Nissan Grand Livina debuts

As fuel prices continue to skyrocket, fuel economy and versatility will be growing priorities among new car buyers. Based on the subcompact Tiida platform, the long-awaited Nissan Grand Livina is a 7-passenger Multi-Purpose Vehicle that slots in between the Toyota Avanza and the bestselling Innova. Utilizing monocoque engineering versus the traditional body-on-frame chassis, the Grand Livina has a solid but light-footed driving feel that should please buyers who dislike the massive, lumbering persona of most other MPVs.

It is also styled to please fashion-conscious buyers. The Grand Livina’s sleek silhouette may say “Mom mobile”, but it’s of the Vicky Belo variety. Styling cues from the sexier cars in the Nissan lineup highlight the Grand Livina, such as the Murano-esque front grille and the 350Z-inspired instrument pods.

Under the hood is a (gasoline) DOHC 1.8-liter unit with Continuously Variable Valve Control rated at a fair 126 PS at 5,200 rpm and 17.4 kg-m of torque at 4,800 rpm. Like another popular MPV choice, the Kia Carens, the Grand Livina will be available with 6-speed manual and 4-speed automatic transmissions. No diesel engine is available, although word has it from the motoring media that the 1.8 produces very good double-digit kpl figures on the highway. It also has a nice engine note that only starts to boom past 4,000 rpm; a range fuel misers will likely never reach in an average commute.

Preview rides of the Grand Livina revealed adequate power and a pleasantly compliant ride. The latter can be credited to the Grand Livina’s “ripple control” shock absorbers. Adopted from the 350Z, the shock absorbers feature excellent damping and rebound in an attempt to provide a “big car” feel in what is essentially a tall, compact wagon. Otherwise, the Grand Livina’s front McPherson struts and rear torsion beam suspension are right on the money for a family car with decent handling and modest amounts of dive, roll, and squat at the limit.

Inside, Nissan’s eye for detail shows with a cabin done in caramel and silver hues. Some faux wood panels add a dash of warmth and luxe without looking tacky, while the amber instrumentation and silky movement of the switches and dials complete the illusion of being in luxury car. To further differentiate it from its competition, the Grand Livina sports several subtle touches that amp up its user-friendliness. Ingress is easier than in most MPVs thanks to a seating hip point that neither requires the average person to stoop low or climb up, the electric power steering is very low effort for parking lot maneuvers, and the dashboard’s “Human Machine Interface” (Nissan’s way of saying exceptionally ergonomic) gives it the look of a high-end stereo. The Grand Livina’s second and third row seatbacks can fold completely flat and are also split to afford a variety of cargo- and passenger-carrying needs. As expected, the third row has limited legroom and should be reserved for nannies and least-favored children. Kidding.

Unlike the competition, the Nissan does not have a secondary blower at the back. Instead, to save on space (and perhaps on costs), a wide, topmost vent on the dash is strategically aimed at the headliner to direct cold air up to the third row. With the probable situation that you’d need to put the A/C on full blast to cool the people in back on a scorching day, the design works. Three variants of the Grand Livina will be available: the “Elite” at P848,000; the “Luxury” at P898,000; and the “Elegance” at P968,000. The Elite is spec’d with the 6-speed manual, while the “Luxury” and “Elegance” get the 4-speed automatic. A better stereo, ABS and dual airbags come with the “Luxury” and “Elegance”, while the latter gets leather seats. At these prices, the Grand Livina makes a strong case for making the switch from sedans and pricier SUVs to an MPV that tries its best to marry the best of both worlds.