Nissan Elgrand E51 (2004-2009)

Nissan Elgrand e51 – After I changed my front left hand bearing the ABS AND 4 D is on when I driven the car about 100 meters, can you tell me pls what cause the damaged after changing the front left hand bearing? Thankyou for your time to answer my question. Show details

Ticks all the boxes for me – From the very start I new this van was a thirsty beast, but the comfort levels, the extras, the way it handles and the power it produces far exceeds this. My family get excited when we go out. I use this for transportation to school, outings and when the girls need to go to the shops. I even drive from Melbourne to Canberra and back again after a… Read more

4 hr turn around. It was fully loaded with the family and supplies and didn't miss a beat. My mechanic loves it as well. When I found it for sale in Sydney he told me to buy it, sight unseen. It was shipped free of charge direct here to Melbourne. It has been great value for money. Only done 100k kms

Has anyone tried to lift their 2004 Elgrand highway star? How did you do it and how much did it cost you? – Has anyone tried to lift their 2004 Elgrand highway star? How did you do it and how much did it cost you? Does it work well afterwards? And how much does it cost to put in cruise control? Show details

Great family car – We know what we after,after selling our 2004 Toyota Prado GLX.We need a car for daily commuting but also for the annual road tripping which we often drive interstate.Never regret even when we know its a bit thirsty machine.That we had purchase a device connected to the CDU for fuel economy mode.This beast has power,comfort and the best is… Read more

space.Ours is the V6 whereas to those who wants fuel economy can opt for the 2.5l.Handling is great,only suspension needs a little upgrade as its not tune to our terrain especially on outback roads.Oh yes,this car has a 4wd drive mode and snow mode Which we rarely used. Bought for $18K,Nissan Elgrand is really underated...they are a great family car.

See and test drive an Elgrand – The build quality, leg and head room, luggage space, ease of access for passengers, baby seats, and cargo, electric sliding doors on both sides, arm rests, cup holders, dvd screens, privacy glass, ride quality - the list of positives go on and on and on and..... Do not buy another car before you've test driven an Elgrand. Show details

So Versatile – Absolutely love our Elgrande. So many options as the seats can be put in any position. Used for camping-seats all flat and airbed on top. Huge cargo mover with seats lifted up out of the way. Pouring with rain at the Music Festival,no problem seats revolve 360 degrees and you end up with a little cocktail lounge complete with small table. People… Read more

mover- all seats down rear aircon very comfortable.(7 passengers) Have 2 seats down for passengers and the others lifted up- perfect for large German Shepherd and in our case musical instruments. The engine in this van is bulletproof and has plenty of power. We have had zero issues in 3 years of ownership.(purchased with 60,000km on clock) Servicing charge $180- All the bells and whistles-can't fault it really.

Insurance cost – Hi there, I would like to know what other insurers are available in NSW? I've only found 3 (comprehensive) insurers so far that are willing to insure this car: enthusiast $1200 per yr shannons $1600 per yr NRMA over $3000 per yr Thanks! Show details

WOW WOW – Bought a 2005 series 2 E51 Highway Star 3.5L.. 57,000kms Unbelievable value for money, Full of luxury and drives amazing.. Kids love it more than my Prestige SUV that cost well over $100k.. We really enjoy it and has had no issues as it’s very Reliable .. Best Value for money hands down... Show details

Amazing vehicle with sporty look – Excellent family vehicle with high seats and extra comfortable interior. Can be thirsty but it’s worth it. Nissan reliable components and racing lines makes it an impressive family pack. Service is done at most garages but will cost a bit especially if spark plugs need replacing. They are hard to get to. Show details

Great Family Car – I use it to commute to work on daily basis. Great Car but its not actually an 8 seater. two middle seats are too small for an adult to use them specially if you are travelling on a long trip. The engine size is 6 cylinders so the fuel consumption is very high, but its worth it as the car is powerful. As an imported car, only few insurance companies are willing to insure it and its much higher than non-imported cars. Show details

great car – the 8 seaters Nissan elgrand is great (my one is only missing the cruise control ( which is a problem if you drive long distances ) but in general its very very reliable car and great spaces inside. missing one star only for the problem of having the vents of the AC in the boot and if they are covered you have no AC. so you cant really fill the back boot !  Show details

E51 Serious 3 - 2.5 Engine – I have the car for two weeks now, I choose the 2.5 over the 3.5 due to its thirty fuel consumption. Fuel consumption is around 13L per 100KM, mainly driving to work during peak hour. I've seem 10L per 100KM in a highway. But you need to control your foot to achieve this level of fuel consumption. And you don't expect any acceleration from the… Read more

2.5 engine, but I am happy with that as I am driving under 70KM most of the time.

I am very impressed with the car, the level of equipment and luxury has exceeded my expectation. Auto slide doors, it REC CD, it stores CDs in the hard drive, leather is in good quality not cheap leather, it is very roomy inside with huge boot at the back if you don't use the third seats. All seats are very comfortable.

With the price that I have paid, there is just no competition in the market. As Toyota Alphard is two or three times more expensive than Elgrand with similar age and condition.

The only drawbacks are

2.5 Engine is a bit overpower, but it is enough for daily drive, pick up kids cursing in the high way, but just don't expect to do any overtaking. (3.5 gives you far more power, but the downsize is, it is very thirsty)

It needs 95 or above, it is more expensive to run, as it compares with Honda Odyssey or Toyota Tarago, as both car can use 91.

But this car is flooded with luxury equipments, it is far far far better than my previous Honda Odyssey Luxury, Elgrand has set a new standard in terms of luxury in people mover, the only competition that I could think of is Toyota Alphard, however the price is way more expensive

sweet as – great van amazing to drive great styling interior real comfort and practical there is so much to like about these vans easy to maintain a little thirsty but with great performance and reliability back seats fold up we fit two electric bikes in side highly recommend if u are looking for a great touring vehicle  Show details

That a perfect car I ever drive – I just bought a Nissan Elgrand 2004 Highway star on second week of December 2017 from NSW then I drove this to Perth WA , the trip from NSW to Perth around 4000KM took me 4 and half day to drive , whole the trip all day drive , night sleep in the van with my army sleeping bag that so comfortable even I cooked noodle and coffee in the boot of the… Read more

van and shower out the van ( of course ) this van so accommodating and reliable for people on the move , all day ran even in the hot weather in some place in Melbourne I didn't think for myself but I care for my car because I just bought it for my first ELGRAND and I really don't know about condition of this car , really don't know at all but I tried to gamble with that , on the way from Melbourne to Victoria my Samsung 7s google map cut off because weather and battery over heat then cut off so I lost so many time then when I go to SA I lost again so the trip 4000KM came up nearly 4300KM ( 97.900KM when I pick up and back home in Perth is 102270KM ) I'm not worry to my health but I really worry for my Elgrand because I pushing too hard for my firth Elgrand but .... unbelievable this car ran like crazy horse with 3.5 V6 engine , drove from 100 to 110 KPH engine sooo smooth never get any problem , checked old and cool water all trip never change even I drove from 8AM to 11PM only rest 30 minutes to get the petrol and for cooling the engine , the cost of premium petrol for this trip around AUS800.00 so that not too bad , it may cheaper then Nissan Patrol , I used so many car from Ford to Nissan Patrol , station wagon to Hilux but this Elgrand is unbelievable and I think my next one will be another Elgrand .

Space and comfort especially when travelling – Elgrand 2007 yes it is thirsty more than a sedan car but when it comes to people movers it is up there with the best. Elgrand comes on it own and no other vehical can come close to the comfort of an elgrand when you travel long distances. Its power means your car travels without the stress most cars have from constant speed It drives like a… Read more

dream I took it to ayers rock doing 130 kms an hour the engine wasnt even making a noise. Like a breeze. Granted the stop and go of the suburbs and city does mean more petrol. But i live in the coast so most of my driving is on open roads and highway. To me its perfect

2008, series 3 model = Perfect! – Versatile van, easy to park with 4 cameras, full leather interior, DVD player for all regions, rear wheel drive and captains style seating. I can put all my band equipment like amps, keyboards etc in there with room to spare. Can also carry my 10 ft kayak inside with no problems. On other occasions its used as an 8 seater so its ideal for any… Read more ·  1

situation.

It's a bit thirsty with the 3.5 L engine but can be managed for better economy with careful driving. The pearl white colour looks a treat when washed and seems to attract attention.

Overall its a perfect van for all situations!

So versatile and reliable! – Have owned our 2004 E51 Highwaystar 3.5 originally with only 70,000kms on the clock for over a year now and with 3 kids needing 3 different styles of car seats it is more than accomodating in regards to space and comfort. Love the power, smooth acceleration with seamless gear shifts and have never had a single problem with the engine or any… Read more

aspect of the car. Ride is so smooth and quiet, I was so surprised at first. Feels so solid and safe too. Love the electric side door, makes it very easy for all those school drop offs. And in our hot aussie summers, the air con is soooo good. I previously had a Nissan Dualis and I was always so frustrated at the crappy air con, but the japanese have definitely ticked this box. I do a lot of highway driving and it is a little thirsty at the pump but that is the only negative I can think of and it's a fair trade-off for what you get with the highwaystar, which is a lot! At first it took me a while to get used to driving a 'van' style car but now I love sitting up higher and did I mention the room- there is just so much room! Our eldest sits right in the back - which is so easy with the walkway down the middle - our youngest two in the middle and with one of the back seats sitting up on its side I can literally throw the pram in the back without disabling it, and then still have room to fit shopping or whatever in after it. Too easy. My husband flattened all the seats in once and fit an entire wardrobe in the back. It's pretty versatile, the seats can be configured in so many ways. Takes a while to work out all the japanese lingo on the touch screen, but we ended up buying an english manual for $70 or so which helps a great deal. Otherwise if you're looking for a large, reliable family people mover with plenty of power and comfort, please look no further.

Great family car, so smooth great for long trips – Great car to drive, smooth and comfortable. Only had our 2007 series 3 a couple of weeks but an interstate trip after the first week was a great test. 1200+km vic-nsw coastal run got 10.8lt/100km on one tank and could see us getting more on a straight highway run. Around town, school pickups are worse around 15lt (will need more of this to really… Read more

know). Fuel efficiency really depends on how you drive, as with any car, accelerate fast = high fuel cost. You don't buy a car like this to drag at the lights anyway, saying this it has power when/if you need it. Comfort is a huge factor in elgrands after 8 hours behind the wheel with only 1 refill stop and 1 lunch stop, I exited the vehicle like I'd driven around the corner. The whole family loves it plenty of room and versatility in seating, the 3D camera is very useful although visibility is good for a car of this size anyway. Getting used to the stereo/DVD system takes a bit but download google translate and get the japanese file to make things easier. Also have some ntsc region free dvd's (you will probably have to burn these) ready if you have passengers wanting to watch movies. Do your research, get the import/de reg papers and you'll be happy, it was the best option we could find in our price bracket.

Fantastic piece of machinery to drive – However I only got 530km per tank but that is through the Snowies,mud mountain passes gravel roads included. I converted to a camper with an awning and 19" higher profile 45's tires which gives an overall height of 2030mm so I can still get into undercover parking. On my 10,000km trip I had 1 puncture, am busy planning my next trip  Show details

Exceptional Family Car – We were having another addition joining the family and our budget was under $20,000 for a car. After reading reviews on this website, I researched and finally found a dealer and went for a drive test. I didn't want a big car but this car ticked all the boxes, the visibility is amazing, reverse camera, a portable TV and of course its thirst because… Read more

is a big engine though is perfect if you have young kids using car seats and capsules because there is a walk way in the middle. It drives quite smooth and the acceleration is amazing. I tell all my family and friends about this car and I cant fault it in any other way.

one of the best Vans I have driven, besides Toyota customs – This van is an exceptionally fine appointed car. Can compare with any sedan and high prised car. All electric windows, air-conditioning sliding doors open and close on the press of a button and driving as smoothly and quiet as you wish. It has plenty of power and excelleration is very fast. Legroom is sufficient if not a bit short for a tall… Read more

driver and because of the low body the doors can jam on a curb and the skirting on the bumperbars can be damaged easily if you are not careful.

I find it rather heavy on petrol. It uses about 16 liters per 100 km (in town) and some more with air conditioning running.

Verdict.:

I would buy it again because the ride is fabulous.

Should Have Bought One Sooner – Forget the 400-450kms to a tank, the Japanese keep the best for themselves. Yes there are issues rear cats get blocked by front ones after they disintegrate but all elgrand mechanics now this. So find someone who knows these great minivans. I have now got 147000kms on the clock on my 2002 and may have to replace the starter soon no big deal... but… Read more

even now you can find cars at the wreckers so parts are available, as well as sharing parts with the old pathfinder. Up until now i used my elgrand as a tradie van as dollar for dollar it was way ahead of a hilux for the same price.and more comfortable. so nice is it to drive that my wife wants to give me the toyota aurion so she can drive the kids around in the elgrand. At the end of the day its a Nissan so reliability is good and even our low spec model has 7 seats dvd with aftermarket unit, electric rear doors swivel rear seats the list goes on.

We used to have a 2000 chrysler voyager which was good and spacious but these e51 are far superior.the new e52 is rebadged american minivan and way smaller so when the time comes we will get a series 2 or 3 E51.

This is near perfect but certainly not the best in the People Mover category – The 3.5i E51 Elgrand is a great, spacious and powerful vehicle. When you fit a towbar and tow trailers it feels like nothing is behind you. The handling is great and turns very sharply. It has the same engine as the Nissan 350Z so no wonder it has plenty of grip, handling and power. However on the down sides the extra power does come at an… Read more

expense, the engine is very thirsty on petrol and unlike the E50 Elgrand, there is no diesel option. The is also a 4WD option but the engine is powerful enough with 2WD only, unless you need to go on snow at a low cost then choose the Elgrand. Otherwise extend the budget for a better 4WD 8 seater such as a Toyota Landcruiser 200. If you have a business and are going to use this to move kids around, better look for something else such as the Hyundai iMax or Toyota Tarago / Estima. If you have a shuttle bus business then again choose something else, any buisness doesn't suit the Elgrand as it is a very delicate vehicle. The only few problems in the interior is that the 3rd row seats are really hard to fold away and takes around nearly 5 minutes to complete folding it. Unlike the Toyota Estima 2006 there isn't any electronic folding option and the seat goes sideways making the luggage area a tad more narrower. The clock can not be changed and if you have the series 2 model it is hard to press the buttons for the audio system such as turning on the side camera and if you have the series 3 model it is hard to reach the air conditioning controls. The problem is that Cruise Control is a very hard to find option therefore keep $1000 or so for buying a cruise control system. The reliability isn't good in the long term as many engine problems occur and being an imported vehicle it is very hard to find engine service and stuff eg. when to change timing belt, recommended service intervals etc. Also keep about $5000 to change the audio system to english as it is more costly than you might think, here is the prices for cars fitted with BOSE sound there is a very expensive cable which needs to be purchased to interface with those speakers , for 2002 -2004 models it is pretty cheap and easy to change and should be around $800, for series 3 models fitted with 51 channel sound systems it will cost about $1000 to convert the system.

Good VIP People Mover – I got three young kids, was looking for a car/van that can accommodate all of us as well as our luggage for long trips Stumbled upon Nissan Elgrand on the Internet, checked some of them out on yard, was a bit concerned about the asking price for old cars. But I saw luxury model XL and how it all looks...was able to buy 2002 import XL 85Km on… Read more ·  1

Odometer for $11500.

I'm very happy with the car, its handles all my requirement very smooth, engine powerful and everyone can travel like they in a plane, Love the Leather sunroof TV and all accessories.

Took my Elgrand for drive to Melbourne, and everyone was happy with the car, no engine issues and very smooth drive.

Love the extra space compared to my car.

For more info on the car see below

http://www.bespokeinc.com.au/index.php/tools/reviews/137-nissanelgrandreview

http://www.j-spec.com.au/lineup/Nissan/Elgrand/E51/id-502

So if you in the market for extra space, luxury travel on a budget...

Try and get the XL model with 4WD and Low Km's.

Make sure the seller gives you Export Certificate and Auction Report

Check to make sure the Km's reported on the Export Certificate and Auction Report is similar to what you seeing on the odometer.

If they don’t give you any of this walk away from the deal, because you cannot guarantee the Mileages is accurate and may have been altered.

The engine and the look of the car is the same for E51 Model from 2002 to 2010, but price vary a lot with the newer models going for over $30K even with over 100K milage...

If you can pick up a low mileages one 2002-2007 you can really pick up some bargains. Less than $12K.

Always make sure you know what model you buying and what option it has, XL, RIDER BY AUTECH, HIGHWAY STAR are good models to Buy, but make sure if you can get one with full leather, sunroof.

I will upgrade to E52 when I have money, so love this car – I purchase the car from Jspec, takes a while to get the car here and done with the compliance and I think it is normal with importing, my one is 2005 XL with dual side electric door, can be opened by remote control, Bose sound system, Drop down rear DVD player, dual sunroof which I have to note that the driver sunroof is the pop up one, not… Read more

sliding like one at the back, the one at the back is the normal, the driver one you just open the cover, pop it up and pop it down, just to refresh the air, I guess, heated seat, self cornering white Xenon light, anyway it is with the lot except the cruise control which is inconvenience which I immediately put in ($900) by TN in Duke street, and all good, the car is for long distance travelling, without cruise make it incomplete. I am also going to put in the audio package which can play DVD, radio, bluetooth, navigation and that's all you need, I am quite happy with this guy.

The car runs like a dream, all leather seat, reverse camera and side camera for your left wheel view, this car has everything that you can ask for, no wonder why it is dubbed as "King of the van" in Japan, so smooth in driving and also the engine, we love it.

This is fantastic car, I like it more than the Honda Odyssey where you are higher in the street, one of the thing I notice is the steering wheel is almost as smooth and easy to drive like the Honda, you have to try one to see.

Space, it is the most spacious car I have ever been in, maybe the one in America is the same, in Australia most of the van is very crowded inside.

I agree with the Reviewer36 where menus are in Japanese and you have to try to see what they are, not that hard

and the car is a bit thirsty, well, 3.5l second hand, yes, barely 500k on one tank (combined), otherwise in the city probably 400-420k.

I have the same feeling when the Japanese look at our road, I can not understand Vic roads where Ballarat road is the main road in the west in Melbourne, runs like crap with pot holes, yes pot holes, and uneven surface, even taking our visitor from Vietnam on the road in Sunshine, Maribyrnong, is just so embarrassed feeling every time drive on there, and when the Japanese look at what we have with our car in here.

The look of the Elgrand is awesome with all of the light and front grill and also the auto close rear mirror, the car is designed with all of the convenience in mind, even factory tint, and also automatic curtain, yes, automatic curtain to block and open at the back, on the side.

One of the great feature of this car is you can tuck the back seat away, and have a massive room to transport the stuff you want to carry, the more you drive it, the more you appreciate the designer thoroughly thought from the beginning.

Definitely love it, probably look for the diesel version if I can.

THE BEST CAR EVER – We purchased our 2007 Elgrand 4 year ago. It was the best thing we have ever done. It fits EVERYTHING you need and has extra room. Easy to drive and park. There are lots of online groups that help with any questions you might have. I have not seen any other car that offers the luxury and comfort that our Elgrand offers - fully reclining… Read more

leather seats, heated front seats, electric curtains, side latch folding back seats (to allow for full van space use), dual TV screens, dual sun roofs, keyless entry, reverse and side cameras ....the list goes on.

Seating for 6 adults and 2 seatbelts for pets – I purchased a 2003 elgrand e51 vg from a sydney dealership with 6 months nsw rego. Direct grey import. As with any new purchase, there's good and bad. These cars are imported into australia as "camper vans" with legal seating for 3. The Car has 8 seatbelts, however, middle 2 in the back are not lap-sash. The dealers then get engineer certificates… Read more

for the extra seats. Nsw rego are fine with that, other states are in various levels of uncertainty.

Features vary with each model, but the Japanese are big on features, so even a budget car can have all the bells. Mine has - keyless touch entry, abs, air bags, (2014 multi media unit - fitted at dealer) with correct region dvd, bluetooth, hands free, cd, usb & sat nav). This is important to remember, Australian DVD's will not play on the factory DVD system, YOU MUST get the dealer to put in a new system if a fresh import. Also factory alloy wheels, reverse camera, electric side door, electric curtain, power window, power mirrors, power steering, fully power options, duel cold storage for drinks in the back.

Since buying the car I have joined various online Elgrand Forums. Things I wish I'd known, 1. Always have the kms confirmed. If the dealer cannot provide confirmation of kms, you can use a Japanese version of REVS to check it out. If the car has an odd smell, be careful, Many Japanese are big time smokers, and while some drive with gloves and leave the plastic on the seats, they may also use the car as a smoking room. Odd smells are a sign the car was a smokers car. Beat the dealer right down on the price if you notice anything odd. To get compliance in Australia, the dealer should have fitted new tyres, and various other mods to meet Aus standards.

The car has plenty of go from the 3.5 v6, but you have to get the revs up. So, while it will boogie without too much encouragement, it is two tonne of car. That means your family Commodore pulling a trailer. This is common across all people movers of this size, while only a six cylinder motor, it's got a lot of metal to mover. Expect 14 litres per 100 kms. While not great, it is close to others. Also, forget cheap fuel, they don't use cheap fuel in Japan, so you'll be buying the good stuff from now on. If you don't, you run the risk of bad performance and possible motor break (expensive).

The seats, if you are buying with the intention of putting in child seats YOU MUST get the dealer to fit anchor points. They will know the engineers who do it as part of the cost. You should ask for 4 so you can move the baby seat if required. THEY DO NOT COME STANDARD and you can not do it at home. Seats come in leather of a nice plush, and while it can sit 8 in a pinch, it's really only a 6 seater. Don't get me wrong, It’s a fantastic 6 seater, the other seatbelts are just lap and more a 'if needed' type of thing. Same as the middle seat in the holden captiva, it is a joke to suggest you could fit 7 inside that. As it was, act rego wanted them out (the extra seat belts) and would only recognise the elgrand as a 6 seater (even though nsw rego says it’s an 8 seater and i have an engineers certificate that says it’s an 8 seater). All states are funny and have their own rules, so make sure you do your research!

On the up side

Love the power, the 3.5 is a wonderful quiet motor. Can handles really well and being it is RWD it feels a lot better on the road than the KIA, Hyundi or Tarago. I think looks a lot better than any of the other people movers on the road and people in Elgrands are car people, they love their cars. Not just soccer mums plodding along in people movers.

I only ever wanted 5 to 6 seats, three that you could fit baby seats with and not feel like everyone is stacked on everyone else.

The wife loves driving it more than her captiva, loves the high seating position. Loves that you can walk through into the back.

Love the electric doors and keyless entry and start.

I wanted the seats to fold out of the way so i could put band stuff and bikes, etc in. Yes, does that fantastically well.

Getting the new media system was a master stroke. I got sat nav, bluetooth, phone, voice activation, reverse camera, dvd etc etc and all the latest mod cons. The key being that it now has 2014 technology for hands free phone calls etc. I like the factory trick bits like duel cold boxes in the back (little fridge like compartments). The fold down tv, i can sit at the shops now while the wife ducks inside, the kids watch the tv and don’t go berko!! The kids love the car cause of the tv.

The big seats are luxurious and accommodating for adults and baby seats. They also fold down into a double bed, if ever needed.

The electric curtains are good for the baby, any sun coming in, you hit the switch and the curtains close so fast you feels the vehicle bounce forward! Don’t know why you would want that speed, but there you go!

If/WHEN our other car (Holden Captiva) dies, we'll be replacing it with another E51.

Drinks Like a Fish, Looks like a Dream – We're still in the honeymoon period of our 2008 Elgrand E51 (Series 3) but I can honestly say if it was offered for Dealer Sale here in Australia (New or Used/Demo) it would decimate the Luxury Van Category in Australia. More room than a Kia Grand Carnival (with much more quality and Options), more comfortable and far more options than a… Read more

Hyundai iMax, and more reliable and cheaper to own (from what I've heard) than a VW Multivan OR a Mercedes Vito.

Our 2008 Model has remote controlled opening Side Doors with keyless Entry, 9 Speaker Bose Sound System, Drop down rear DVD player with 5.1 Surround Sound(!), Self Cornering Headlights, Dual Sunroofs, Bluetooth etc etc etc

CONS:

Most Menus and GPS are in Japanese (and impossible to change easily).

Fuel Economy (Barely 500ks from a 75 Litre Tank)

Nevertheless - One good look at a recent 2nd hand example of these and you'll see why the Japanese laugh at the Cars we get for Sale in this Country.