The Nissan Elgrand is a minivan built by Nissan Shatai since 1997, in four generations with the model codes E50, E51, E52 and E53. Its main rivals are the Toyota Alphard and Vellfire and the Honda Odyssey. The first generation was also built as a light commercial vehicle from 1998 to 2017.
Nissan Elgrand at a glance
| Production | since May 1997 |
|---|---|
| Generations | E50 (1997–2002), E51 (2002–2010), E52 (2010–2026), E53 (2026–) |
| Built by | Nissan Shatai |
| E50 engines | VG33E and VQ35DE petrol, QD32ETi and ZD30DDTi diesel |
| E50 gearbox | four-speed automatic |
| Drive | two- or four-wheel drive |
| Trim levels | V, VG, X, XL, Highway Star, Rider, S Edition |
| Twin model | Isuzu Fargo Filly, 1997–2002 |
| Commercial version | to December 2017 |
| Rivals | Toyota Alphard and Vellfire, Honda Odyssey |
based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Nissan Elgrand.
History of the Nissan Elgrand
E50 (1997–2002)
The first Elgrand was built from May 1997 to May 2002, with commercial versions lasting until December 2017. Engine choices were the petrol VG33E and VQ35DE and the diesel QD32ETi and ZD30DDTi, with a four-speed automatic and two- or four-wheel drive. The Caravan Elgrand was sold at Nissan Store and the Homy Elgrand at Nissan Prince Store, and the Elgrand took over the passenger duties of the Caravan Coach with more luxury. Top equipment packages included internet-enabled CarWings satellite navigation. A minor facelift in August 1999 dropped the Homy and Caravan nameplates, and a further facelift came on 23 August 2000.
Other uses of the E50
From 1997 to 2002 the E50 was rebadged and sold by Isuzu as the Fargo Filly in Japan. In May 1998 the second-generation Nissan Paramedic ambulance was introduced on the same chassis, carrying the body of the earlier Paramedic II from the B-pillar back to gain rear space; it was facelifted in 2006 and built until December 2017, and Isuzu sold it as the Super Medic II until 2002. Between 2000 and 2011 a ten-passenger commercial van based on the E50 Paramedic was offered as the Elgrand Jumbo Taxi.
Later generations
The E51 followed in 2002, the E52 in 2010 and the E53 in 2026, keeping the Elgrand as Nissan’s large luxury people carrier for the Japanese market while the Toyota Alphard and Vellfire remained its main competition.
Design and features
- Luxury minivan: the top of Nissan’s people-carrier range in Japan.
- CarWings: internet-linked navigation in the top E50 trims.
- Ambulance base: the E50 underpinned Nissan’s Paramedic and Isuzu’s Super Medic II.
- Long-lived commercial version: built until 2017.
Nissan Elgrand versions
- Elgrand E50 (1997–2002): the first generation.
- Elgrand Highway Star: the long-running high trim.
- Isuzu Fargo Filly (1997–2002): an OEM twin of the E50.
- Nissan Paramedic (1998–2017): the ambulance built on the same chassis.
- Elgrand E51 to E53: later generations from 2002, 2010 and 2026.
The Elgrand replaced the passenger Caravan in the luxury role and later shared the showroom with the Serena. More cars are in the Nissan collection.
Video: 2014 New NISSAN ELGRAND 350Highway STAR Premium – Exterior & Interior
Video by YouTube on YouTube.
Sources
- Nissan Elgrand, English Wikipedia: generations, engines, trims, Fargo Filly, Paramedic
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