Nissan’s restructuring plan is well underway, but not everything is pessimistic. Between the shedding of 20,000 jobs, the closure of seven factories, and the closure of two design studios, there is still a glimmer of hope: fresh produce. We’ve already seen China’s new Leaf, Sentra, Micra and Frontier hybrid pickup truck in recent months, and now the old model is finally moving on to the next generation.
After fifteen years and several facelifts, the Elgrand is finally brand new. Nissan stopped selling minivans in the United States after the Quest’s death at the end of 2017, but it hasn’t abandoned the segment elsewhere. At the Japanese Mobility Show, this boxy family truck appears as a production version of Hypertourer concept It was introduced at the same event two years ago.
Given that it replaces such an old car, it’s no surprise that the new Elgrand represents a major shift in design. It has little in common with its predecessor except for its upright body, which increases interior space. Being a new car, it is He should It has full-width light bars at the front and rear, while the speckled accents might make you think Hyundai is launching an Ioniq minivan.
It’s an eye-catcher, but so are many minivans on the Asian market today. The Toyota Alphard/Vellfire doesn’t exactly fly under the radar, nor does it Hyundai Staria. In the luxury segment, the Volvo EM90 and Buick GL8 also attract attention. The rise of luxury minivans at the expense of traditional sedans is clear, as the new Elgrand features a more upscale interior, complete with nicer leather and wood trim.
Photo by: Nissan
Nissan managed to cram 22 speakers into the cabin, including Bose speakers integrated into the front headrests. Fortunately, the dual 14.3-inch screens don’t eat 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.
The Elgrand is a flagship version with captain’s chairs in the second row, although more affordable configurations are expected to offer a three-seater in the middle. Other features include a dual-screen entertainment system for second-row passengers, who also benefit from sun blinds and generous seat adjustments.
Photo by: Nissan
Under the hood, Nissan equips the little car with a third-generation electronic power setup, which means the combustion engine doesn’t directly drive the wheels. Instead, the 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine acts as a generator to feed the battery pack. This latest version, already used in the Qashqai in Europe, gives the ICE a 42 percent thermal efficiency.
While the crossover only uses an electric motor up front, the Elgrand adds another electric motor in the back. Nissan says it has improved its e-4ORCE all-wheel drive system to reduce car sickness by providing a smoother, more comfortable ride.
The fourth-generation Elgrand will go on sale in Japan next summer, with other markets to follow.
