Nissan Expert

Nissan Expert: which version to buy and why

If you are choosing a Nissan Expert rather than reading a first-pass model overview, the data set is a single generation (June 1999–December 2006), one body (Estate 5-door), and 6 versions that split on three axes: Gasoline 1.8 versus Diesel 2.2, Automatic versus Manual, and FWD versus AWD. There is no second generation to “wait for,” and no restyling generation to treat as a separate car.

If you are choosing a Nissan Expert rather than reading a first-pass model overview, the data set is a single generation (June 1999–December 2006), one body (Estate 5-door), and 6 versions that split on three axes: Gasoline 1.8 versus Diesel 2.2, Automatic versus Manual, and FWD versus AWD. There is no second generation to “wait for,” and no restyling generation to treat as a separate car. The decision is arithmetic on those six rows.

Two names repeat. Distinguish them by drive, not by horsepower: both petrol cars are 1.8 AT at 125 hp, and both diesel automatics are 2.2 AT at 79 hp. The two diesel manuals are both 2.2 MT at 79 hp. In this catalogue the pairs are 1.8 AT FWD vs 1.8 AT AWD, 2.2 AT FWD vs 2.2 AT AWD, and 2.2 MT FWD vs 2.2 MT AWD.

Specs table: all 6 Nissan Expert versions

Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres): 1.8 AT (both drives) 70.7 hp/L (125 ÷ 1.769). All four 2.2 diesels 36.2 hp/L (79 ÷ 2.184). The petrol 1.8 makes 1.95× the specific output of the 2.2 diesel on the same 4-cylinder Inline, No-boost layout.

Gasoline 1.8 AT vs Diesel 2.2: what the extra 46 hp buys

Both 1.8 AT versions make 125 hp at 5600 rpm and 161 Nm at 4400 rpm. Every 2.2 AT and 2.2 MT makes 79 hp at 4000 rpm and 157 Nm at 2000 rpm. The petrol cars therefore have 46 hp more (125 − 79) and 4 Nm more (161 − 157), but the diesel peak torque arrives 2400 rpm earlier (4400 − 2000).

Displacement: the diesel is 415 cc larger (2184 − 1769). Compression is 9.5 on both 1.8 AT rows; compression on every 2.2 is not measured. Bore × stroke 80 × 88 is stated only for 1.8 AT; diesel diametr_i_hod is not measured. Valves per cylinder: 4 on 1.8 AT, 2 on every 2.2. Fuel: 95 on 1.8 AT, Diesel on 2.2. Multi-point distributed injection and front, transverse mounting are stated for both 1.8 AT versions; engine location and fuel system on all four 2.2 versions are not measured.

If the job is highway speed and overtaking, the measured performance exists only on 1.8 AT: 11 s 0–100 and 196 km/h top speed, on both FWD and AWD. For every 2.2 AT and 2.2 MT, 0–100 and top speed are not measured. You cannot rank diesel acceleration from this catalogue; you can only rank petrol against petrol, and those two 1.8 AT cars share the same 11 s and 196 km/h.

Fuel consumption (city, highway, combined) is not measured on all six versions. CO2 and eco class are not measured on all six. “Which version is cheaper to run per kilometre” is not a number this data set can answer.

Weight per horsepower and what AWD adds

Kerb weight is measured on four of six versions:

• 1.8 AT FWD: 1210 kg → 9.68 kg/hp (1210 ÷ 125)
• 1.8 AT AWD: 1310 kg → 10.48 kg/hp (1310 ÷ 125)
• 2.2 MT FWD: 1300 kg → 16.46 kg/hp (1300 ÷ 79)
• 2.2 MT AWD: 1300 kg → 16.46 kg/hp (1300 ÷ 79)

2.2 AT FWD kerb weight: not measured. 2.2 AT AWD kerb weight: not measured.

AWD on petrol costs 100 kg of kerb mass (1310 − 1210) for the same 125 hp, 161 Nm, 4-speed Automatic, 11 s, and 196 km/h. That is +8.3% mass and +0.80 kg/hp. Ground clearance also drops 10 mm (160 mm on 1.8 AT FWD vs 150 mm on 1.8 AT AWD). If you buy 1.8 AT AWD, the extra hardware is not buying a different engine or a different 0–100 figure in this table; it is buying AWD at 100 kg and 10 mm less clearance.

On the diesel manuals, 2.2 MT FWD and 2.2 MT AWD share the same 1300 kg kerb weight, the same 160 mm clearance, the same 79 hp, and the same 5-speed Manual. In this data set AWD on 2.2 MT does not show a kerb or clearance penalty. Gross weight is 1875 kg on all four diesels and 1900 kg on both petrol 1.8 AT cars: petrol is 25 kg heavier at the plated maximum (1900 − 1875). Payload from measured kerb: 1.8 AT FWD 690 kg (1900 − 1210); 1.8 AT AWD 590 kg (1900 − 1310); 2.2 MT (both drives) 575 kg (1875 − 1300). 2.2 AT payload from kerb is not measured because kerb is not measured.

Automatic vs Manual: only the Diesel 2.2 has a choice

There is no 1.8 MT in the data. If you want the 125 hp Gasoline engine, you take Automatic with 4 gears, FWD or AWD.

On Diesel, you choose:

• 2.2 AT FWD — Automatic, 4 gears
• 2.2 AT AWD — Automatic, 4 gears
• 2.2 MT FWD — Manual, 5 gears
• 2.2 MT AWD — Manual, 5 gears

The Manual adds 1 extra ratio (5 − 4). Peak torque is still 157 Nm at 2000 rpm on all four diesels; the gearbox does not change the engine row. Kerb weight is measured only on the two 2.2 MT cars (1300 kg each). You cannot compute kg/hp for either 2.2 AT.

Rear suspension differs by fuel, not by gearbox: both 1.8 AT cars use Semi-independent, spring; all four 2.2 cars use Semi-independent, torsion. Front suspension is Independent, spring on all six. Brakes are Ventilated disc front and Drum rear on all six. Tank is 60 L on all six. Wheel size is not measured on all six.

Generations: there is only one, so “which generation” is not the fork

1 generation, June 1999–December 2006, Estate 5-door, 6 versions. There is no later generation in this data to compare power, weight, or clearance against. Every version listed shares the same start and stop dates. Choosing a year inside that window does not, on these numbers, unlock a different engine or a restyle generation. The fork is version, not generation.

Which version to choose

Choose 1.8 AT FWD if the numbers that matter are power, measured acceleration, kerb, clearance, and payload. It is the lightest car in the table (1210 kg), the best kg/hp (9.68), 160 mm clearance, 690 kg payload, 125 hp, 11 s, 196 km/h. Fuel use is not measured.

Choose 1.8 AT AWD if you need AWD and still want 125 hp and the only measured 0–100 / top speed. You pay 100 kg and 10 mm of clearance versus 1.8 AT FWD; 0–100 stays 11 s and top speed stays 196 km/h. Payload falls to 590 kg. Same Gasoline, same 4-speed Automatic.

Choose 2.2 MT FWD or 2.2 MT AWD if you want Diesel, Manual, 5 gears, and a measured kerb (1300 kg). Specific output is 36.2 hp/L versus 70.7 on 1.8 AT. Torque is 4 Nm below the petrol peak but at 2000 rpm instead of 4400. 0–100 and top speed: not measured. AWD versus FWD on 2.2 MT does not change kerb or clearance in this data (1300 kg, 160 mm both).

Choose 2.2 AT FWD or 2.2 AT AWD only if you need Diesel and Automatic. Engine figures match the 2.2 MT cars (79 hp, 157 Nm, 2184 cc, No boost). Kerb weight: not measured. 0–100: not measured. Top speed: not measured. Clearance 160 mm, tank 60 L, gross 1875 kg. You cannot compute kg/hp or payload from kerb on these two rows.

Do not choose on mpg or CO2: city, highway, combined, and CO2 are not measured for every version.

Do not choose on wheels: wheel size is not measured for every version.

Do not choose a later generation: this catalogue has 1 generation and 6 versions inside it.

Short ranking by measured power-to-weight among versions with kerb: 1.8 AT FWD (9.68 kg/hp), then 1.8 AT AWD (10.48 kg/hp), then both 2.2 MT (16.46 kg/hp). The two 2.2 AT cars cannot enter that ranking because kerb is not measured.