The Nissan Avenir is a line of station wagons available from 1990 to 2006.
Nissan Avenir Design and Introduction
In 1990, the Nissan Avenir (W10) was released to the Japanese market as a replacement for the Nissan Bluebird delivery van. Some Avenirs were also sold in the New Zealand market at the time, and they eventually made their way into the Russian market and a select few other countries which demanded them. It was known as a Nissan Expert and a Nissan Primera Wagon in some markets. It was designed to be a fuel-efficient vehicle with a large cargo capacity, making it ideal for commercial usage inside and outside cities. The front-wheel drive models were the most fuel-efficient, but it was also available with four-wheel drive, allowing it to be used in areas with snow or ice-covered roads as well as in limited off-road functionality. While the design was similar to some outgoing cargo vans, the passenger model with a smaller cargo area did not match any sedan alternatives. This passenger model eventually became quite popular, not only in the Avenir but also in the similar Subaru Legacy, showing that the cargo van past was eventually being replaced with a passenger car demand. The Avenir name is French for “future” and perhaps it was ahead of its time.
Engine and Features
The Avenir featured two engine options. One was a 1.8L SR18Di straight-4 DOHC engine producing 108 horsepower and 111 lb ft of torque, paired to a 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmission. The other option was a 2.0L SR20DE DOHC engine with around 145 horsepower. The Avenir was available in front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive variants, but the four-wheel drive only used the automatic transmission. In 1993, a 2.0L CD20T turbodiesel engine was added to the lineup, in addition to electronic fuel injection being added to the 1.8L engine option. A slight exterior redesign hit that same year. In the later years of the first generation Nissan Avenir, the rear end of the passenger versions was redesigned to match the popular Subaru Legacy Wagon. A turbocharged 2.0L gasoline engine was introduced in 1995 on a GT turbo model, producing 207 horsepower and only available in four-wheel drive with an automatic transmission.
Second Generation Changes
The second generation Nissan Avenir was introduced in 1998. The exterior received a modern look more suitable for a wagon and less similar to a cargo van. Engine choices remained similar with naturally-aspirated 1.8L and 2.0L gasoline engine options, along with 2.0L turbocharged gasoline and diesel versions. The 2.0L gasoline engine produced a respectable 227 horsepower. Front-wheel drive models still had the option of a 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmission, while the four-wheel drive versions stuck with only the 4-speed automatic. Some of the 2.0L gasoline engine models used a CVT variant. The Avenir cargo van was no longer offered, as it was instead marketed as the Nissan Expert in 1999. Another Avenir variant was the Blaster, released in 2000, which provided more off-road capability thanks to increased ground clearance and larger wheels. As the Nissan Avenir began to age, its sales slumped into 2005. Eventually, the model was discontinued entirely without an immediate replacement. Station wagon models had now transformed away from the cargo capacity focus and instead were more passenger vehicles. It didn’t make sense to continue the line.