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Im watching this video because Im wondering why im seeing this vehicle absolutely everywhere atm, and was wondering if I should swap out my creaky S-Max for one, but looks like I may be a little late on the scene and its gna cost me more than id hope!
They've gone up an awful lot lately! Got my 1999 e50 for 4.5K a couple of years ago, sub 30K miles imported in 2018, seeing listing's up on auto trader with double the milage for close to 10K!
a good friend bought one of these from a dealer / importer near Southampton ... we got the train & bus down & drove it back to his place near Inverness .. Utter comfort & only time we stopped was for Fuel ... What a long distance tourer
'Not actually that spacious inside...' that's how most SUV owners kid themselves. I'm a van convert with a Noah and road trips with family have been revolutionized as a result.
The wheel brand is Kranze, a favourite amongst Japanese VIP-style mods (known in Japan, by the virtue of its Japanese spelling, as _bippu_ style). Also, the Elgrand-Alphard/Vellfire-Elysion trifecta are amongst the most popular mode of transport for Indonesian (and SE Asia, to be honest) wealthy families. Can't blame them, they're properly luxurious.
You are right they are magnificent vehicles. After 3 years of humming and arring, I eventually went for a Toyota Vellfire 3.5 litre with captain seats, full leather and twin sunroofs. Fantastic for trips out and picnics and great to drive. Like you say they are not sports cars, but then again sports cars are not luxurious tourers. It was your original review of the Alphard that set me thinking and after a long deliberation it was the Vellfire I bought. Great reviews.
I own one of these in Australia. It's lifted 100mm with 31" mud tyres. It's a fantastic and reliable van. Fuel economy improved 10% with a throttle controller. The sunroofs leak and let in too much heat in the Aussie sun. The aftermarket is quite small in the west, but improving. I'm working on a installing a low range transfer case from a Pathfinder/Navara. Possibly a V9X turbo diesel as well. The chassis flexes more than the suspension while off-roading, but we're working on it. Mine will be a fantastic touring bus. Cheers
Hello James; I've had both the Elgrand and the Alphard. Of the 2 Alphards I owned, one was a 2·4 hybrid, the other had the V6. Neither was as good as my Elgrand though; I had the top line 6 seater with twin sunroof option, electric doors TV, DVD, multi-function seating and everything cinverted to UK except the speedo. (I put in a solar powered gps speedo like the one on the dash in your video. Fuel consumption was up to 3wmpg on a long motorway run, and about 19 around town. The big difference was the sheer comfort. The Alphards were nice but the Elgrand simply outdid any minivan I've ever driven! Absolute bliss from York to Truro; after 426 miles, I got out still feeling fresh. (Only my Lexus can surpass that) Incidentally, my Elgrand topped the Alphards for reliability too; and it cost just £5250 to buy! When I sold it, I got £6,000. There are not many cars, or minivans, you can make money on. Great video as always
I’ve had mine for 3 years now and love it. It’s been a camper, van for the tip, removal van, wedding car and great for cruising. Just spent money on servicing and had to get a new ABS pump which cost me £75. If I had to have just one car, this would be it!
incredible arent they - i have an ABS light on and parking brake light on on mine, makes a bit of a hum when you turn ignition on for about 5-10 seconds, did yours do that at all when it needed the ABS pump doing?
Ive had our E51 elgrand for 2 years now and when it works it is a fabulous people mover, but there are 2 big issues this model have. 1 someone clever put the power steering pump and reservoir above the alternator so if it leakes, it destroys the damn thing. 2 the manifold cats like to degrade over time shoving the debris into the secondary cats causing the engine struggle and potentially damage it. We are now looking at converting to LPG since that is cheaper than secondhand primary cats each year! Nengun performance is your go to place for part numbers and just be prepared for finding 'alternative' solutions for some issues!
Joining the Elgrand Owner's Club is a big help for advice and parts. That E51 is a Series 3. Depending on the age of vehicle (Series 1 for instance) some are prohibited from entering ULEZ zones without the usual fine/ payment. There is a way of appealing for exemptions, that's on the EOC site. It is not recommended to use the manual mode too often as it can cause wear (It is really good for engine braking etc). The manual mode also only uses 4 gears instead of the 5 gears in auto mode. Yes, they are a bit picky regards engine and transmission oil. The sunroofs, while *really* nice, can be a source of leaking, it seems to be a design fault. If you are getting a freshly imported one, get the tyres changed as soon as you can, the chances are they will have old rubber, mine were made in 2011. Yes I have a Series 1 and love it, even if she is a thirsty girl. Do not feed them normal petrol unless in desperate times, they really prefer RON97 with as little ethanol as possible. EDIT: Typos and extra info.
I've had mine for 2 years now and it's brilliant! It's needed nothing other than servicing since we bought it fresh from the importer (it helpfully came with an almost new set of Michelins fitted). Mine's the same spec as the one in the video. It's definitely more minibus than sports car, but it's strangely fun to drive and quick enough with 240bhp. We've used it for everything from camping, beach trips, and transporting family around to helping people move house. The only downside is fuel economy but I can live with that.
@@koolerking440 on an average long trip it's normally around 22-23 mpg with it fairly well loaded up. You can get it higher by driving more gently. I don't even check the mpg for short journeys. We don't cover huge mileage in ours though so it's not a huge problem.
Have had a 2003 4x4 version for over 5 years now and it’s been totally reliable, extremely comfortable, averages 25 mpg and is the most versatile machine I’ve ever had. And I look at some VERY expensive modern stuff and can see no reason to change it.
i have a series 1 E51 and i love it, its the 2.5 version but i do wish i had the 4x4 version just because, not too fussed on if its the 2.5 or 3.5 but it would be nice to come with both sliding doors as power doors and the drop down screen that mine doesnt have.
Enjoyable video. I’m 42 and I’ve had mine 2 years. Went for a cheap one (under £5k, 2002, 65k miles) because I wasn’t sure if it would be for me but I love it. I keep looking at options for my next car but after this… there really aren’t any. I’ve had some really nice and fast estate cars but I couldn’t go back now…. And the VWs and Mercs that are 15 years younger are just… disappointing and bland. My next car will probably just be a S3 elgrand. Shame LPG is basically pointless now as that would make things easier but I get 26mpg on a long run and no less than 20mpg around down acting like a hooligan. When you consider some similar sized diesel vans only get 28-30mpg and the fuel costs more, that’s really not bad.
There are also 2.5 V6 E51s too. Both 2wd or 4wd. I have owned my 2.5 2wd for ten years in New Zealand. Plenty of power. Easy to work on. After my big boys grew up, didn't want family holidays anymore I ripped all the (very heavy) back seats out and use it as a cargo van or Camper van, hauling bikes, canoes, motorbikes or anything.
I'm a month into ownership of my 2004 Nissan Elgrand Autech Rider S and absolutely love it. Pure comfort and utility. Also managed to apply for CAZ exemption and you can also apply for ULEZ exemption too. Just dropped £3200 on upgrading the infotainment and sound system along with additional sound proofing to make it quieter. It's a thirsty old girl so not the best if it's a daily driver and you need to be frugal but otherwise an absolute pleasure to be in.
I'm currently looking for one of these as we've welcomed our 4th child into the world. With 4 children and a large dog this does seem like the ideal option. Thank you very much for the helpful video as I couldn't find many other helpful ones.
We have a Vellfire V6 camper which like this is a a delight to drive. I have to keep looking around to remind myself that I’m not in my Lexus RX - they feel similar in many ways.
In Oz here. Had a 2002 e51 V6 as the family wagon , called Vegas as it was so over the top and exuberant. V6 needs rear cat deletes as the fronts disintegrate and block the rears. Fast and light to drive with a great turning circle. I miss mine so much
We have an Honda Stepwagon which we love. The back row of seats fold flat into the floor to give us essentially a van. It’s comfortable, cool and completely brilliant.
I'd love to see something like a Honda Freed here in Europe. It's a size smaller than the Alphard/Elgrand/Elysion and based loosely on the Honda Jazz. 3 row of seats, sliding doors, van-like space, and powered by an fuel efficient 1.5 liter. Utterly slow but I'd live with that downside for what is a well built, comfortable, spacious daily with good fuel economy.
My wife has a 2008 Elysion, imported last year with a few mods, 50k miles on the clock, K24 engine. So far been reliable, not too terrible on fuel considering the size of the car, although that being said her car before that was a Jeep wrangler TJ hard top with the 4.0 straight 6, so the bar for fuel economy was set very low. She has the back row of seats out and dog cages built in, to us it’s an MDV (multi dog vehicle)
I had one here in New Zealand for 5 years as a campervan/ work van/ surf wagon. Worst thing about it is the gas milage, I would get around 19mpg. But a beautiful thing to waft around in. And amazing on sand as that engine has so much torque. All my electrics started dying and it got very rusty 😭
We bought a Honda Stepwagon in 2009 and have loved it with many kids travelling on holiday or days out. It came with factory fitted turnaround front seats and a table conversion on the middle row. Yes the Honda is a smaller vehicle to the Alphard but a 2001-2005 RF Stepwagon series model is one of the best designs and very useful for transporting stuff like a single bed, a 3 seater settee and a full size ladder as well as up to 8 people!
If we looking at accomodation, look, design and driving wise compare to other in the same class/price, this E51 Elgrand is the best in my personal opinions.
Thanks for that Jay. I keep on looking at them. So much easier to live with, than my 2006 3.0 Toyota Alphard Welcab. The bluetooth audio, is awesome, but I have to navigate 4 screens. Still prefer the mzfe engines. Just do the Fluids, belts etc. Use genuine Alphard pads (the only ones from the EPC in the UK are for a car 400Kg lighter. This will mess up your modulation and only last 10 minutes. Love the show.
I'm glad you are reviewing this. I desperately need/want one of these or something similar. Reviews on them seem hard to find so I would be interested in your judgement!
Back in 2012 I imported 2002 nissan elgrand highway star. It was 4wd. It had 8 seats. Dual front and rear aircon control. Keyless entry and start. Second row seat swivels around. Electric rear blinds. Double sunroof. Cruise control with radar distance control. HID xenon headlights. Entertainment system with subwoofer. Factory screen mounted on the ceiling. Kids were watching movies at the back and i could listen to the radio at the front. This bus was way ahead of its time. I was driving a Mercedes v class 2019. It was nowhere near this nissan elgrand .
It would be quite interesting to see what you think of the new VW Caravelle and Multivan, typecode T7, as that is not based on a commercial van but on the MQB platform like a passenger car.
I absolutely love my E51 Nissan Elgrand Rider, such a very versatile vehicle! People in The Netherlands are very confused what vehicle it is and shocked by its age! lol
Had one in Indonesia while working there, followed by sn Alphard and a then a Vellfire. The Toyotas were more modern, but quite a bit more expensive to run. All were fine.
He compares it to a VW caddy and says it’s better but forgets that the VW caddy has more space in the cargo area for sleeping and living if you have to live in it… also, the Nissan doesn’t have park assist, and isn’t high enough to comfortably stand or cook under the tailgate in the rain
One of your best. Leave the FerPorLams at home. Spot on about the price of work vans. Most tradesman are running, including me, are stuck in 10 year, 100k plastic cab diesel rot boxes worth 6 - 10k (UK-2024) that barely make 30 mpg
Bought a used estate two years ago. I wanted a hitch at the back of it. But I never heard from that company again. But then again I rarely use the hitch myself. It's mostly for friends who want help from me.
I've got the later e52 with the 3.5cvt and it's a great drive I thought the CVT would be terrible but I was wrong And my other car is a Porsche 911 so I know what driving dynamics should be Get one and smile loads
I sold mine after 3 years, while great the 3.5L is hungry. I could repair one with my eyes closed…. Q35de engine and RE55RO5A is fantastic combo…..but changing a spark plugs will take you half a day. Windscreen replacement will take 6months if you’re lucky. Overall 9/10 but there’s a lot of BUTs….
James as a Japanese fanboy I echo your sentiments. What I do love about them is they have this French quirkiness to them. Only difference being the trim will not drop off. I think i would go for the Toyota though.
Just this afternoon I watched the Fuga one and what happens now? Yeah many in GB have imported an Elgrand. 😁 Hope it gets back to the glory days. It once was THE van like the Alphard today. There is and was even a VIP version (7, 8 or 4 seats!) of that! And in the first generation there was even the Elgrand Royal (from the Royal line out of 3 vehicles: Cedric/Gloria Royal (stretch limo), President Royal (stretch limo) and the Elgrand Royal (not stretched but 4 seats like the later VIP versions). Like the Lexus LM/Alphard (dunno which trim the Alphard version is named). Yes it´s no 350Z like people think. It´s based on the Terrano (Pathfinder). But still it´s "Fuga grade" kinda.
I did quite fancy one of these but I just can't get over those massive front grills a lot of these have. I bought a Honda "RK" Stepwagon instead. It's probably a little more basic but I guess the Elysion is Honda's luxury offering.
Love these ..had a mk1 lowered with a body kit - does it still say POWER on the dash when u kick it down tho? That was one of my favourite lil things on any vehicle I've owned ...like having Clarkson in the dash saying POWER every time u boot it 😊
It displays POWER when you select the POWER (sport) button. So not dynamic by how you’re driving, throttle, etc. but more as an indicator to show the mode selected.
I think the Honda stepwagon is the happy place with these types of vehicles. Smaller than the Elgrand but still the same idea and running a 2 litre petrol so cheaper on fuel.
Ah... the V6 from the Z - same engine as that found in the Murano yes? wait until one of the small water pipes needs replaced and try to find a replacement. Maybe parts availability has changed but my local Nissan dealer had to special order it in from Japan 🙄 But I suppose anyone buying a JDM will be aware of that (hopefully) (quick edit) oh, and over here the KPH speedo is an MOT failure now it has to have MPH
You can use a GPS speedo and there are sellers (The one I know of is Lockwood) who will supply MPH plates you can use to swap out the old speedos. If you join the owner's group, you might find it easier to get parts.
I have an E51 4wd. Typical JDM import in being rust free. Need LPG due to high fuel consumption and very little room under the bonnet. Complex electronics. Agree that the Elgrand is designed from the ground up as a smooth rider (on standard wheels/tyres) not just a converted van with crude suspension. E52 design is a bit more compromised/ more like an estate with CVT auto box which has its critics. Roof rack would add to wind noise.
Awww that was my old Alphard in the pictures that jay reviewed, I don't have it anymore, I sold it to buy an L322 ... Biggest mistake I ever made.. I don't own the L322 anymore 😂
I know somebody who drives one and another who drives the Toyota Alphard they are from Lesotho ( country inside South Africa)too bad in South Africa it illegal to import a secondhand car ,but when I see them they have Lesotho or eSwatini and Mocambique registration plate, but after riding one it made me question Merc Benz V class and VW Caravelle legitimacy as luxury vans,
If you do get one of these come and join the ElgrandOC :) we have a huge community and a wealth of knowledge, parts suppliers and breakers. We have regular meets around the UK and also attend the big showd. Come and see us at Modified Nationals this year with 16 Elgrands attending :) Madfish
I've wanted a Stepwagon for ages, but these are probably better value. I also kinda wonder if it would be possible to make the hybrid Alphard work as a proper plug-in hybrid so you can charge it at home and not use any petrol on short trips - last time I looked into that it wasn't a thing though. :(
Can you find an Insignia VXR to test, please. Would love to get your take on them as I’ve long been tempted but worried their performance might be blunted by their heft, a bit like myself…
I think Hyundai masterd the hybrid with the ioniq. A rather boring car, but it had more poke than a prius, more bells and whistles, and it gets higher mpg. I got 68mpg over 30k miles in thr one i had. I had a prius ad a loner, for a week, and was really disappointed in the prius. I was also goven a carrola hybrid too for a week. And thst was horrific car. Felt like a real after thought. Lie5k thd huridly adapted thr carolla estate, to compete with with the sligher bigger than prius Hyundai offering. But it felt cheap and old, and it was only 6 months old. A uear newer than my ioniq at the time.
10:20 that's actually incorrect 😅 with the Rider Autech versions, they've been amped up slightly from the standards versions, which are 240bhp, and taken up to 280bhp with the Rider Autech models😁 (I speak for the E51 models here since the E52 has been made into CVT and I'm not entirely sure they carried out the same tunes)
@@SurferEv respectfully, we've had our Rider 3.5 for 10 years. There's a reason the Rider was specifically sought out and not the standard model. You can choose what you want to believe but the fact is that it is 280bhp; both feels like it and shows it. Autech tuning or Nismo tuning isn't there for namesake; you can see and feel the performance 🙂
Just bought one of these, an 05 Elgrand Highway Star, 2.5 V6 Petrol. I knew a bit about them but unsure if the CAT problems are on these as well? If so... Does anyone know if it's worth (or even possible) to just slap a sports CAT in them and leave the rest of the exhaust as is?
We had one for about 18 months. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to our expectations. We found it noisy and poor-handling. I think we may have bought a bad one! For instance, the driver's seat had collapsed. Fuel economy was very poor too. However, we may consider another one if we need the space.
I wonder how many parts are shared with the Renault Laguna / Espace iv / Vel Satis. They all shared the same Nissan 3.5 engine, engine specs look the same as well. The Japanese auto was underwhelming. Power just vanished down the transmission. You constantly had to unlearn the auto with some weird push that button while doing this and that. Still from 0 it first went to 2nd, but then decided to go 1st only to quickly change to 2nd and go sleep again. It was maddening and passengers got neck pain.
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Noooo Jay. You're going to let everyone know how amazing these things are, I need the prices to stay reasonable!
Agree. But it's too late. We are stuffed.
Im watching this video because Im wondering why im seeing this vehicle absolutely everywhere atm, and was wondering if I should swap out my creaky S-Max for one, but looks like I may be a little late on the scene and its gna cost me more than id hope!
They've gone up an awful lot lately!
Got my 1999 e50 for 4.5K a couple of years ago, sub 30K miles imported in 2018, seeing listing's up on auto trader with double the milage for close to 10K!
@@DJEylisium yea.... Things become popular and the prices shoot up. Its a bummer.
a good friend bought one of these from a dealer / importer near Southampton ... we got the train & bus down & drove it back to his place near Inverness .. Utter comfort & only time we stopped was for Fuel ... What a long distance tourer
@@888johnmac how many hours of that drive?
Which dealer was it? I'm in Southampton looking for one and there's a couple of dealers around here
I'm 36, owned 84 cars and this was the only one I've regretted selling. Loved it.
Same here buddy
Owned how many? 🤣🤣
@@SatanDotExe also currently on my 60th motorbike too 😁
@kurtis! Wow. I'm 37....iv driven alot of cars but iv only owned 8! Bn driving since th age of 18
@@kurtisjohnson3308 Leased... Financed or owned? Very different things.
Elgrand... sounds like a 1950s streetcorner group. Love that stuff; been listening to it since the spring of 1993, at the age of 11.
'Not actually that spacious inside...' that's how most SUV owners kid themselves. I'm a van convert with a Noah and road trips with family have been revolutionized as a result.
I love that this is what you are reviewing on the day that everyone else is covering the launch of the Bugatti Tourbillon.
I’ve realised the Jayemm hat trick. You’ve now tested examples of all three members of my fleet; e39 530i manual, MR2 Turbo and now the e51 Elgrand
The wheel brand is Kranze, a favourite amongst Japanese VIP-style mods (known in Japan, by the virtue of its Japanese spelling, as _bippu_ style).
Also, the Elgrand-Alphard/Vellfire-Elysion trifecta are amongst the most popular mode of transport for Indonesian (and SE Asia, to be honest) wealthy families. Can't blame them, they're properly luxurious.
True but nothing beats Work Zeast ST2 🥰
These are very common down here in Australia/New Zealand.
"Tongan Transporter" "Samoa Mobila" are a couple of the names we call them
the mighty Tongan Taxi™️
i call mine the "bundy bus"
You are right they are magnificent vehicles. After 3 years of humming and arring, I eventually went for a Toyota Vellfire 3.5 litre with captain seats, full leather and twin sunroofs. Fantastic for trips out and picnics and great to drive. Like you say they are not sports cars, but then again sports cars are not luxurious tourers. It was your original review of the Alphard that set me thinking and after a long deliberation it was the Vellfire I bought. Great reviews.
I own one of these in Australia. It's lifted 100mm with 31" mud tyres. It's a fantastic and reliable van. Fuel economy improved 10% with a throttle controller. The sunroofs leak and let in too much heat in the Aussie sun. The aftermarket is quite small in the west, but improving. I'm working on a installing a low range transfer case from a Pathfinder/Navara. Possibly a V9X turbo diesel as well. The chassis flexes more than the suspension while off-roading, but we're working on it. Mine will be a fantastic touring bus. Cheers
I love the variety on this channel, I always find myself watching these videos and straight after jumping on autotrader.
I'm not sure what this says about me, or indeed, about your channel, but I chose to watch this instead of the new bugatti unveiling 😂
Just shows you have taste :D
Hello James; I've had both the Elgrand and the Alphard. Of the 2 Alphards I owned, one was a 2·4 hybrid, the other had the V6. Neither was as good as my Elgrand though; I had the top line 6 seater with twin sunroof option, electric doors TV, DVD, multi-function seating and everything cinverted to UK except the speedo. (I put in a solar powered gps speedo like the one on the dash in your video. Fuel consumption was up to 3wmpg on a long motorway run, and about 19 around town. The big difference was the sheer comfort. The Alphards were nice but the Elgrand simply outdid any minivan I've ever driven! Absolute bliss from York to Truro; after 426 miles, I got out still feeling fresh. (Only my Lexus can surpass that)
Incidentally, my Elgrand topped the Alphards for reliability too; and it cost just £5250 to buy! When I sold it, I got £6,000. There are not many cars, or minivans, you can make money on.
Great video as always
I’ve had mine for 3 years now and love it. It’s been a camper, van for the tip, removal van, wedding car and great for cruising.
Just spent money on servicing and had to get a new ABS pump which cost me £75. If I had to have just one car, this would be it!
incredible arent they - i have an ABS light on and parking brake light on on mine, makes a bit of a hum when you turn ignition on for about 5-10 seconds, did yours do that at all when it needed the ABS pump doing?
Ive had our E51 elgrand for 2 years now and when it works it is a fabulous people mover, but there are 2 big issues this model have. 1 someone clever put the power steering pump and reservoir above the alternator so if it leakes, it destroys the damn thing. 2 the manifold cats like to degrade over time shoving the debris into the secondary cats causing the engine struggle and potentially damage it. We are now looking at converting to LPG since that is cheaper than secondhand primary cats each year! Nengun performance is your go to place for part numbers and just be prepared for finding 'alternative' solutions for some issues!
Joining the Elgrand Owner's Club is a big help for advice and parts. That E51 is a Series 3. Depending on the age of vehicle (Series 1 for instance) some are prohibited from entering ULEZ zones without the usual fine/ payment. There is a way of appealing for exemptions, that's on the EOC site.
It is not recommended to use the manual mode too often as it can cause wear (It is really good for engine braking etc). The manual mode also only uses 4 gears instead of the 5 gears in auto mode.
Yes, they are a bit picky regards engine and transmission oil.
The sunroofs, while *really* nice, can be a source of leaking, it seems to be a design fault.
If you are getting a freshly imported one, get the tyres changed as soon as you can, the chances are they will have old rubber, mine were made in 2011.
Yes I have a Series 1 and love it, even if she is a thirsty girl. Do not feed them normal petrol unless in desperate times, they really prefer RON97 with as little ethanol as possible.
EDIT: Typos and extra info.
ditto
And the great thing about the OC is it has a proper forum rather than just a Facebook group.
@@jagmaster25 Definitely :)
can you elaborate why using manual mode on the gearbox would cause wear???
Bought one, did all the suggested mods ( under seal, front decat etc) and absolutely love it even though it is a tad on the thirsty side. 👍👍
I've had mine for 2 years now and it's brilliant! It's needed nothing other than servicing since we bought it fresh from the importer (it helpfully came with an almost new set of Michelins fitted). Mine's the same spec as the one in the video. It's definitely more minibus than sports car, but it's strangely fun to drive and quick enough with 240bhp. We've used it for everything from camping, beach trips, and transporting family around to helping people move house. The only downside is fuel economy but I can live with that.
How bad is the MPG?
@@koolerking440 on an average long trip it's normally around 22-23 mpg with it fairly well loaded up. You can get it higher by driving more gently. I don't even check the mpg for short journeys. We don't cover huge mileage in ours though so it's not a huge problem.
Have had a 2003 4x4 version for over 5 years now and it’s been totally reliable, extremely comfortable, averages 25 mpg and is the most versatile machine I’ve ever had. And I look at some VERY expensive modern stuff and can see no reason to change it.
i have a series 1 E51 and i love it, its the 2.5 version but i do wish i had the 4x4 version just because, not too fussed on if its the 2.5 or 3.5 but it would be nice to come with both sliding doors as power doors and the drop down screen that mine doesnt have.
Enjoyable video. I’m 42 and I’ve had mine 2 years. Went for a cheap one (under £5k, 2002, 65k miles) because I wasn’t sure if it would be for me but I love it. I keep looking at options for my next car but after this… there really aren’t any. I’ve had some really nice and fast estate cars but I couldn’t go back now…. And the VWs and Mercs that are 15 years younger are just… disappointing and bland. My next car will probably just be a S3 elgrand. Shame LPG is basically pointless now as that would make things easier but I get 26mpg on a long run and no less than 20mpg around down acting like a hooligan. When you consider some similar sized diesel vans only get 28-30mpg and the fuel costs more, that’s really not bad.
There are also 2.5 V6 E51s too. Both 2wd or 4wd. I have owned my 2.5 2wd for ten years in New Zealand. Plenty of power. Easy to work on. After my big boys grew up, didn't want family holidays anymore I ripped all the (very heavy) back seats out and use it as a cargo van or Camper van, hauling bikes, canoes, motorbikes or anything.
I'm a month into ownership of my 2004 Nissan Elgrand Autech Rider S and absolutely love it. Pure comfort and utility. Also managed to apply for CAZ exemption and you can also apply for ULEZ exemption too. Just dropped £3200 on upgrading the infotainment and sound system along with additional sound proofing to make it quieter. It's a thirsty old girl so not the best if it's a daily driver and you need to be frugal but otherwise an absolute pleasure to be in.
I'm currently looking for one of these as we've welcomed our 4th child into the world. With 4 children and a large dog this does seem like the ideal option. Thank you very much for the helpful video as I couldn't find many other helpful ones.
We have a Vellfire V6 camper which like this is a a delight to drive. I have to keep looking around to remind myself that I’m not in my Lexus RX - they feel similar in many ways.
Totally agree with you agree the vw I have a elgrand love it to bits I have add for 3 years no problems hope you are well Don 🤠🇬🇧👍👍👍👍👍
There's a black and red (and chrome!) 370Z Nismo badged Elgrand by me, always a laugh seeing it cruise around
Not too far off the truth tbh😂you were able to option the same 3.5L V6 as the 350z albeit somewhat detuned
And Autech Elgrands are Nismo! @@Afraz_9n3
Amazing car. I bought an 06 XL woth 20k miles and it is like new. I absolutely love it as do the kids when we head out in it.
I have the 3.5.fantastic sounds. Just come back from a trip to Japan, they absolutely love these 'mini' vans.
In Oz here. Had a 2002 e51 V6 as the family wagon , called Vegas as it was so over the top and exuberant. V6 needs rear cat deletes as the fronts disintegrate and block the rears. Fast and light to drive with a great turning circle. I miss mine so much
We have an Honda Stepwagon which we love. The back row of seats fold flat into the floor to give us essentially a van. It’s comfortable, cool and completely brilliant.
I'd love to see something like a Honda Freed here in Europe. It's a size smaller than the Alphard/Elgrand/Elysion and based loosely on the Honda Jazz. 3 row of seats, sliding doors, van-like space, and powered by an fuel efficient 1.5 liter. Utterly slow but I'd live with that downside for what is a well built, comfortable, spacious daily with good fuel economy.
My wife has a 2008 Elysion, imported last year with a few mods, 50k miles on the clock, K24 engine.
So far been reliable, not too terrible on fuel considering the size of the car, although that being said her car before that was a Jeep wrangler TJ hard top with the 4.0 straight 6, so the bar for fuel economy was set very low.
She has the back row of seats out and dog cages built in, to us it’s an MDV (multi dog vehicle)
There's also the Mazda Bongo Friendee (Ford Freda) too. Had a diesel 2.5 Freda but it was rare compared to petrol 2.5 V6, lovely thing that...
I had one here in New Zealand for 5 years as a campervan/ work van/ surf wagon. Worst thing about it is the gas milage, I would get around 19mpg. But a beautiful thing to waft around in. And amazing on sand as that engine has so much torque. All my electrics started dying and it got very rusty 😭
We bought a Honda Stepwagon in 2009 and have loved it with many kids travelling on holiday or days out. It came with factory fitted turnaround front seats and a table conversion on the middle row. Yes the Honda is a smaller vehicle to the Alphard but a 2001-2005 RF Stepwagon series model is one of the best designs and very useful for transporting stuff like a single bed, a 3 seater settee and a full size ladder as well as up to 8 people!
They are lovely vehicles, however the CVT's of that era were problematic.
Enjoyed this video a lot more than I expected. I'd like to see you drive a Mazda Bongo, especially a Bongo Friendee because, well, the name 😂😂😂
If we looking at accomodation, look, design and driving wise compare to other in the same class/price, this E51 Elgrand is the best in my personal opinions.
Love my Stepwgn!The Honda Elysion are nice too.
Thanks for that Jay.
I keep on looking at them.
So much easier to live with, than my 2006 3.0 Toyota Alphard Welcab.
The bluetooth audio, is awesome, but I have to navigate 4 screens.
Still prefer the mzfe engines. Just do the Fluids, belts etc. Use genuine Alphard pads (the only ones from the EPC in the UK are for a car 400Kg lighter. This will mess up your modulation and only last 10 minutes.
Love the show.
I'm glad you are reviewing this. I desperately need/want one of these or something similar. Reviews on them seem hard to find so I would be interested in your judgement!
Worcester road motors have about 60 of them
Back in 2012 I imported 2002 nissan elgrand highway star. It was 4wd. It had 8 seats. Dual front and rear aircon control. Keyless entry and start. Second row seat swivels around. Electric rear blinds. Double sunroof. Cruise control with radar distance control. HID xenon headlights. Entertainment system with subwoofer. Factory screen mounted on the ceiling. Kids were watching movies at the back and i could listen to the radio at the front. This bus was way ahead of its time. I was driving a Mercedes v class 2019. It was nowhere near this nissan elgrand .
Had one of these, which I modified for off-road camping. Absolutely LOVED it, but sold it (for a handsome profit) to buy a 981 Boxster.
It would be quite interesting to see what you think of the new VW Caravelle and Multivan, typecode T7, as that is not based on a commercial van but on the MQB platform like a passenger car.
Fun fact, the 3rd row are the most comfortable, spacious seats! Nuts!
I absolutely love my E51 Nissan Elgrand Rider, such a very versatile vehicle!
People in The Netherlands are very confused what vehicle it is and shocked by its age! lol
Had one in Indonesia while working there, followed by sn Alphard and a then a Vellfire. The Toyotas were more modern, but quite a bit more expensive to run. All were fine.
Looks like a great vehicle. Great review on such as practical family car.
He compares it to a VW caddy and says it’s better but forgets that the VW caddy has more space in the cargo area for sleeping and living if you have to live in it… also, the Nissan doesn’t have park assist, and isn’t high enough to comfortably stand or cook under the tailgate in the rain
Fantastic SUV rant… I think we need to make the MPV great again 👌😉 please buy an Alphard and let me borrow it.. pretty please! 🙏
One of your best. Leave the FerPorLams at home. Spot on about the price of work vans. Most tradesman are running, including me, are stuck in 10 year, 100k plastic cab diesel rot boxes worth 6 - 10k (UK-2024) that barely make 30 mpg
Bought a used estate two years ago. I wanted a hitch at the back of it. But I never heard from that company again. But then again I rarely use the hitch myself. It's mostly for friends who want help from me.
I've got the later e52 with the 3.5cvt and it's a great drive
I thought the CVT would be terrible but I was wrong
And my other car is a Porsche 911 so I know what driving dynamics should be
Get one and smile loads
TY J! 🙏🙏 They seem very versatile.
Near.y bought one a few months ago, love them.
I sold mine after 3 years, while great the 3.5L is hungry. I could repair one with my eyes closed…. Q35de engine and RE55RO5A is fantastic combo…..but changing a spark plugs will take you half a day. Windscreen replacement will take 6months if you’re lucky. Overall 9/10 but there’s a lot of BUTs….
James as a Japanese fanboy I echo your sentiments. What I do love about them is they have this French quirkiness to them. Only difference being the trim will not drop off. I think i would go for the Toyota though.
Just this afternoon I watched the Fuga one and what happens now? Yeah many in GB have imported an Elgrand. 😁
Hope it gets back to the glory days. It once was THE van like the Alphard today. There is and was even a VIP version (7, 8 or 4 seats!) of that! And in the first generation there was even the Elgrand Royal (from the Royal line out of 3 vehicles: Cedric/Gloria Royal (stretch limo), President Royal (stretch limo) and the Elgrand Royal (not stretched but 4 seats like the later VIP versions). Like the Lexus LM/Alphard (dunno which trim the Alphard version is named).
Yes it´s no 350Z like people think. It´s based on the Terrano (Pathfinder). But still it´s "Fuga grade" kinda.
Living in Hong Kong, I see these all the time. They’re often used as shuttle buses across the border to China and Macau.
I did quite fancy one of these but I just can't get over those massive front grills a lot of these have. I bought a Honda "RK" Stepwagon instead. It's probably a little more basic but I guess the Elysion is Honda's luxury offering.
Love these ..had a mk1 lowered with a body kit - does it still say POWER on the dash when u kick it down tho? That was one of my favourite lil things on any vehicle I've owned ...like having Clarkson in the dash saying POWER every time u boot it 😊
It displays POWER when you select the POWER (sport) button.
So not dynamic by how you’re driving, throttle, etc. but more as an indicator to show the mode selected.
I believe the MK1s have the same steering wheel as an r33 GTR 😂
I think the Honda stepwagon is the happy place with these types of vehicles. Smaller than the Elgrand but still the same idea and running a 2 litre petrol so cheaper on fuel.
More like this. Real world.
I love the Elgrand E50 Qd32 diesel
Fantastic vehicle cant go wrong with this ,brilliant van .
Other choices of JDM minivans:
1. Toyota Voxy
2. Toyota Noah
3. Honda Stepwgn
4. Honda Freed
5. Toyota Sienta
6. Honda Jade
7. Toyota Alphard
8. Toyota Vellfire
9. Mazda Biante
10. Mazda Premacy
11. Mitsubishi Delica D:5
12. Mitsubishi Grandis
13. Honda Odyssey
Ah... the V6 from the Z - same engine as that found in the Murano yes? wait until one of the small water pipes needs replaced and try to find a replacement. Maybe parts availability has changed but my local Nissan dealer had to special order it in from Japan 🙄 But I suppose anyone buying a JDM will be aware of that (hopefully) (quick edit) oh, and over here the KPH speedo is an MOT failure now it has to have MPH
You can use a GPS speedo and there are sellers (The one I know of is Lockwood) who will supply MPH plates you can use to swap out the old speedos.
If you join the owner's group, you might find it easier to get parts.
I've been through 2 MOT's now and not had the Speedo mentioned.
I always liked the look of these.....thanks
Japanese MPVs are very very practical.
I have an E51 4wd. Typical JDM import in being rust free. Need LPG due to high fuel consumption and very little room under the bonnet. Complex electronics. Agree that the Elgrand is designed from the ground up as a smooth rider (on standard wheels/tyres) not just a converted van with crude suspension. E52 design is a bit more compromised/ more like an estate with CVT auto box which has its critics. Roof rack would add to wind noise.
Awww that was my old Alphard in the pictures that jay reviewed, I don't have it anymore, I sold it to buy an L322 ... Biggest mistake I ever made.. I don't own the L322 anymore 😂
I’ve been after one of these for such a long time
Great video thanks ❤❤❤❤
Of course, there is the other, other van, the Mitsubishi Delica D5
We had a 2.4 turbo diesel L400 for 20 + years, loved it! And miss it horribly :((
Why no mention of the Mitsubishi Delica? That seems like a very efficient minivan as well.
I love it when you drive weird JDMs
If one was only LHD I'd get one right away!
I find RHD not a problem in NL, only when it comes to car parking tickets etc! lol
Similarly quirky, the early Mercedes Vaneo vans were very cool
I swear there is a first generation of this van for sale right up the street from my work😇
Which model is ULEZ & CAZ compliant please? (Budget not brand new please)
I know somebody who drives one and another who drives the Toyota Alphard they are from Lesotho ( country inside South Africa)too bad in South Africa it illegal to import a secondhand car ,but when I see them they have Lesotho or eSwatini and Mocambique registration plate, but after riding one it made me question Merc Benz V class and VW Caravelle legitimacy as luxury vans,
These were everywhere a few years ago here in hk.
I personally prefer the alphard but if you’re looking for a van like that how about a Nissan Serena?
If you do get one of these come and join the ElgrandOC :) we have a huge community and a wealth of knowledge, parts suppliers and breakers. We have regular meets around the UK and also attend the big showd. Come and see us at Modified Nationals this year with 16 Elgrands attending :)
Madfish
Hey mate, i have a very low milage great condition 1999 Elgrand e50, would you like to do a review of it? :)
I've wanted a Stepwagon for ages, but these are probably better value.
I also kinda wonder if it would be possible to make the hybrid Alphard work as a proper plug-in hybrid so you can charge it at home and not use any petrol on short trips - last time I looked into that it wasn't a thing though. :(
I've been lucky to drive a 3.5 litre version. Sounded amazing but was slow as jay said. Think it was a 2003
Can you find an Insignia VXR to test, please. Would love to get your take on them as I’ve long been tempted but worried their performance might be blunted by their heft, a bit like myself…
These may become more common when manufacturers start selling luxury versions, and this is happening now.
I think Hyundai masterd the hybrid with the ioniq. A rather boring car, but it had more poke than a prius, more bells and whistles, and it gets higher mpg. I got 68mpg over 30k miles in thr one i had.
I had a prius ad a loner, for a week, and was really disappointed in the prius. I was also goven a carrola hybrid too for a week. And thst was horrific car. Felt like a real after thought. Lie5k thd huridly adapted thr carolla estate, to compete with with the sligher bigger than prius Hyundai offering. But it felt cheap and old, and it was only 6 months old. A uear newer than my ioniq at the time.
JDM MPVs are increasingly popular here
Transit custom sport or active dciv 185ps auto is the best car on the road atm forget the merc and vw vans old hat
VW transporter tax is insane. Something like this, or a Stepwagon makes so much more sense.
Hey man. Do a Ford Flex Limited please. And if you could find one an Ecoboost version. Thinking of getting on of those.
After I posted this comment I found your Flex video. So never mind. I would still want to see you review a fast version though.
I want one.
Unexpected.
10:20 that's actually incorrect 😅 with the Rider Autech versions, they've been amped up slightly from the standards versions, which are 240bhp, and taken up to 280bhp with the Rider Autech models😁 (I speak for the E51 models here since the E52 has been made into CVT and I'm not entirely sure they carried out the same tunes)
Dude, the Riders have the same power.
If they had 280 I’d have been looking out for correctly spec’d Rider instead of buying this, mine.
@@SurferEv respectfully, we've had our Rider 3.5 for 10 years. There's a reason the Rider was specifically sought out and not the standard model. You can choose what you want to believe but the fact is that it is 280bhp; both feels like it and shows it. Autech tuning or Nismo tuning isn't there for namesake; you can see and feel the performance 🙂
@@MAH-89 seems every day’s a school day 🤦🏼♂️
@@SurferEv for the ones who don't know, or don't want to shift from their mindset, it will be🤷🏾♂️
Just bought one of these, an 05 Elgrand Highway Star, 2.5 V6 Petrol. I knew a bit about them but unsure if the CAT problems are on these as well? If so... Does anyone know if it's worth (or even possible) to just slap a sports CAT in them and leave the rest of the exhaust as is?
We had one for about 18 months. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to our expectations. We found it noisy and poor-handling. I think we may have bought a bad one! For instance, the driver's seat had collapsed. Fuel economy was very poor too. However, we may consider another one if we need the space.
I wonder how many parts are shared with the Renault Laguna / Espace iv / Vel Satis. They all shared the same Nissan 3.5 engine, engine specs look the same as well.
The Japanese auto was underwhelming. Power just vanished down the transmission. You constantly had to unlearn the auto with some weird push that button while doing this and that. Still from 0 it first went to 2nd, but then decided to go 1st only to quickly change to 2nd and go sleep again. It was maddening and passengers got neck pain.