The Nissan Crew was a mid-size sedan produced from 1993 to 2009 that served mainly as a taxicab platform.
Design and Introduction
Nissan released the Crew model in 1993 as a mid-size car with 4-doors and a notchback sedan body style. It had a front-engine layout with rear-wheel drive, similar to many Nissan offerings. The main competitor for the Crew was the Toyota Comfort. The construction methods of the Crew were quite basic, meant to be used for commercial purposes. It was a popular taxicab platform, and it served well as law enforcement vehicles and new driver training. The civilian model was available as a Crew Saloon, but most were sold as Nissan Crew meant to be used for taxi purposes. Some of these vehicles were used for extreme modification, thanks to their simplistic overall design which made changes easy to execute.
Dimensions, Trim Levels, and Engines
The car was just under 181 inches (4594 mm) long, 67 inches (1695 mm) wide, and 57 inches (1460 mm) tall. The wheelbase was 105 inches (2665 mm). Four different trim levels were available, including the base LS-F, the LS, and the more luxurious LX. Mitsuoka released a modified Crew under the Galue I name. Most came with a 2.0L RB20E inline-6 gasoline engine or a 2.8L RD28 inline-6 diesel engine. Power production was around 130 horsepower, enough to get by without consuming too much fuel or being overly slow. A 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmission were featured.
Features and Available Options
One of the distinctive features seen in some of the Crew models was the placement of the side view mirrors. Rather than being close to the A pillar near the driver and passenger doors, the mirrors were placed on long arms which connected to the tops of the fenders above the wheels. Drivers could view the mirrors by looking forward through the windshield. The Crew featured some features without going too overboard as its main goal was to provide a practical, reliable platform to move people around in. It was not targeted at a luxury market, but it did still have power steering, anti-lock brakes, airbag, and power windows in most models. A cloth interior was used throughout most of the Crew models, along with a dirt and spill resistant flooring that made its use as a taxi unproblematic. The drive contorols were located in the center dashboard, along with analog instrument cluster. Driver and passenger headrests were featured in the Nissan crew. Various updates hit the Nissan Crew throughout its production run. Some of the major changes happened in 1998, 2001, and 2005.
Looking Back on the Nissan Crew
The Crew was a long serving vehicle that proved to do well as a taxi. While many of these models put on a lot of miles in their commercial capacity, some have survived to the present day and can fetch a decent price. Quality condition Nissan Crews are listed for around $10,000 in certain markets. While serving as a taxi might not be the most glamorous use of a vehicle, it goes a long way to represent the reliability and longevity of an automaker. Being able to mass produce commercial vehicles that will be put through the ringer on a regular basis not only provides regular revenue stream, but also showcases the brand’s trustworthiness to the world. Perhaps most important was that the Crew was able to bring in much needed sales when the Japanese economy struggled during the early 1990s and beyond. It’s likely that many who lived or traveled in Japan during the Crew’s production span can recognize the vehicle and perhaps can even bring back memories of being transported in one. While not your everyday car for most non-commercial drivers, it had an important part in Japanese automotive history.