Nissan Lafesta

Nissan Lafesta: which version to buy

If you are choosing a Nissan Lafesta rather than reading a history of the name, the split is simple. First generation (December 2004–December 2012) is a Minivan with two 2.0 CVT petrol versions, Regular 92 fuel, a 50 L tank, Variable gearbox, and drum rear brakes.

If you are choosing a Nissan Lafesta rather than reading a history of the name, the split is simple. First generation (December 2004–December 2012) is a Minivan with two 2.0 CVT petrol versions, Regular 92 fuel, a 50 L tank, Variable gearbox, and drum rear brakes. Second generation (June 2011–March 2018) is a Compact Van with three 2.0 AT petrol versions, Regular 95 fuel, a 55 L tank, Automatic gearboxes of 4, 5 or 6 speeds, and rear Disc brakes. Peak output in the catalogue is 151 hp on the second-generation FWD 2.0 AT; the lightest kerb weight is 1440 kg on the first-generation FWD 2.0 CVT. Acceleration to 100 km/h, top speed, fuel consumption, CO2, eco class, wheel size, and tyre size are not measured for every version listed here — those fields cannot decide the purchase.

Nissan Lafesta generations: what actually changed for a buyer

First generation (1 generation, key 4008) ran from 2004-12-01 to 2012-12-31 as a Minivan with 2 modifications. Both are named 2.0 CVT. The FWD car is 137 hp (101 kW) at 5200 rpm and 200 Nm at 4400 rpm; the AWD car is 129 hp (95 kW) at 5200 rpm and 187 Nm at 4000 rpm. Displacement is 1997 cc on both, Gasoline, 4 cylinders, Inline, 4 valves per cylinder, boost No, engine Front, transverse, Distributed injection (multi-point), compression 10, bore × stroke 84 × 90.1. Fuel is Regular 92. Gearbox is Variable; number of gears is not measured. Tank 50 L. Rear brakes Drum. Gross weight is not measured on both first-generation versions.

Second generation (2 generation, key 4007) ran from 2011-06-01 to 2018-03-31 as a Compact Van with 3 modifications, all named 2.0 AT. You must pick them by horsepower, not by the badge. The FWD 151 hp (111 kW) at 6000 rpm makes 190 Nm at 4100 rpm from 1997 cc with Direct injection (direct) and a 6-speed Automatic. The FWD 150 hp (110 kW) at 6200 rpm makes 186 Nm at 4500 rpm from 1998 cc with Direct injection (direct), compression 10, bore × stroke 87.5 × 83.1, and a 5-speed Automatic. The AWD 139 hp (102 kW) at 6500 rpm makes 175 Nm at 4000 rpm from 1998 cc with Distributed injection (multi-point), compression 10, the same 87.5 × 83.1 stroke pair, and a 4-speed Automatic. All three: Gasoline, 4 cylinders, Inline, 4 valves per cylinder, boost No, Front, transverse, Regular 95, tank 55 L, independent spring suspension front and rear, ventilated disc front, Disc rear.

The generations overlap in calendar years 2011–2012. A 2011 or 2012 Nissan Lafesta can be either a first-generation Minivan 2.0 CVT or a second-generation Compact Van 2.0 AT. Year alone is not a spec. A 2005 car can only be first generation. A 2013 or 2015 car can only be second generation.

What the second generation buys, in numbers that exist in the data: +5 L tank (55 vs 50), Regular 95 instead of Regular 92, Automatic instead of Variable, rear Disc instead of Drum, and on FWD cars Direct injection (direct) instead of Distributed injection (multi-point). Peak power rises from 137 hp (first-generation FWD 2.0 CVT) to 151 hp (second-generation FWD 2.0 AT) — +14 hp. Peak torque on FWD actually falls from 200 Nm (first generation) to 190 Nm or 186 Nm (second generation). AWD peak power rises from 129 hp to 139 hp (+10 hp), but AWD torque falls from 187 Nm to 175 Nm (−12 Nm).

Nissan Lafesta engine specs by version (exact catalogue names)

Correction for the last row: first-generation 2.0 CVT 129 hp is AWD, not FWD.

Engine capacity is 1997 cc or 1998 cc on every listed Lafesta — a 2.0-litre four, not a family of displacements. Engine type in this catalogue is Gasoline, Inline, 4 cylinders, 4 valves per cylinder, boost No, Front, transverse on all five versions. Horsepower range is 129–151. Compression ratio is 10 where measured (first-generation both 2.0 CVT, second-generation 2.0 AT 150 hp and 2.0 AT 139 hp); compression is not measured on second-generation 2.0 AT 151 hp. Bore × stroke is 84 × 90.1 on both first-generation 2.0 CVT versions and 87.5 × 83.1 on second-generation 2.0 AT 150 hp and 2.0 AT 139 hp; bore × stroke is not measured on 2.0 AT 151 hp.

Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres):

• 2.0 AT 151 hp: 151 ÷ 1.997 ≈ 75.6 hp/L
• 2.0 AT 150 hp: 150 ÷ 1.998 ≈ 75.1 hp/L
• 2.0 AT 139 hp: 139 ÷ 1.998 ≈ 69.6 hp/L
• 2.0 CVT 137 hp: 137 ÷ 1.997 ≈ 68.6 hp/L
• 2.0 CVT 129 hp: 129 ÷ 1.997 ≈ 64.6 hp/L

The two FWD second-generation 2.0 AT cars sit about 7 hp/L above the AWD 2.0 AT 139 hp, and about 7–11 hp/L above first generation. Peak torque per litre is highest on first-generation FWD 2.0 CVT 137 hp: 200 ÷ 1.997 ≈ 100.2 Nm/L, versus 190 ÷ 1.997 ≈ 95.1 Nm/L on 2.0 AT 151 hp and 175 ÷ 1.998 ≈ 87.6 Nm/L on AWD 2.0 AT 139 hp.

Cambelt versus chain, engine oil type, engine number, engine mount, and engine timing are not in this dataset — not measured. Fuel consumption, mpg, and economy figures are not measured on all five versions, so “Nissan Lafesta fuel consumption” cannot be answered with a number from these specs.

Performance and economy: what is not measured

0–100 km/h is not measured for 2.0 AT 151 hp, 2.0 AT 150 hp, 2.0 AT 139 hp, 2.0 CVT 137 hp, and 2.0 CVT 129 hp.

Top speed is not measured for the same five versions.

City, highway, and combined fuel consumption are not measured for the same five versions. CO2 is not measured. Eco class is not measured.

You cannot rank these cars on sprint, top speed, or economy from this catalogue. The ranking that is available is mass versus power (next section) plus gearbox step count and drive.

Peak power arrives later on second generation: 6000–6500 rpm on the three 2.0 AT cars versus 5200 rpm on both 2.0 CVT cars. Peak torque rpm is 4100 on 2.0 AT 151 hp, 4500 on 2.0 AT 150 hp, 4000 on 2.0 AT 139 hp and 2.0 CVT 129 hp, 4400 on 2.0 CVT 137 hp.

Nissan Lafesta weight, ground clearance, tank, wheels

Wheel / tyre size is not measured on any version.

Second-generation payload is identical at 385 kg on all three 2.0 AT versions; AWD does not buy extra payload in these figures — it buys 90 kg more kerb than 2.0 AT 151 hp (1590 vs 1500) and 120 kg more than 2.0 AT 150 hp (1590 vs 1470), and 90 kg more gross than 2.0 AT 151 hp (1975 vs 1885).

Lightest Lafesta in the set: first-generation 2.0 CVT 137 hp FWD at 1440 kg. Heaviest: second-generation 2.0 AT 139 hp AWD at 1590 kg kerb / 1975 kg gross. Best kg/hp: 2.0 AT 150 hp at 9.80 kg/hp, then 2.0 AT 151 hp at 9.93, then 2.0 CVT 137 hp at 10.51, then AWD 2.0 AT 139 hp at 11.44, then AWD 2.0 CVT 129 hp at 11.63.

Ground clearance: first-generation FWD 2.0 CVT 137 hp is the tallest at 150 mm. First-generation AWD 2.0 CVT 129 hp is 135 mm — AWD here is 15 mm lower than the FWD sibling, not higher. Second-generation AWD 2.0 AT 139 hp is 140 mm versus 135 mm on both FWD 2.0 AT cars (+5 mm).

Tank: second generation holds 5 L more (55 vs 50). Range cannot be computed because consumption is not measured.

Which Nissan Lafesta version to choose

If you want the strongest FWD second-generation car: 2.0 AT 151 hp. It is the catalogue peak at 151 hp and 190 Nm, 6-speed Automatic, FWD, Direct injection (direct), 1997 cc, kerb 1500 kg, gross 1885 kg, clearance 135 mm, tank 55 L. Versus the other FWD 2.0 AT 150 hp it is +1 hp, +4 Nm, +1 gearbox speed (6 vs 5), +30 kg kerb (1500 vs 1470), same 385 kg payload, same 135 mm clearance, same 55 L tank. Specific output is almost identical (75.6 vs 75.1 hp/L). The 151 hp car is the one with compression and bore × stroke not measured; the 150 hp car lists compression 10 and 87.5 × 83.1.

If you want the lightest second-generation FWD car: 2.0 AT 150 hp. Kerb 1470 kg is the lowest second-generation figure, 9.80 kg/hp is the best mass-to-power in the whole Lafesta set, 5-speed Automatic, FWD, 150 hp / 186 Nm, Direct injection (direct), 1998 cc. Versus 2.0 AT 151 hp you give up 1 hp, 4 Nm, and one Automatic ratio; you gain 30 kg less kerb and listed compression / bore × stroke.

If you need AWD in the Compact Van years (2011–2018): only 2.0 AT 139 hp. It is the sole AWD second-generation version. Cost in the numbers: −12 hp versus 2.0 AT 151 hp (139 vs 151), −15 Nm (175 vs 190), 4-speed Automatic instead of 6, Distributed injection (multi-point) instead of Direct injection (direct), +90 kg kerb, +90 kg gross, +5 mm clearance (140 vs 135). Payload stays 385 kg. Versus first-generation AWD 2.0 CVT 129 hp: +10 hp (139 vs 129), −12 Nm (175 vs 187), Automatic 4 instead of Variable, Regular 95 instead of Regular 92, +5 L tank, rear Disc instead of Drum, +90 kg kerb (1590 vs 1500), clearance 140 vs 135 mm.

If you want first-generation Minivan FWD: 2.0 CVT 137 hp. Highest torque in the entire set at 200 Nm, lightest kerb at 1440 kg, highest clearance at 150 mm, Regular 92, Variable gearbox, Distributed injection (multi-point), 1997 cc, 84 × 90.1, compression 10, tank 50 L, rear Drum. Versus second-generation FWD 2.0 AT 151 hp: −14 hp, +10 Nm, −60 kg kerb, +15 mm clearance, −5 L tank, Variable instead of 6-speed Automatic, Regular 92 instead of Regular 95, Drum instead of Disc. Gross weight is not measured, so payload versus the 385 kg second-generation figure cannot be compared.

If you want first-generation AWD: only 2.0 CVT 129 hp. Lowest power in the set (129 hp / 95 kW), 187 Nm, AWD, Variable, Regular 92, kerb 1500 kg, clearance 135 mm (same as second-generation FWD, 15 mm below first-generation FWD). Versus the FWD 2.0 CVT 137 hp sibling: −8 hp, −13 Nm, +60 kg (1500 vs 1440), −15 mm clearance (135 vs 150), same 50 L tank, same Drum rear brakes. Worst kg/hp in the set at ≈11.63.

2011 / 2012 / 2013 / 2015 shopping years. A 2011 or 2012 car is either generation: confirm Minivan + 2.0 CVT versus Compact Van + 2.0 AT, then confirm hp (137 vs 129 on CVT; 151 vs 150 vs 139 on AT). A 2013 or 2015 Nissan Lafesta is second generation only — choose among the three 2.0 AT cars by 151 / 150 / 139 hp. A 2005 Nissan Lafesta is first generation only — 2.0 CVT 137 hp FWD or 2.0 CVT 129 hp AWD.

Versus other names people search (Serena, Wish, Isis, Premacy). This dataset has no Serena, Wish, Isis, or Premacy figures. Those comparisons are not measured here. What can be said inside Lafesta: FWD always pairs with the higher power in its generation (137 vs 129; 151 or 150 vs 139); AWD always pairs with the heavier kerb in its generation; second generation never lists a CVT; first generation never lists an Automatic.

Problems, reliability, Highway Star, 7-seater, Kenya price. Seat count, trim names such as Highway Star, prices, engine oil spec, and problem lists are not in this data — not measured. The mechanical fork that is in the data is: generation (Minivan 2.0 CVT vs Compact Van 2.0 AT), drive (FWD vs AWD), and among second-generation FWD the 151 hp 6-speed versus the 150 hp 5-speed.

Short buy rule using only these numbers. Want maximum listed hp and most Automatic speeds: second-generation 2.0 AT 151 hp FWD. Want best kg/hp and lowest second-generation kerb: 2.0 AT 150 hp FWD. Want AWD after mid-2011: 2.0 AT 139 hp. Want maximum listed torque, lowest kerb, and 150 mm clearance: first-generation 2.0 CVT 137 hp FWD. Want first-generation AWD: 2.0 CVT 129 hp. Do not use 0–100, top speed, fuel consumption, tyre size, or price to break the tie — those values are not measured in this catalogue.