Nissan joins the MPV game with the Livina

7 seaters offer the best balance for a family vehicle. It’s not as large as a van, also not as expensive, but has more creature comforts for the daily and long drives. Nissan already joined this segment with their Terra SUV, but that’s on the higher end of things. If one wants a more attainable 7-seater, they’d have to look elsewhere. Well, that stops today because Nissan Philippines just brought in the Livina MPV. 

This 7-seater starts at P1,029,000 for its E MT trim. At first glance from any angle, you might think this resembles something else from a different brand and you’re right. The Nissan Livina is a mechanical twin of the Mitsubishi Xpander thanks to the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. The quirk is, this is based on the previous generation and not the current Xpander that has more flair. Still, it’s a looker thanks to Nissan’s signature styling.

Let’s take a look at the top trim model. Up front is their V-motion grille that’s more curvy and provides a nice contrast to the sharp contours of the headlight housing. It has halogen projector headlamps, LED DRLs, and a variant exclusive silver accent on the lower bumper.

At the side, you’ll see the chrome side mirrors that are power folding and the 16-inch wheels. It almost has the same character lines as its fraternal twin, save for the front door. Instead of a knife edge design, the Livina has a subtle arrowhead below the side mirror.

The rear gives away the shell that the Livina is built upon. Its taillights have the same shape as its twin but here, Nissan utilized the LED pattern they had on the Almera to give it distinction on the road. The lower bumper is also more sporty looking with the emphasized faux split diffusers. 

Inside, the cabin has a very, very familiar look. There are arches on the dashboard and door panels, high center console, an opposite placed manual handbrake, and knobs for the aircon controls. What’s different is the upholstery since the Livina has leather seats for its VL trim. Another thing that makes it distinct is the dark wood accents found on the dash and door panels giving it a more premium appeal. 

There’s a 7-inch touchscreen display but sadly, no Apple and Android – only a phone mirror link which during my testing was working only half the time. It has a smart entry system with push start button, 6 speakers, the climate control is manual, and there’s no cruise control. As for safety, despite being a top trim model, the VL only gets front airbags but that is complemented by hill start assist, traction control system, vehicle dynamic control, rear sensors, and rear camera. 

At the back, things are more or less the same as what we’ve seen before. There are leather seats to increase its appeal but up top is the traditional aircon array and in the middle of the second row is a stowable armrest but no cupholders. Space is the same as its mechanical twin, even up to the cargo area. There’s even a hidden compartment for organizing car must-haves. 

Under the hood, the Nissan Livina is powered by a familiar powertrain. It runs on a 1.5-liter gas engine that makes 104 horsepower and 141 Nm of torque, also paired to a 4-speed automatic. You’ll have to wait if it’s just as efficient when I take it out for a review. 

Now let’s get to the most important thing. I already said that it starts at P1,029,000 for the E MT, then it goes to P1,109,000 for the EL AT, P1,149,000 for the VE AT, and this top of the line VL is priced at P1,209,000 – a tad more expensive than its mechanical twin. 

The all-new Nissan Livina is available in Royal Ruby Red as seen in the photos, Moonstone Grey, Diamond Pearl White, Onyx Black, and Platinum Silver. It comes with a 5-year or 150,000km warranty, whichever comes first and servicing is only 2x a year, bringing the cost of ownership down by as much as 30% compared to its rivals. It’s now available in all Nissan showrooms for orders and reservations or you can use the Nissan Assist App. Official start of sales will be on September 15, 2022.