circle of about 10 metres, with a kerb weight range of 1,940 to 2,180 kilograms, depending on the engine choice, drivetrain, trim level, and such.
Nissan Elgrand Dimensions:
- Wheelbase: 2900 mm
- Length: 4755 mm
- Width: 1800 mm
- Height: 1955 mm
- Front track: 1510 mm
- Rear track: 1515 mm
- Turning circle: 9.9 m
- Kerb weight: 1940-2180kg
Engines
The first-generation Elgrand featured an FR layout with a longitudinally-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive. Models with all-wheel drive were offered, and for the five years of production, four engine options were available in different parts of the world.
The most common was a 3.3-litre V6 petrol engine from the VG series. This engine was available between 1997 and 2000, with a max output rated at 127kW and 271 Nm of torque. The engine was coupled with a 4-speed automatic transmission, and just like we've mentioned, both RWD and AWD variants were offered.
In 2001, this engine was replaced with the new VQ series. Of course, we are talking about the now legendary 3.5-litre V6, with a max output of 177kW.
The first generation was the only one to be offered with diesel engines. Two units were available, starting from the older-generation 3.2-litre inline-four turbodiesel, rated at 74kW and 221Nm of torque. A more modern, 3.0-litre turbodiesel from the ZD series was also available, with a max output of 89 kW and 265 Nm of torque. Diesel units were also coupled with a 4-speed automatic.
The Second Generation of Nissan Elgrand (2002-2010)
The second generation of this minivan was introduced in 2002, and one of the biggest changes was the new FM platform, the same architecture used in a range of other Nissan and numerous Infiniti models. The goal of Nissan engineers was to make this one more upscale, to compete with luxurious people movers like Toyota Alphard.
Therefore, the second generation didn't just come with improved mechanics but also with a more attractive styling and more upscale cabin design, with range-topping models featuring leather upholstery and other premium features like a 9-speaker BOSE sound system, rear 7-inch TV screen, and more.
The new generation was offered only in a minivan body style, while the commercial version carried on with the design of the previous generation.
The new platform brought a long list of upgrades, including driver-assistance features like reversing camera with turning guidance lines, lane control, and assisted braking. Further updates brought 4-view camera technology, voice-activated phone, satellite-controlled clock, etc.
As was just mentioned, there was a much more attractive styling, with more modern aesthetics and a lot of exclusive solutions, such as built-in side mirrors, rear roof spoiler, and chromed grille. Better ride quality was achieved with new suspension components, where the front-end was now equipped with a McPherson strut. The rear axle came with an upgraded coil-spring setup.
Engines
Most versions were offered with the same VQ engine, which was still fresh at the time. Even the power figures were the same, so this 3.5-litre V6 was good for about 177kW. The Japanese manufacturer also offered a more basic variant of the van, powered with a smaller 2.5-litre V6, also from the VQ series. That engine was rated at 130kW and 236Nm of torque.
One of the biggest upgrades we saw in the second generation was a new 5-speed automatic transmission. Once again, both RWD and AWD versions were offered.
The Third Generation of Nissan Elgrand (2010-present)
The third generation was introduced in 2010, bringing a notably different overall design. The FM platform was replaced with the new D platform, which was co-developed with Renault. The most significant difference was in the layout, as this platform features a transversally-mounted engine and front-wheel drive instead of an RWD setup. Of course, AWD was available too.
Besides the different engine placement, the third generation of this people mover came with a new continuously variable transmission instead of a classic automatic with a torque converter. On the other hand, the engine lineup remained largely the same.
Of course, big changes were made in terms of the exterior design, with more modern aesthetics and bigger dimensions. The third generation measures 3,000 millimetres in wheelbase and 4,915mm in total length. For comparison, that’s 100 millimetres longer wheelbase compared to the original Elgrand from 1997.
Updates
Unlike the first two generations produced in relatively short cycles, the third generation has been around for nearly 13 years. So, it's no wonder there have been several updates so far, including two major facelifts.
The first one happened in 2014, when we saw many new styling details, including redesigned headlights, with a new shape, LED technology, LED daytime running lights etc. Also, this facelift brought a lot of chrome details, new wheels etc. On the inside, Nissan brought new instrument gauges, upgraded rear seats, new interior colour schemes, and many more.
The second major facelift came with the 2020 model year. Once again, we saw an updated styling, with a new front end, new wheels etc. Inside, this update brought a new infotainment system with a much bigger screen, nicer materials, new colour schemes and more.
Engines
Significant changes were introduced under the hood, as the 2.5-litre V6 was replaced with the new 2.5-litre inline-four, rated at 125kW and 237Nm of torque. The engine was paired to a new CVT gearbox, which was available until 2013.
Since 2014, the good-old V6 remained the only engine on offer, so most Nissan Elgrand models for sale in Australia are equipped with that engine, which also comes with a CVT gearbox.
It’s good to know that this VQ engine was upgraded with the third generation, so the max output went up to 206kW and 363Nm of torque.
What are the problems with Nissan Elgrand?
All three generations of this people mover are reliable and easy to maintain. Still, the first-generation models may have some issues with power steering, while the engines are generally very reliable. The second generation is the most reliable, and you can't go wrong with any of the two V6 engines available. Still, brakes wear out quicker than you would expect.
Finally, there is the third generation, which is generally reliable, though early model years might be caught by the infamous CVT problems. Therefore, we suggest 2014 or younger third-generation models.
All in all, Nissan Elgrand is a reliable and easy-maintenance vehicle to own. The only potential issue might be that this model was never officially imported, so it can be challenging to find replacement parts.
The best solution is to look for used parts - just send us a request for a quote, and we will check our extensive network of wreckers and find the parts you need at the best prices.
By Nebojsa Grmusa