The Nissan Presage was a minivan produced from 1998 to 2009.
Nissan Presage Design and Introduction
Unlike many Nissan models, the Presage was exclusively available in Asian markets including the Japanese domestic market, Hong Kong, and Singapore. The name Presage is from French, and it translates to omen. Its primary competitors were the similarly sized Honda Odyssey and the Toyota Estima. In Japan, it was available at the Nissan Bluebird Store dealerships. To keep productions costs to a minimum, many aspects were shared other Nissan models. It was constructed on the same platform as the Nissan Bassara and shared various components with the Nissan R'nessa. This approach was widely used by Nissan and helped achieve enhanced reliability, ease of maintenance, and lower repair costs. The initial design was quite stylish for a minivan. Upper end trim levels, like the Presage Axis, featured a wrap-around body kit that gave it a sleek look. But even the lower level trims of the Nissan Presage were modernly designed minivans of the era, often including more luxurious touches like front fog lights and larger sized wheels. It had space for up to nine people, but seven seater choices were also available.
Engine and Transmission Options
The engine size were quite large for a vehicle targeted for the Japanese domestic market and other Asian markets. While Japan incentives people to purchase vehicles with engine displacement sizes at or lower than 2.0L, the Presage featured larger engines that would result in increased tax liability. The choices originally included a 2.4L inline-4 and a sizable 3.0L VQ30DE V6 gasoline engines. The 2.4L was replaced with a 2.5L gasoline option in 2001. A turbocharged 2.5L YD25DDTi inline-4 diesel variant was available as well, providing the option to those who wanted the increased torque and reliability that comes with diesel engine designs, especially with forced induction. A four-speed automatic was the transmission used in the Nissan Presage. The Presage was offered in both two-wheel and four-wheel drive. Both variants featured advanced braking systems to ensure optimal distribution of braking force. The two-wheel drive versions used a brake-force distribution system in conjunction with a two-stage brake booster to distribute the power between the front and rear based on the payload and passenger weight distribution. Four-wheel drive models achieved a similar optimization through a load sensing valve.
Second Generation Updates
In 2003, the second generation Nissan Presage was released. It once again had a stylish design for a minivan, using long sloping lines throughout and a clear front end. It was now available in seven or eight passenger versions, dropping the nine passenger option from the lineup. The platform for the second generation was the Nissan L-class, shared with the Teana mid-size car and the Nissan Murano, a mid-size crossover SUV sold in North America. The diesel engine option was no longer available, but 2.5L inline-4 and 3.5L V6 gasoline engines could be selected. There was a four-speed transmission, as well as a continuously variable transmission for those who wanted the smooth feel of the sequential CVT. This generation also featured some fairly advanced technology for the era, including a rear-view camera to assist with visibility when backing up. The interior was quite comfortable and offered many transformations of the seat arrangements for increased utility and flexibility. Unfortunately, the sales of the Nissan Presage began to slow, likely due to the increasing popularity of the smaller crossover SUV segment. In 2009, it was discontinued worldwide with no direct replacement.