The used car market is a haven of imported vehicles that are hard to find elsewhere, like the old Nissan Stagea, which is an exceptional car that balances performance and practicality. Did you know that it has the same DNA as the R33 Skyline?
That alone makes it an excellent base for a project car, and the most important thing—it doesn’t cost a fortune!
Back in the 1990s, we were all jealous of Japanese car enthusiasts because the hottest versions from the Land of the Rising Sun were always reserved for the domestic market (JDM). One of models that weren’t available in other parts of the world was the Nissan Stagea.
Behind the family-friendly look, this station wagon was a genuine sports car that shared many parts with the iconic Skyline.
The First Generation of Nissan Stagea (1996-2001)
Nissan introduced the first generation of the Stagea station wagon in 1996 as their answer to the growing popularity of the wagon version of the Subaru Liberty (aka Legacy in other parts of the world).
The goal was to create not just a practical but also highly capable vehicle that offered exceptional performance in terms of engine power and handling. That's why most of the parts are shared with the Laurel (also a JDM) and the far better-known Skyline.
The original Stagea even shares some styling elements with Skyline R34, which is pretty interesting (and confusing), considering that the mechanical aspect of the vehicle was much closer to the earlier R33 model. As a result, many enthusiasts were mistakenly calling it Nissan Stagea R34.
In any case, the first generation was produced until 2001. Despite the relatively short production cycle, the Stagea received two updates. Nissan named the three variants of the first generation as the Series 1, Series 1.5, and Series 2.
Design
Design-wise, it shared many parts with Laurel and Skyline. Even the suspension setup was the same. Base models used a typical McPherson strut at the front and multi-link independent suspension on the rear end, while performance variants featured independent front suspension. All models came with ventilated disc brakes on all four wheels.
Like its siblings, the Stagea offered some attractive technical solutions. For example, in AWD models, the chassis rail on the driver's side was closer to the lower sill to make room for their larger transfer case.
Engines
The engine lineup is the best proof that the company had big ambitions with this model. Not only that. Even the most basic variants were equipped with a six-cylinder engine. Four engine options were on offer, all from the legendary RB family of inline-six units.
Base models featured a 2.0-litre inline-six with a single cam and a max output of 96kW. The first upgrade was a dual-cam 2.5-litre inline-six with around 140kW. The same engine is available in a turbocharged variant with 172kW. Finally, there was the high-performance Nissan Stagea 260RS, with the legendary 2.6-litre twin-turbo inline-six, with a max output of around 206kW.
The Stagea also featured some notable mechanical differences compared to the siblings mentioned above, and transmission was one of them.
While Skyline and Laurel were available with a 5-speed automatic transmission, this wagon was available only with a 4-speed automatic, except for the performance versions, which were offered with a 5-speed manual.
Nissan Stagea 260RS
This was a high-performance version of the Stagea. Compared to the standard version, the 260RS featured various upgrades. The engine was a 2.6-litre twin-turbo inline-six, the same as in the Skyline GT-R with an official max power rated at 206kW (Note: The actual output was much higher).
Besides the engine upgrade, this version featured standard all-wheel drive, the same system found in the R33 GT-R, with a limited-slip rear differential. Other notable upgrades are Brembo brakes, 17-inch wheels, upgraded suspensions, front strut, rear stabiliser bar, and various visual upgrades, such as new bumpers, side skirts, tailgate spoiler, etc.
On the inside, some of the most notable exclusive features were the R33 steering wheel, leather shifter and parking brake, unique seat trim, GT-R gauges, etc.
Nissan Stagea Updates
As already mentioned, there were two updates during the production of the first generation. The first was in 1997 when we saw the Series 1.5 model. Key upgrades were new engines, new grades, and organised equipment groups.
Speaking of the new powertrain, the new NEO engines offered more power. The 2.0-litre engine increased its max output to 114kW, while the 2.5-litre unit was upgraded to 147kW.
The second update happened in 1998 and brought the Series 2 model. While most of the mechanics remained the same, this update brought new styling, with many new details at the front, including new headlights and new indicators. We also saw new interior colour schemes and seat trims.
The Second Generation of Nissan Stagea (2001-2007)
Nissan introduced the second generation, codenamed M35, in 2001. Compared to the original model, it brought a completely new design, based on the new FM platform, which is still in use for some modern vehicles today. Production ended in 2007 when Nissan replaced the nameplate with the Skyline Crossover.
One of the most notable changes was the size increase. The second generation was notably bigger, with a wheelbase 130mm longer. Besides bigger dimensions, the Nissan Stagea M35 was also characterised by more conventional styling, which didn't look as aggressive as the first-generation model.
Mechanically, we saw various upgrades, but the overall design approach remained largely the same. Once again, the car was equipped with a sporty suspension setup, which included multi-link independent suspension on both ends. The same with the brakes, with ventilated discs installed on all four wheels.
Engines
Along with the new design, the first model year of the new generation (2002 Nissan Stagea) brought an entirely new engine lineup. A completely new family of four VQ engines replaced the old RB units, starting from the base 2.5-litre normally-aspirated V6 engine (max output: 158kW), available in rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
Also available were a turbocharged version of this engine (max output: 206kW) and units with bigger displacements, such as a 3.0-litre V6 with 191kW.
Finally, the company offered the 350S version, equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 and a max output of 206kW. Interestingly, this was the only Nissan Stagea M35 with a 6-speed manual transmission. The rest of the powertrain lineup was paired with an automatic gearbox.
Is Nissan Stagea a Skyline?
While they share a lot of things in common, the Stagea isn't the same vehicle as the Skyline. It comes with a different body style as a station wagon, while the Skyline is a sports coupe.
Yet, the first generation of Stagea was built on the same platform as the legendary sports car and shared mechanical parts, including the legendary inline-six engines. On the other hand, the second generation was based on the FM platform, which has been used for over two decades for a broad range of Nissan and Infiniti models.
These shared platforms and mechanicals are some of the reasons why Stagea has a big following in the used car market. As a new model, it was reserved for the Japanese domestic market, but many were imported to Australia and can be found as a used car. Enthusiasts see it as a fantastic base for a project car, as they get Skyline's mechanics at a significantly lower price.
Do you own this amazing underdog and plan to sell it? You can advertise your Nissan Stagea for sale on our website and find more interested buyers.
By Nebojsa Grmusa