PERFORMANCE versus practicality. Now there is a conundrum that many motorists face when seeking family transport. Balancing the 0-100 km/h and top speed figures with the number of seating/load options and drinkholders can be a difficult equation to master. There is nothing wrong with wanting stylish transport that allows you to have motoring fun without compromising the comfort and safety of a regular crew of passengers, and Nissan’s new MPV is aimed at fitting that bill – and economically, too.
The Nissan Grand Livina, and its slightly shorter, five-seater Livina sister, may not win any wind tunnel contests, but the slightly boxy lines do allow for maximum usable interior space to be utilised, and that is exactly the point. In Grand form, the Livina gains an additional 240 mm behind the rear axle, and this allows for a third row of seats, and a nominal amount of shopping bag space behind that erect third bench.
While the principle of form following function can leave the design team with little left to work with in terms of brand identity and USPs, the Nissan team has done well to give the new MPV some personality. Up front, and not to everyone’s taste, there is a somewhat shiny and “bling” grille, but this is bordered by large and distinctive headlamp clusters that lift the frontal aspect above the bland. Fifteen-inch alloy wheels are standard fitment on the longer Livina models, and these add some style to the profile.
At the rear, the large tailgate is light and easy to operate, thanks to gas struts, opening high to allow access to the luggage area. With the third row of seats folding flat into this area, there is little to obstruct access, although some care does need to be taken not to lose smaller items down the spaces left between the head restraints of the folded bench. This folding function is light and simple to perform by means of a tug on one centre handle. But the lack of a parcel shelf in our test model created a security issue for items stored in the rear. The second row of seating features a 60:40 split on both the cushion and the backrest, allowing each of the two sections to be adjusted fore and aft separately, or offer different backrest angles.
A clever fixed-height seating position means that the driver still has a slightly raised “command” seating position, without having to climb into the vehicle. Standard leather upholstery in our Acenta+ test model added a touch of luxury, but seasoned parents may question the use of such a light colour, a shade that is unlikely to match any of the colours of sticky sweets being consumed in the rear. On this top-of-the-range model, the upper section of the steering wheel rim, a large area of the facia, and the handles on the doors featured a fake wood trim finish that, although neatly executed, was not to everyone’s taste.
Height adjustable steering helps driver comfort, although the addition of reach adjustment would have proved ideal. Upfront storage options come in the form of a double drinkholder ahead of the gearlever, which can be covered, with a lid, and a large, deep glove compartment. However, the latter’s cover could potentially bruise a passenger’s knees as it drops open, unrestrained.
Once comfortable, all controls and instruments fall conveniently to the driver’s hand, and the stalks have a chunky and purposeful feel. Standard electric exterior mirrors and windows add to the convenience. One further feature that would have made the driving experience even more focused would have been satellite controls for the audio system, but the smart looking radio/CD set-up fitted to the facia is simple enough to get accustomed to. It may take a little longer to get used to the reach down that is required to operate the manual air-conditioner and ventilation controls, though.
A tall gearshift lever provides light and accurate changes up and down the five-speed transmission. Downshifts are kept to a minimum thanks to the peppiness of the 1,6-litre engine. With 80 kW of power available at 6 000 r/min and 153 N.m of torque at 4 400 r/min, the Livina, even in Grand guise, feels unstressed across the whole speed range, and will top out just the other side of 180 km/h, should the need arise. In-gear performance saw our test unit accelerate from 80 to 120 km/h in top in an acceptable 22,62 seconds. The motor is relatively economical, too, recording a fuel index of 8,88 litres/100 km.
The Livina boasts a large and user friendly interior, and its designers have taken care to provide as much headroom as possible without making the vehicle too tall and, subsequently, top-heavy. One result is that handling is kept sharp and confident thanks to minimal body roll. The electric power assisted steering is well weighted, and does not suffer too much from the lifeless feel that hampers certain other offerings with this feature. A fairly long wheelbase also goes a long way to providing good ride comfort levels.
Standard ABS with Electronic Brake Control and Brake Assist add peace of mind to this package, and the driver and front passenger have airbags installed ahead of them.
TEST SUMMARY
It may not have a glamorous nameplate, but the Livina is purpose-designed for a segment that caters to a variety of uses rather than any single-minded approach. That said, functionality doesn’t have to mean boring. The Nissan Grand Livina has the air of taking pride in doing what it does well. Highlights are the easy to operate seating for seven, a neat, nicely thought out and well-assembled interior, and an engine that feels bigger than it actually is. It adds up to a complete package that is competitively priced and well worth a test drive.
