Nissan’s restructuring plan is in full swing, but not everything is grim and ominous. Between cutting 20,000 jobs, closing seven factories and closing two design studios, there is still a glimmer of hope: fresh produce. We’ve already seen the new Leaf, Sentra, Micra and China’s Frontier plug-in hybrid truck in recent months, and now an aging model is finally moving on to the next generation.
Fifteen years and several facelifts later, the Elgrand is finally completely new. Nissan stopped selling minivans in the United States after the Quest died at the end of the 2017 model year, but has not abandoned the segment elsewhere. At the Japan Mobility Show, this boxy family hauler appears as a production version of the Hyper Tourer Concept that was introduced at the same event a few years ago.
Considering it replaces such an old vehicle, it’s no surprise that the new Elgrand represents a major change in design. It shares little with its predecessor, apart from its upright bodywork, which maximizes interior space. Because it’s a new car, it is must have full-width light bars front and rear, while the pixelated accents might make you think Hyundai is launching an Ioniq minivan.
It looks striking, but so do many of the current minivans on the Asian market. The Toyota Alphard/Vellfire doesn’t exactly fly under the radar, and neither does the Hyundai Staria. In the premium segment, the Volvo EM90 and Buick GL8 also attract attention. The rise of luxury minivans at the expense of traditional sedans is evident, as the new Elgrand features a much more luxurious interior, complete with nicer leather and woodgrain finishes.
Photo by: Nissan
Nissan managed to cram 22 speakers into the cabin, including Bose speakers built into the front headrests. Fortunately, the dual 14.3-inch screens haven’t swallowed up all the buttons. There are still plenty of physical controls on the dash, including one on the center console to activate the surround-view cameras.
This Elgrand is a flagship version with second-row captain’s chairs, although more affordable configurations are expected to offer a three-seat center bench. Other highlights include a dual-screen entertainment system for second-row passengers, who also benefit from sun blinds and generous seat adjustment.
Photo by: Nissan
Under the hood, Nissan equips the minivan with its third-generation e-Power setup, meaning the combustion engine doesn’t drive the wheels directly. Instead, the turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder serves as a generator to feed a battery pack. This latest version, which is already used in the European Qashqai, gives the ICE a thermal efficiency of 42 percent.
While the crossover only uses an electric motor at the front, the Elgrand adds another at the rear. Nissan says it has refined its e-4ORCE all-wheel drive system to minimize motion sickness by providing a smoother and more comfortable ride.
The fourth-generation Elgrand will go on sale in Japan next summer, with other markets to follow.
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Source: Nissan
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