Nissan Elgrand

Brand: Nissan

Model: Elgrand

Body type: MPV

In production: 1997-present
 

As far as JDM cars in the UK go, the Nissan Elgrand is still very much the king of the streets. The older E50 and E51 models are particularly prevalent and, while some of them are now so old that they’ve given way to peeling trim and taped-up wing mirrors, you still occasionally see a Rider or a Highway Star that’s in such good order that it reminds you what a fantastic vehicle the Elgrand is.

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There is something wonderfully train-like about the Elgrand; its lines are perfectly straight and the wing mirrors seem to flow from it organically like ears. It’s a very handsome car, particularly for something so large, and it’s much more striking from the front than its near rivals such as the Alphard or Voxy.

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Most generations of the Elgrand have five or six levels of trim and come with either 2.5 or 3.5 V6 engines, required to move this beast which weighs either just under or just over 2 tonnes depending on the version. Even the most basic trim level is unnecessarily ostentatious – you can generally expect two sunroofs, a roof-mounted TV and switch-activated curtains on the E50 and E51. On the more austere E52, for some reason, sunroofs became a rarity rather than de rigeur, and you may not even get curtains for goodness sake. Some early high-specs were so jam-packed with gear that some of it is now less than useful: Sony minidisk players, tinted windscreens and CarWings navigation, for example (even in Japan).

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The third-generation E52 which began in 2010 is worth paying a little extra for; a good example with moderate trim and 60-70,000 miles or less can be had for £12,000 or a little less. That said, if you liked the sleek, straight lines that defined the earlier incarnations you may feel that the E52 and later models look a little too much like the rival Toyota Alphard.

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The Elgrand is a great car, with a solid engine that’s just a tad less bulletproof than the Alphard or Vellfire. If you plan to take one camping, consider the switchable 4WD version, as heavy low-clearance vehicles and deep mud don’t always go well together.

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When buying your Elgrand: Be sure you’re happy with the price at the pump. The 3.5 V6 has the same engine as the Fairlady Z for goodness sake, so you should probably ask yourself if you need that much grunt. If you just need to move 7 or 8 people about, an estate-style MPV like the Honda Odyssey will do it much more cheaply. Then again, the fuel usage (17 mpg at best) is about equivalent to older (2008 and earlier) models of the Honda Stepwagon which doesn’t have half as much bling and upholstery. Some would say that if you care about fuel economy you wouldn’t be looking at an Elgrand anyway (particularly not the 3.5 version)… and that’s a fair point. Some people just love the feeling of travelling ina luxury torpedo, and who wouldn't?

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ALWAYS ASK TO SEE THE AUCTION SHEET
Private sellers may not have it, but an importer/dealer should ALWAYS have retained this in order to prove the vehicle's grade, along with any other important documents. We sell only 3.5 (good), 4 (very good) and 4.5 (excellent) grade imports. Be aware that anything rated RA has been repaired, and that anything rated R or unrated is equivalent to UK grades A,B,C or D (scrapped, insurance writeoff or what used to be known as class N).

A vehicle's history is effectively erased upon export, but most of it is there on the auction sheet. Make sure you see it, and ask for a copy if required. A dealer/importer reluctant to let you see the auction sheet on request should be a red flag!

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Insuring your Elgrand: Nissan Elgrand insurance has been offered by the following companies, but your circumstances will affect what you’re offered so shop around: Adrian Flux, Japcover, Direct Line, Brentacre, Mark Richard, the Flow, Admiral, A-plan, Performance Direct, Safeguard. Unlike many JDM cars, best prices for the Elgrand can be researched on comparison sites, so make use of them.

Battery: The Yuasa YBX5334 is the best replacement battery for your Elgrand, and it probably isn’t worth looking at any others as this is the best in price and quality for a battery that needs to deliver a massive 100 Ah. If unavailable then there’s a Varta that will work at 95 Ah. Those electric curtains don’t close themselves! Remember that the Elgrand needs a battery with the less common left-hand positive terminals.

Parts: The Elgrand is the most common JDM car on British streets and as such there are LOTS of spare and breaker’s Elgrand parts on Ebay, albeit mostly for the E50 and E51.  In the UK there’s the Nissan Dismantler ; for overseas suppliers it’s always worth trying Amayama or Croooober for anything else. If you know what you’re looking for, and you can deal with staring at parts diagrams, try Nengun for parts shipped from Japan.

Tax: Your Elgrand, either in the 2.5 straight four or 3.5 V6 version, is taxed at PLG rate of £325 per annum

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Community: On Facebook the Nissan Elgrand Club is very helpful and mostly UK-centred.