Nissan Bluebird Maxima

Nissan Bluebird Maxima: which version to buy and why

If you are choosing a Nissan Bluebird Maxima rather than reading a history of the name, the decision is small and numerical.

If you are choosing a Nissan Bluebird Maxima rather than reading a history of the name, the decision is small and numerical. This catalogue lists 2 generations of the model, but only generation 2 is present in the data: a Sedan Hardtop sold from 1984-10-01 to 1988-09-30, first as 2 generation (1984-10-01–1985-12-31, 2 versions) and then as 2 generation, restyling (1986-01-01–1988-09-30, 4 versions). Every version is a 1998 cm³ Gasoline 6-cylinder V-shaped engine with 4 valves per cylinder, Distributed injection (multi-point), 95 fuel, FWD, a 60 L tank, independent spring suspension at both ends, Ventilated disc fronts and Disc rears. Acceleration to 100 km/h, top speed, and fuel consumption are not measured for every row, so “mpg” and “how fast” cannot decide the purchase. What can: 115 vs 170 hp, No vs Turbo, Manual vs Automatic, 1310–1360 kg, and 160 vs 155 mm ground clearance.

People searching nissan bluebird maxima u11, nissan bluebird maxima 1985, nissan bluebird specs, or nissan bluebird maxima for sale are usually matching a chassis year to a powertrain. Use the year first, then the horsepower next to the exact catalogue name 2.0 MT or 2.0 AT.

Nissan Bluebird Maxima specs: two engines, six catalogue rows

The names 2.0 MT and 2.0 AT each appear twice in the restyling and once before it. Distinguish them by 115 hp versus 170 hp. A listing that only says “2.0 AT” is incomplete.

Specific output: 115 hp from 1998 cm³ is 57.6 hp per litre; 170 hp from the same 1998 cm³ is 85.1 hp per litre — 47.8% more power from the same displacement, and 55 Nm more torque (216 versus 161). Peak power sits at 6000 rpm on every row. Peak torque of the 115 hp engine is at 3600 rpm; of the 170 hp Turbo engine at 4000 rpm.

Nissan Bluebird Maxima 1985 vs restyling: what generation 2 actually changed

2 generation (1984-10-01–1985-12-31) is the 1985-year shopper’s window. It offers only the Turbo 170 hp pair: 2.0 MT at 1320 kg and 2.0 AT at 1360 kg. There is no 115 hp row in these dates. Ground clearance is 160 mm. If the search is nissan bluebird maxima 1985 or u11 of that production window, you are choosing gearbox, not engine.

2 generation, restyling (1986-01-01–1988-09-30) keeps the Sedan Hardtop, FWD, 1998 cm³ V-shaped 6, and 60 L tank, and adds the naturally aspirated 115 hp 2.0 MT and 2.0 AT. Ground clearance falls from 160 mm to 155 mm (−5 mm). The restyled Turbo 2.0 MT 170 hp is 1340 kg, 20 kg heavier than the pre-restyle 2.0 MT 170 hp (1320 kg). The restyled Turbo 2.0 AT 170 hp stays 1360 kg — the same kerb weight as the pre-restyle 2.0 AT 170 hp.

What the restyling “buys” in this dataset is choice: two extra versions at 115 hp, a 5 mm lower ride height, and a 20 kg heavier turbo manual. It does not change displacement, cylinder count, layout, injection type, fuel grade, tank size, drive, or the brake/suspension labels. Wheel sizes are not measured on any version, so nissan bluebird dimensions in the sense of tyres cannot be compared here. Gross vehicle weight is not measured.

Power-to-weight: which Bluebird Maxima is the lightest per horsepower

kg per hp (lower is stronger on paper):

• 2.0 MT 170 hp, 2 generation: 1320 / 170 = 7.76 kg/hp
• 2.0 MT 170 hp, restyling: 1340 / 170 = 7.88 kg/hp
• 2.0 AT 170 hp, both periods: 1360 / 170 = 8.00 kg/hp
• 2.0 MT 115 hp, restyling: 1310 / 115 = 11.39 kg/hp
• 2.0 AT 115 hp, restyling: 1350 / 115 = 11.74 kg/hp

The strongest ratio in the catalogue is the pre-restyle 2.0 MT 170 hp. The restyled turbo manual is 0.12 kg/hp behind it because of the extra 20 kg. Both turbo automatics sit at 8.00 kg/hp. The 115 hp cars are 3.5–4.0 kg/hp heavier per unit of power than the turbo manuals even though they are the lightest cars in kilograms: the restyled 2.0 MT 115 hp at 1310 kg is the lightest Nissan Bluebird Maxima in this file, 10 kg below the pre-restyle turbo manual and 50 kg below the heaviest 2.0 AT 170 hp (1360 kg). Lightest car and strongest car are not the same row.

Automatic versus manual, same engine:

• Pre-restyle 170 hp: 2.0 AT is 40 kg heavier than 2.0 MT (1360 − 1320).
• Restyle 115 hp: 2.0 AT is 40 kg heavier than 2.0 MT (1350 − 1310).
• Restyle 170 hp: 2.0 AT is 20 kg heavier than 2.0 MT (1360 − 1340).

The gearbox penalty is 40 kg on the early turbo and on the later 115 hp pair, and only 20 kg on the restyled turbo pair. Manual is always 5 speeds; Automatic is always 4.

Nissan Bluebird Maxima engine: Turbo 170 hp versus No-boost 115 hp

Both engines share 1998 cm³, Gasoline, 6 V-shaped cylinders, 4 valves per cylinder, Distributed injection (multi-point), 95, peak power at 6000 rpm, FWD. Boost is the split: Turbo on every 170 hp row, No on every 115 hp row.

Arithmetic that is allowed from the data:

• +55 hp and +55 Nm for Turbo versus No.
• +27.5 hp and +27.5 Nm per litre of the 1998 cm³ displacement when going from 115 to 170.
• Peak torque arrives 400 rpm later on the Turbo (4000 versus 3600).

0–100, top speed, city/highway/combined consumption, CO₂ and eco class are not measured for 2.0 MT 115 hp, 2.0 AT 115 hp, 2.0 MT 170 hp, and 2.0 AT 170 hp in both generation windows. A nissan bluebird review that ranks them by sprint or mpg is inventing numbers this catalogue does not have. Tank volume does not help either: 60 L on all six rows.

Dimensions, weight, clearance — what is measured

Kerb weight range: 1310 kg (2.0 MT 115 hp, restyling) to 1360 kg (2.0 AT 170 hp in both 2 generation and restyling). Spread: 50 kg.

Ground clearance: 160 mm on both 2 generation versions; 155 mm on all four restyling versions. If clearance is the buying criterion, the 1984-10-01–1985-12-31 cars sit 5 mm higher and they are only available as 170 hp Turbo.

Fuel tank: 60 L, all versions. Gross weight: not measured. Wheel sizes: not measured. Engine location: not measured. Compression ratio and bore × stroke: not measured.

So nissan bluebird dimensions in this dataset means kerb mass, 155/160 mm clearance, and 60 L tank — not length, width, or tyre codes.

Which version to choose

Buy the pre-restyle 2.0 MT 170 hp if you want the best power-to-weight in the file: 7.76 kg/hp, 1320 kg, 170 hp, 216 Nm, Turbo, Manual 5, FWD, 160 mm clearance, production 1984-10-01–1985-12-31. That is the nissan bluebird maxima 1985 answer when the listing is a five-speed.

Buy the pre-restyle 2.0 AT 170 hp if you want that same 170 hp Turbo with Automatic 4. You pay 40 kg (1360 vs 1320) and move from 7.76 to 8.00 kg/hp. Clearance stays 160 mm. There is no 115 hp alternative in this window.

Buy the restyled 2.0 MT 170 hp if you need the later 1986-01-01–1988-09-30 body window and still want Turbo. Compared with the earlier 2.0 MT 170 hp you lose 5 mm of clearance and add 20 kg (1340 vs 1320), so kg/hp rises to 7.88. Compared with the restyled 2.0 AT 170 hp you save 20 kg.

Buy the restyled 2.0 AT 170 hp if you want Automatic 4 and 170 hp after 1986-01-01. Kerb weight is 1360 kg — identical to the pre-restyle 2.0 AT 170 hp — so the restyling does not add mass on this automatic turbo row. You still sit 5 mm lower (155 vs 160).

Buy the restyled 2.0 MT 115 hp if you want the lightest car (1310 kg) and No boost. You give up 55 hp and 55 Nm versus any 170 hp row. Specific output drops from 85.1 to 57.6 hp/L. kg/hp is 11.39, the worst among manuals. This version does not exist before 1986-01-01.

Buy the restyled 2.0 AT 115 hp if you want Automatic and No turbo. It is the weakest ratio in the catalogue at 11.74 kg/hp and 1350 kg — 40 kg heavier than the 115 hp manual, 10 kg lighter than the 170 hp automatics. Same 115 hp, 161 Nm, 1998 cm³, FWD.

There is no all-wheel-drive row, no other displacement, and no other body than Sedan Hardtop. Nissan sylphy vs maxima and nissan bluebird sylphy 2008 fuel consumption are different models; this file has no Sylphy figures and no 2008 Bluebird Maxima. Nissan bluebird value and asking prices are not measured. Reliability and typical faults are not measured.

Short decision tree

1. Year 1984-10-01–1985-12-31: only 2.0 MT 170 hp or 2.0 AT 170 hp. Pick Manual for 40 kg less and 160 mm clearance on both. 2. Year 1986-01-01–1988-09-30: four rows. Want Turbo → 2.0 MT 170 hp (1340 kg) or 2.0 AT 170 hp (1360 kg). Want lightest / No boost → 2.0 MT 115 hp (1310 kg) or 2.0 AT 115 hp (1350 kg). 3. Clearance 160 mm is only the first window; restyling is 155 mm. 4. Do not use 0–100, top speed, or mpg: all not measured. 5. Keep the badge names 2.0 MT and 2.0 AT and always write 115 or 170 hp next to them.

That is the whole buying map in this catalogue: six FWD Gasoline 1998 cm³ Sedan Hardtop versions, two outputs, two gearboxes, a 50 kg kerb spread, and a 5 mm clearance step at restyling.