Owner reviews for the Nissan Elgrand
No edits, no filters—just real feedback from verified vehicle owners to help you make confident decisions.
Overall rating 4.5/5Spacious, comfortable and endlessly flexible – the Nissan Elgrand is more like a living room on wheels, with lounge-style seating and kit that’s made it a hit with big families and campervan enthusiasts.
London
AA finance available
London
AA finance available
London
AA finance available
Southall
AA finance available
Southall
AA finance available
Southall
No edits, no filters—just real feedback from verified vehicle owners to help you make confident decisions.
Overall rating 4.5/5If you need a big, practical and plush people carrier, the Nissan Elgrand delivers. With three generations since its debut in 1997 (E50: 1997-2002, E51: 2002-2010, E52: 2010–onwards, imported to the UK), the Elgrand is praised for its comfort, smooth ride and surprisingly luxurious features for its age. The E51 and E52 brought more advanced tech, stronger safety and improvements to running costs, but space was always at the heart of the design. Put it next to rivals like the Toyota Alphard or Renault Grand Scenic, and the Elgrand wins fans for its almost lounge-like cabin and long list of gadgets – it really does feel a cut above for comfort. Flexible seating, ample boot capacity and top-spec trims shine through, though fuel efficiency can be a bit of a shock for newcomers. Today, it's still celebrated for reliability and ease of conversion to camper use.
Safety depends on the generation. Most Elgrands feature twin front airbags, ABS and side impact bars. E51 and E52 versions often add stability control, side airbags and reversing cameras, which help during tight manoeuvres due to the size of the van. Some later models also include parking sensors and traction control.
The Elgrand was mostly offered with sizeable petrol engines – a 3.3L V6 for the E50, a 3.5L V6 (VQ35DE) for the E51 and E52, plus a rare 2.5L V6. Some models have been converted to LPG for lower running costs. There is no official diesel version for the UK, although some may have been privately imported.
Expect electric sliding doors, climate control, multi-speaker audio, DVD entertainment (even dual screens on some), reversing cameras and sat-nav on higher trims. E52 models brought even more, with touchscreens, advanced audio and Bluetooth. Many features depend on the original Japanese specification and import grade.
The Elgrand is not famed for efficiency. Real-world driving often returns 18–25mpg for the V6 models, and sometimes less in town – though LPG-converted vehicles can be much cheaper to run. Driving style, load and regular servicing make a difference, but high fuel costs are something to keep in mind.
Look out for import paperwork, rust on older E50 models, signs of head gasket or cooling issues, sliding door function and worn suspension. Check the history and make sure warning lights are off. Ask for evidence of regular servicing. Find out more about a thorough pre-purchase check with The AA Vehicle Inspection.
Owners often say their Elgrand just keeps going – many go on to rack up big mileages with little more than routine servicing, making it a reassuring choice if you want space without the stress. The engines are robust if serviced properly and transmission problems are rare. Some imported models may have less available service records, so check carefully before buying.