Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd has unveiled the new Nissan Grand Livina MPV in Malaysia, and it comes in three variants – 1.8 automatic, 1.6 automatic and 1.6 manual. Simple and easy, no highline or lowline stuff for you to fret with.The basic NIssan Grand Livina is the 1.6 liter manual model powered by the HR16DE. This is not exactly the same HR16DE as the one in the Nissan Latio though, somehow Tan Chong has elected to equip the Grand Livina 1.6 with a variant of the HR16DE that does not have variable valve timing. It puts out 105 horsepower at 5,200rpm and 150Nm of torque at 4,400rpm, while the Latio’s HR16DE does 109 at 6,000rpm and 153Nm at 4,400rpm. The gearbox for the manual is a 5-speed, while the slushbox is a 4-speeder.
You can differentiate the 1.6 liter and the 1.8 liter unit via the front grille, which is chrome for the 1.8 liter – very Murano-like. The 1.8 liter only comes with a 4-speed automatic gearbox and its MR18DE engine produces 126 horsepower at 5,200rpm and 174Nm of torque at 4,800rpm. This engine is the same one in the Latio 1.8, and is equipped with Continuously Variable Valve Timing.The Nissan Grand Livina can carry 7 in a 2-3-2 arrangement. Suspension is a MacPherson strut setup at the front, while the rear uses a torsion beam. This is a similiar setup to the Nissan Latio, in fact the Nissan Grand Livina is actually built on the Nissan Latio’s platform. This should bode well for its rear passengers – none of that discomfort associated with body on frame MPVs derived from pick-up truck platforms!As with most vehicles designed to carry lots of weight, it has Electronic Brakeforce Distribution which automatically varies braking force between the front and rear brakes. This so the Nissan Grand Livina will remain stable under heavy braking with heavy loads. Other safety features include ABS and dual passenger airbags for all variants.The other external difference between the Nissan Grand Livina 1.6 and 1.8 liter variants are the alloy wheels. While both variants use 15 inch alloy wheels with 185/65 R15 tyres, the alloy wheels on the 1.8 liter model is polished. The 1.8 liter model also has foglamps. Under the hood, the 1.8 liter model has an engine cover while the 1.6 liter unit does not. In the interior, both models have a cream interior but the 1.6 liter variant gets silver trim while the 1.8 liter model gets wood trim. All models have 7 cupholders but the 1.8 liter model’s front cupholder has a lid. Seats are cloth for both models but leather is an available option at extra cost.Tan Chong has taken down 1,800 orders for the Nissan Grand Livina to date in a pre-launch booking campaign, so the initial stock already has owners. You will have to wait for the Serendah plant to produce more before you can have yours delivered if you book now.Pricelist:Nissan Grand Livina 1.6 Manual – RM82,000Nissan Grand Livina 1.6 Auto – RM86,600Nissan Grand Livina 1.8 Auto – RM95,000
