Nissan Primera road tests and consumer car reviews

Nissan Primera 2.0D estate 2001

I bought my 2001 Primera 2.0d estate for £921 from Ebay. It had 120000 miles on it and I hoped it would last a year or two. I had it for 3 years and only bought new tyres. I covered 35000 miles and only gave it one oil change with nothing else spent in 3 years! It passed 2 MOT’s with no faults whatsoever, failing the 3rd mot with too much sill welding being required. It was 11 years old at this point, so it was sold for spares/scrap. I’m confident that if not for the rust it would have had years left in it. I never had a problem with it at all, even with no servicing/maintenance except 1 oil change in 35000 miles. In this time it carried huge loads of building waste/timber, a corner suite strapped to the roof, and plenty more and it just kept on going. It did about 43mpg, which isn’t too bad and was a pretty good drive with loads of space and a huge boot. I can’t really fault it.

Nissan Primera 2001

Truly fantastic! I have driven mine for 9 years, it has done 70,000 miles and my total cost of repairs is ....... £0. This is the most reliable car I have ever known, more reliable than Mercedes, BMW and Audi. I have never had a single problem with this car considering that I purchased it from an Auction for just £6,000 when it was just a year old. Would I recommend it? Of course I would!

Nissan Primera Sport plus 2001

I bought this car in 2005, as my old Vauxhall Cavalier died on me at 130,000. In hindsight I should of driven a harder bargin with the main dealer, but did get some discount after a bit of haggling. Since the original road test I have loved the car, in the 5 and half years I have owned her, I have covered 86,000 miles, starting at 29,000, currently at 115,000. It has been all over Europe with me and has never missed a beat, whether it is fully loaded or it’s just me driving. The seats are comfortable, the ride is a bit harsh, but it’s the sport version, so to be expected. Servicing is every 9,000 miles, which is quite frequent compared to modern day cars, but she is 10 years old now. Only every used the main dealer once for servicing, never again after they charged me £350 for a 9,000 mile service. Use an independant dealer much cheaper and just source the parts yourself, much much cheaper. So over the 5 and a half years what has gone wrong with it. No 1, the fuel sensor failed after 6 months, fixed under warranty (£160). No 2, ABS ring cracked, you have to buy the whole C.V joint as a replacement, (£350) from Nissan or £43 from a independent company. No 3, Rear brake caliper siezed, fully replaced £190, and finally the drive shaft went in 2010. Easy replacement but cost £309 to be fully replaced. So since 2005 I feel it hasn’t done too bad for the amount of miles I cover. I cover 120 miles a day on a round journey between Poole and Portsmouth and it still returns over 37 mpg. Would I buy another one? If Nissan still made them, yes I would.

Responses to this review

I have been driving the Nissan Primera Sports plus since new in 2000. I have done 145,000 and have had no repairs, just regular servicing. I have just had two drive-shafts and stabiliser links fitted in Christchurch Dorset. The total was £343.00, wheel alignment was free. The car still averages 40 miles to the gallon. Wish that Nissan would bring this model out again, or the Bluebird - Tom Turk from France

Nissan Primera 1.8 SE 5door hatch 2001

I have had this car for 7 years and serviced it every year at a main dealer. It is mostly driven on motorway journeys to work and has done just over 80,000miles. At its last service I was informed that the gearbox needs to be replaced cost £1300, the airbag warning light has been flashing for the last couple of years (they reset it, but it keeps triggering). The steering wheel shakes at 70 mph. Even though it has new tyres, wheels balanced and the track set-up (Nissan don’t know the cause). The engine warning light has come on and the engine is misfiring occasionally Nissan say diagnostics will be £180 and new sensors or replacement parts another £350. During its life it has needed lots of other repairs e.g. wheel bearings, brake callipers etc. The Nissan dealer will give me a part-exchange value as the car stands of £200. Will I buy another Nissan NEVER!!

Nissan Primera 2.2 diesel SE 2004

Manos Man - all I can say is you can’t drive or you had a dodgy car! My Nissan handles perfectly round corners at 100mph not kph. Suspension is good, acceleration is good; all round a very good reliable family car.

Nissan Primera 2005

This car is the shame of the today’s automobile! Its behaviour in soft turns over 100km/h is a disaster and if you have a light side wind it can become really dangerous. In high speed, if the road is not perfect, its aerodynamic together with the soft suspension make your heart beat real fast. I have worked in car rental for years and driven almost every car and I can say only this: it’s the worst car in behaviour and not only in its category! Only Kia’s are worse and just then some of them. Car may be reliable and comfortable and but that’s not enough to make a car good.

Responses to this review

No idea what the previous reviewer is talking about. I have had a 95 model from new and it’s now pushing 70,000 miles. Never had any problems at all with it and it is stable at speed and in crosswinds. I have driven many other vehicles that do not handle anywhere near as well as the Primera - Andy Needs from Cardiff

I agree, I bought one out of Japan "used", doing about 18,000km. I drove the car to 70,000km with $0.00 in repairs, my only expense being the changing of engine and txm fluids. My average speed on the highway would be 160-180km/hr and the vehicle handled really well,and cornered really well. Maybe the driver that complained about the handling probably running on some crappy tyres. Other than that, his comments just don’t add up. My only problem with the unit is that I wished it had some more horses, maybe 225-250hp would have set me right - Dean from Trinidad and Tobago

Nissan Primera 2.0 SE 5dr 2002

Wonderful car, just keeps on going without needing any attention. Best family car I’ve owned. I’ve had this from new and it’s never given me a single days problem. Solid and easy to drive it is also very comfortable and roomy. Excellent car.

Responses to this review

I agree with you! The best family car, my second - Franc Feri from Slovenia