Used Nissan Elgrand review: 1997-2014

Transporting a family, particularly a large one, often means sacrifices have to be made in areas like performance, comfort, and convenience.

But many families have found that in the Nissan Elgrand they don’t have to make those sacrifices.

The Elgrand is a large luxury wagon with heaps of space, accommodation for up to eight, and a comprehensive list of standard features.

Not sold by Nissan in Australia, the Elgrand is only available as a ‘grey’ import through specialised dealers.

Models

There have been three generations of the Nissan Elgrand people mover, beginning with the E50 that was produced between 1997 and 2002.

The Elgrand was a big, heavy vehicle with a van-like shape and proportions, and able to accommodate up to eight in three rows of seats.

It was perfect for tribal transport, but it also offered a level of comfort and luxury rarely seen in a family-focused vehicle.

The E50 was a four-door model with all- or four-wheel drive, a choice of 3.3-litre and 3.5-litre V6 petrol engines, and 3.0-litre or 3.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesels.

All came with four-speed automatic transmissions; there was no manual gearbox option.

There were several variants in the E50 range, beginning with the V at the entry point, and including the X, Highway Star, and XL at the top of the range.

All were well equipped, having climate-controlled air-conditioning, power steering, power windows, power mirrors and alloy wheels.

The E51 Elgrand replaced the E50 in 2002. It was longer and wider than its predecessor, had a longer wheelbase, and was either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.

Models included the V, VG, Highway Star, X and XL.

The V was the base model and came with Xenon headlamps. Power side doors and a smart key function were options.

Next in line was the VG, which came with a CD player and a power door as standard.

The Highway Star was a sportier model with a body kit and larger 17-inch alloy wheels. It also featured a standard power door, and a mix of leather and velour trim.

At the top of the range was the luxury XL. Unlike the others, the XL was a seven-seater; it had full leather trim, dual sunroofs, eight-speaker sound with an optional Bose system with nine speakers, and a TV/DVD player.

There was no diesel option in the E51; power came from either a 2.5-litre or 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine, the latter a detuned version of the engine found in the 350Z sports car.

Five-speed Tiptronic-style sports-shift automatic gearboxes were linked to both engines.

The E51 Elgrand gave way to the E52 in 2010.

It was available in front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive versions, the engine choices were a 2.5-litre V6 and a 3.5-litre V6, and the transmission was a CVT auto.

Models with the 2.5-litre engine had the prefix ‘250’, those with the 3.5-litre V6 were prefixed with ‘350’.

The 'Around View Monitor' provided park assist, and 'Collision Avoidance Assist' applied the brakes at low speeds to avoid a crash.

Among the options were a Bose sound system, a large flip-down rear TV screen, tyre pressure monitor, radar cruise control, rear parking sensors, and one-touch power-folding rear seats, active front lighting, and 'Dynamic Vehicle Control'.

Bluetooth wasn’t an option, so no connecting an iPhone or Android device.

Cabin

Comfort was a high priority with the Elgrand, which boasted a flexible three-row seating layout able to accommodate up to eight with plenty of room to ensure a good level of comfort for all.

Base models had cloth trim, but higher levels had leather, either part-leather or full leather in the upper models.

There was also a larger in-dash info screen – it wasn’t a touch screen – and a TV/DVD screen to keep those in the rear entertained while on the move.

Cupholders were spread around the cabin, and a sunroof option was available on some models.

It was possible to walk through the vehicle to check on those in the rear, and the rear seats could be folded flat to accommodate luggage.

Engines

The engines employed in the Elgrand were familiar Nissan powerplants; they were the same engines used in other models that did find their way to Australia.

The V6 petrol engines have long been regarded as jewel-like, they’re smooth, refined, and deliver plenty of performance to get even the big Elgrand going in impressive style.

With 208kW (279 horsepower) of power at its peak and 334Nm of torque, the 3.5-litre V6 is the engine of choice for performance, but it consumes fuel at a rather high rate.

For more economy, the 2.5-litre V6 version is the better option, although it doesn’t have quite the zip of the larger engine.

Driving

Calm, serene, smooth and refined are words often used to describe the Elgrand driving experience.

It rides comfortably, stops, steers, and handles well for such a large vehicle.

The cabin is quiet, with little wind or road noise to disturb the inner peace.

Safety

It was never sold here, so there is no ANCAP safety rating for the Elgrand.

The main safety features were dual front airbags and ABS braking, the E52 also had electronic stability control.

Baby seats can be fitted in the second and third rows of seats. ISOFIX child seat restraints are not fitted.

Any common issues?

Buying an Elgrand requires careful research. It’s not, and never has been sold new in Australia by Nissan, but some models are approved for importation under the Specialist & Enthusiast Vehicle Scheme (SEVS).

After deciding on an Elgrand it’s best to talk to the various companies that have the approval to import them.

They will be able to source a suitable vehicle for you in Japan, import it, and have it approved for local registration.

It’s important to establish the back up the importer provides their customers, and the availability of spares should they be needed.

While many mechanical parts are shared with other models that Nissan has sold here, there are many others that are specific to the Elgrand and not readily available here.

Replacement panels, for instance, are not available locally should you have the misfortune to be involved in a crash.

The E50 Elgrand is now at least 15 years old and is not worth the dealers importing. The only ones that are available are those imported some time ago.

Should you decide to buy an E50 get the importation papers that covered its arrival here from the owner and check its history as best you can.

Expect to find them showing high odometer readings, and the wear and tear of 15-plus years of family use.

They’re big vehicles, so look for parking bumps and scrapes; also expect to see worn and even torn trim in the cabin.

Servicing an Elgrand is not a problem; any mechanic could do it, but check for a service record to confirm regular maintenance.

In terms of reliability, the Elgrand is sound and doesn’t present any major issues that should concern a prospective buyer.

Elgrand engines are generally reliable and durable; they use a cam timing chain, so there’s no need to servicing in that area.

The automatic gearbox in the E50 and E51 is a conventional unit and doesn’t give any serious trouble.

The E52 has a CVT auto and anyone buying one should carefully assess its operation to ensure it doesn’t shudder, particularly under acceleration.

Capped price servicing doesn’t apply to the Elgrand, but the service costs aren’t exorbitant.

As a ‘grey’ import Elgrands are used vehicles and they don’t come with a new car warranty as such, the importer provides any warranty that applies.

One thing that can be frustrating is the use of Japanese on the display screen, but it’s possible to buy an English language owners manual to make things easier.

MORE: If anything crops up, you’ll probably find it on our Nissan Elgrand problems page.

Owners’ views

Tim Edwards: Our 2004 E51 Elgrand Highway Star had 70,000 km on the clock when we bought it. The space and seating makes it perfect for our family of two adults and three kids, but we also love the power, smoothness, comfort, and the electric side doors are perfect for those school drop-offs. The only negative is that the 3.5-litre engine is a little thirsty.
 
Lyn Crompton: After trying the other peoplemovers available locally we bought a 2012 E52 Elgrand Highway Star. It’s very spacious, and we’ve found the 2.5-litre engine quite economical.
 
Allan Manson:  I bought my E50 Elgrand V in 2011. It’s fantastic. I have a small tribe to transport, and the Elgrand does it easily and comfortably.

Miriam Turner: We needed a bigger car to accommodate our expanding family, and settled on an E51 Elgrand XL. It was bigger than I really wanted, but the visibility is great, and it has a reversing camera, so it perfectly suited our young family. It drives smoothly, the acceleration is great, and it’s relatively economical.

Specs

E50 (1997-2002)
Built: Japan
Body: 4-door people mover
Models: V, X, XL, Highway Star
Seats: 8
Engine: 3.3-litre V6, 125 kW/267 Nm
3.5-litre V6, 176 kW/334 Nm
3.2-litre 4-cyl turbo-diesel, 110kW/333Nm
3.0-litre 4-cyl turbo-diesel, 125kW/353Nm
Gearbox: 4-speed automatic
0-100 km/h: N/A
Fuel consumption: 14.7 L/100 km avg. (3.3 V6); 14.2 L/100 km avg. (3.5 V6); 10 L/100 km avg. (3.0 turbo-diesel)
Fuel: 91-octane regular unleaded; diesel
Fuel tank capacity: 76 litres
Oil: 0W-40
Front suspension: independent strut
Rear suspension: multi-link independent with coil springs
Turning circle: 11.2 metres
Safety rating: N/A
Spare: full-sized
Kerb weight: 2050-2100kg
Towing capacity: N/A
Ground clearance: 140mm
 
E51 (2002-2010)
Built: Japan
Body: 5-door people mover
Models: Highway Star, Rider
Seats: 8
Engine: 3.5-litre V6, 179kW/353Nm
2.5-litre V6, 137kW/232Nm
Gearbox: 5-speed automatic
0-100 km/h: N/A
Fuel consumption: N/A
Fuel: 91-octane
Fuel tank capacity: 76 litres
Oil: 0W-40
Front suspension: independent strut
Rear suspension: multi-link independent with coil springs
Turning circle: N/A
Safety rating: N/A
Spare: full-sized
Kerb weight: 2010kg
Towing capacity: N/A
Ground clearance: N/A
 
E52 (2010-2014)
Built: Japan
Body: 5-door people mover
Models: XG, Highway Star, Rider
Seats: 8
Engine: 2.5-litre V6, 127kW/232Nm
3.5-litre V6, 208kW/334Nm
Gearbox: CVT auto
0-100 km/h: N/A
Fuel consumption: N/A
Fuel: 91-octane regular unleaded
Fuel tank capacity: 76 litres
Oil: 0W-40
Front suspension: independent strut
Rear suspension: multi-link independent with coil springs
Turning circle: N/A
Safety rating: N/A
Spare: full-sized
Kerb weight: 2045kg
Towing capacity: N/A
Ground clearance: N/A