Nissan Cima: which version to buy
If you are choosing a Nissan Cima rather than reading a model history, the split is simple. Five generations, nine listed versions, every one an Automatic. Eight are RWD; one 4.5 AT in the fourth generation is AWD. Power in the data runs from 200 hp to 306 hp. The first generation is the only Sedan Hardtop.
If you are choosing a Nissan Cima rather than reading a model history, the split is simple. Five generations, nine listed versions, every one an Automatic. Eight are RWD; one 4.5 AT in the fourth generation is AWD. Power in the data runs from 200 hp to 306 hp. The first generation is the only Sedan Hardtop. Fuel use, 0–100 km/h and top speed are not measured on every version in this catalogue, so mpg and acceleration cannot decide the purchase. Weight, ground clearance, tank size, torque, boost and drive can.
Nissan Cima generations compared for a buyer
First generation (1988-01-01 to 1991-12-31), Sedan Hardtop, two versions, both named 3.0 AT. Same 2960 cm³ V-shaped 6, 4 valves per cylinder, Front, longitudinal, Distributed injection (multi-point), 98 fuel, 4-speed Automatic, RWD, 72 L tank, kerb 1560 kg. The naturally aspirated 3.0 AT is 200 hp (147 kW) at 6000 rpm and 260 Nm at 4400 rpm, boost No, ground clearance 145 mm. The turbo 3.0 AT is 255 hp (188 kW) at 6000 rpm and 343 Nm at 4400 rpm, Turbo, ground clearance 130 mm. Extra output is +55 hp and +83 Nm at the same kerb weight. That is 7.8 kg per hp on the 200 hp car and 6.1 kg per hp on the 255 hp car. Rear brakes on both are Disc; front are Ventilated disc. Independent, spring suspension front and rear. Buy the turbo 3.0 AT if you want the lightest high-output Cima in the data. Buy the 200 hp 3.0 AT if you want the same 1560 kg and 72 L tank with 15 mm more ground clearance (145 mm vs 130 mm).
Second generation (1991-08-01 to 1996-05-31), Sedan, one version: 4.1 AT. Gasoline V-shaped 8, 4130 cm³, 270 hp (199 kW) at 6000 rpm, 370 Nm at 4400 rpm, boost No, Front, longitudinal, Distributed injection (multi-point), compression 10.5, 93 × 76, 95 fuel, 4-speed Automatic, RWD, 80 L tank, kerb 1830 kg, ground clearance 150 mm, Ventilated disc front and Disc ventilated rear. Versus first-generation turbo 3.0 AT: +15 hp, +27 Nm, +270 kg, tank +8 L, clearance +20 mm (150 vs 130). You pay 270 kg for a naturally aspirated V-shaped 8 and a larger tank. Kg per hp rises from 6.1 to 6.8. This is the generation people looking for a 1992 Nissan Cima engine or a Y32-era V8 actually get: one engine, one gearbox, one drive.
Third generation (1996-06-01 to 2000-12-31), Sedan, two versions — the first time a buyer chooses between a turbo six and a V-shaped 8 in the same generation. 3.0 AT: Gasoline Turbo, 2960 cm³, V-shaped 6, 255 hp (188 kW) at 6000 rpm, 343 Nm at 3200 rpm, compression 8.5, 87 × 83, 95, 4-speed Automatic, RWD, 80 L, kerb 1660 kg, gross 1935 kg (the only gross weight in the whole Cima table), ground clearance 160 mm. 4.1 AT: Gasoline, boost No, 4130 cm³, V-shaped 8, 270 hp (199 kW) at 5600 rpm, 376 Nm at 4000 rpm, Front, longitudinal, Distributed injection (multi-point), compression 10.5, 93 × 76, 95, 4-speed Automatic, RWD, 80 L, kerb 1820 kg, ground clearance 150 mm. The V8 is +15 hp and +33 Nm and +160 kg versus the turbo 3.0 AT. Specific output: 86 hp per litre on the 2960 cm³ turbo versus 65 hp per litre on the 4130 cm³ eight. Kg per hp: 6.5 on 3.0 AT, 6.7 on 4.1 AT. Torque on the turbo six arrives 800 rpm earlier (3200 vs 4000). Versus second-generation 4.1 AT, third-generation 4.1 AT keeps 270 hp and 4130 cm³, adds 6 Nm (376 vs 370), loses 10 kg (1820 vs 1830), and makes peak power 400 rpm lower (5600 vs 6000). For 1996 / 1997 / 1998 Nissan Cima specs searches: both third-generation cars share the same years; the difference is the engine, not a restyle listed as a new generation.
Fourth generation (2001-01-01 to 2010-07-31), Sedan, three versions — the densest buyer choice, including the only AWD Cima in the data. All three are listed at 280 hp (206 kW) at 6000 rpm and 95 fuel, 80 L tank, Independent, spring front and rear, Ventilated disc front, Disc ventilated rear.
- 3.0 AT: Gasoline Turbo, 2987 cm³, V-shaped 6, 387 Nm at 3600 rpm, Front, longitudinal, Distributed injection (multi-point), compression 9, 93 × 73.3, 5-speed Automatic, RWD, kerb 1670 kg, ground clearance 160 mm.
- 4.5 AT (RWD, 451 Nm): Gasoline, boost No, 4494 cm³, V-shaped 8, 451 Nm at 3600 rpm, Front, longitudinal, Direct injection (direct), compression 11, 93 × 82.7, 5-speed Automatic, RWD, kerb 1830 kg, ground clearance 140 mm.
- 4.5 AT (AWD, 402 Nm): Gasoline, boost No, 4494 cm³, V-shaped 8, 402 Nm at 3600 rpm, Front, transverse, Direct injection (direct), compression 11, 93 × 82.7, 4-speed Automatic, AWD, kerb 1930 kg, ground clearance 145 mm.
Same 280 hp, three different cars. The turbo 3.0 AT is the lightest fourth-generation Cima (1670 kg) and the highest specific output: 94 hp per litre versus 62 hp per litre on either 4494 cm³ 4.5 AT. Kg per hp: 6.0 on 3.0 AT, 6.5 on RWD 4.5 AT, 6.9 on AWD 4.5 AT. The RWD V8 buys +64 Nm over the turbo six (451 vs 387) at +160 kg and −20 mm ground clearance (140 vs 160). The AWD 4.5 AT buys AWD and a Front, transverse layout, but drops to a 4-speed Automatic, 49 Nm less than the RWD 4.5 AT (402 vs 451), and 260 kg more than the turbo 3.0 AT (1930 vs 1670). If the question is Nissan Cima V8 specs versus the 3.0, the V8 is not more powerful in this generation: it is more torque on RWD, more mass, and in one case AWD.
Fifth generation (from 2012-05-01, no stop date in the data), Sedan, one version: 3.5 AT. Hybrid, 3498 cm³, V-shaped 6, 4 valves per cylinder, 306 hp (225 kW) at 6800 rpm, 350 Nm at 5000 rpm, boost No, Distributed injection (multi-point), compression 10.3, 95.5 × 81.4, 98 fuel, 7-speed Automatic, RWD, Euro 5, ground clearance 145 mm. Kerb weight, tank, rear suspension, rear brakes, 0–100, top speed and consumption: not measured. Versus fourth-generation 3.0 AT: +26 hp, −37 Nm (350 vs 387), +511 cm³, two extra gears (7 vs 5), Hybrid instead of Gasoline Turbo, 98 instead of 95, Euro 5 instead of not measured. Versus fourth-generation RWD 4.5 AT: +26 hp, −101 Nm (350 vs 451), six cylinders instead of eight, Hybrid instead of Gasoline. Peak power is the catalogue maximum (306 hp); peak torque is not. A 2022 Nissan Cima search still lands on this same 3.5 AT — the data list no later version.
Nissan Cima engine specs table
| Generation | Version | hp | Nm | cm³ | Fuel type | Cylinders | Layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 (from 2012-05) | 3.5 AT | 306 | 350 | 3498 | Hybrid | 6 | V-shaped | No | Automatic 7 | RWD |
| 4 (2001–2010) | 3.0 AT | 280 | 387 | 2987 | Gasoline | 6 | V-shaped | Turbo | Automatic 5 | RWD |
| 4 (2001–2010) | 4.5 AT (451 Nm) | 280 | 451 | 4494 | Gasoline | 8 | V-shaped | No | Automatic 5 | RWD |
| 4 (2001–2010) | 4.5 AT (402 Nm) | 280 | 402 | 4494 | Gasoline | 8 | V-shaped | No | Automatic 4 | AWD |
| 3 (1996–2000) | 3.0 AT | 255 | 343 | 2960 | Gasoline | 6 | V-shaped | Turbo | Automatic 4 | RWD |
| 3 (1996–2000) | 4.1 AT | 270 | 376 | 4130 | Gasoline | 8 | V-shaped | No | Automatic 4 | RWD |
| 2 (1991–1996) | 4.1 AT | 270 | 370 | 4130 | Gasoline | 8 | V-shaped | No | Automatic 4 | RWD |
| 1 (1988–1991) | 3.0 AT (200 hp) | 200 | 260 | 2960 | Gasoline | 6 | V-shaped | No | Automatic 4 | RWD |
| 1 (1988–1991) | 3.0 AT (255 hp) | 255 | 343 | 2960 | Gasoline | 6 | V-shaped | Turbo | Automatic 4 | RWD |
Nissan Cima horsepower in this catalogue: 200, 255, 270, 280, 306. Nissan Cima V8 horsepower is 270 (both 4.1 AT) or 280 (both 4.5 AT) — never the 306 hp peak, which belongs to the Hybrid 3.5 AT.
Nissan Cima mpg, 0–100 and top speed
0–100 km/h: not measured on every version. Top speed: not measured on every version. City, highway and combined consumption: not measured on every version. CO2: not measured on every version. A Nissan Cima mpg, 1996 Nissan Cima mpg, 1997 Nissan Cima mpg, 1998 Nissan Cima mpg or 1996 Nissan Cima V8 mpg query cannot be answered with a litres/100 km figure from this data set. What you can compare instead is fuel grade: 98 on both first-generation 3.0 AT cars and on fifth-generation 3.5 AT; 95 on every second-, third- and fourth-generation version. Eco class is Euro 5 on fifth-generation 3.5 AT and not measured on all earlier cars.
Nissan Cima weight, ground clearance, tank and wheels
Kerb weight (where measured): 1560 kg (both first-generation 3.0 AT), 1660 kg (third-generation 3.0 AT), 1670 kg (fourth-generation 3.0 AT), 1820 kg (third-generation 4.1 AT), 1830 kg (second-generation 4.1 AT and fourth-generation RWD 4.5 AT), 1930 kg (fourth-generation AWD 4.5 AT). Fifth-generation 3.5 AT kerb: not measured. Gross weight: 1935 kg on third-generation 3.0 AT only; not measured on the other eight versions. Nissan Cima Y33 weight in this table is those three fourth-generation figures: 1670 / 1830 / 1930 kg. 1996 Nissan Cima weight is the third-generation pair: 1660 kg turbo six, 1820 kg V8.
Ground clearance: 130 mm (first-generation turbo 3.0 AT), 140 mm (fourth-generation RWD 4.5 AT), 145 mm (first-generation 200 hp 3.0 AT, fourth-generation AWD 4.5 AT, fifth-generation 3.5 AT), 150 mm (both 4.1 AT), 160 mm (third-generation 3.0 AT and fourth-generation 3.0 AT). The two tallest cars are the turbo sixes of generations 3 and 4.
Tank: 72 L on both first-generation 3.0 AT; 80 L on every second-, third- and fourth-generation version; not measured on fifth-generation 3.5 AT. Wheel sizes: not measured on every version.
Which Nissan Cima version to choose
Lightest and simplest six. First-generation 200 hp 3.0 AT: 1560 kg, 200 hp, 260 Nm, boost No, 72 L, 145 mm, 98 fuel, Sedan Hardtop. Lowest horsepower in the catalogue. Kg per hp is the worst of the two first-generation twins (7.8).
Lightest with real output. First-generation 255 hp 3.0 AT: same 1560 kg and 72 L, Turbo, 255 hp, 343 Nm, 130 mm clearance. Best kg per hp in the whole table among versions with a measured kerb (6.1). Same torque number as third-generation turbo 3.0 AT, but 100 kg lighter (1560 vs 1660) and 30 mm lower.
If you want a Nissan Cima V8 and a 1991–1996 car. Second-generation 4.1 AT is the only version in that generation: 270 hp, 370 Nm, 1830 kg, 80 L, 150 mm. No six-cylinder alternative in-period.
1996–2000: turbo six versus V8. Third-generation 3.0 AT vs 4.1 AT. The V8 is +15 hp, +33 Nm, +160 kg, −10 mm clearance. The turbo six is the only Cima with a measured gross weight (1935 kg) and shares 160 mm clearance with later turbo 3.0 AT. Specific output favours the 2960 cm³ Turbo. The V8 is the same 4130 cm³ family as generation 2, with 6 Nm more and 10 kg less.
2001 Nissan Cima specs — three ways to 280 hp. Fourth-generation 3.0 AT is the buy if you want 280 hp at 1670 kg, 387 Nm, Turbo, 5-speed Automatic, RWD, 160 mm. RWD 4.5 AT is the buy if the extra money is for a V-shaped 8, Direct injection (direct), 451 Nm (catalogue torque peak) and you accept 1830 kg and 140 mm. AWD 4.5 AT is the buy only if AWD is the point: you give up 49 Nm versus the other 4.5 AT, one gearbox ratio (4 vs 5), and 100 kg versus RWD V8 (1930 vs 1830). Nissan Cima vs Infiniti Q45 is not in this data; stay inside Cima numbers.
Current Hybrid. Fifth-generation 3.5 AT is the only Hybrid, the only 7-speed Automatic, the only Euro 5, and the only 306 hp. Torque 350 Nm is below every fourth-generation engine (387 / 402 / 451). Weight, tank, mpg and 0–100: not measured — you cannot score it on mass or economy from this catalogue.
Rule of thumb from the arithmetic. For kg per hp with a measured kerb: first-generation turbo 3.0 AT (6.1) then fourth-generation 3.0 AT (6.0 is 1670/280). For torque: fourth-generation RWD 4.5 AT at 451 Nm. For cylinders: 4.1 AT and 4.5 AT only. For AWD: one car. For Hybrid and 306 hp: one car. Prices and cars for sale are not in the data.