Nissan Laurel

Nissan Laurel: generations: what actually changed for a buyer

Same catalogue names; distinguish duplicates by hp, drive, boost, layout.

1 generation (1968-10-01–1972-12-31, Coupe) and 2 generation (1972-01-01–1976-12-31, Coupe) are the same buying problem: 2.0 MT 110 hp / 162 Nm / 1990 cm³ Inline 4 Carburetor, Manual 4, RWD, and 2.0 AT 110 hp, Automatic 3. Compression 8.3, bore × stroke 89 × 80, engine Front, longitudinal. Ground clearance, tank, kerb weight, 0–100 and top speed are not measured. The MT vs AT choice is the only split: same 55 hp/l. 2 generation 2.0 AT lists 162 Nm at 3200 rpm; 1 generation 2.0 AT torque is not measured.

3 generation (1977-01-01–1980-12-31) stays Coupe, 170 mm clearance. 2.0 MT / 2.0 AT 97 hp, 2000 cm³ Inline 4 Carburetor (AT is Automatic 3). 2.4 MT / 2.4 AT 113 hp, 2400 cm³ Inline 6 Carburetor. Versus 2 generation 2.0 MT 110 hp, the 3 generation 2.0 pair is 13 hp down (−12%). The 2.4 pair adds 16 hp over that 97 hp 2.0. Torque, weight, tank, 0–100, top speed, fuel grade: not measured.

4 generation (1980-11-01–1984-10-01) is the first Sedan. Clearance 165 mm. 2.0 MT / 2.0 AT 97 hp, 2000 cm³ Inline 4 (MT: Carburetor; AT feed not measured). 2.4 MT / 2.4 AT appear twice: 113 hp and 120 hp, 2400 cm³ Inline 6 Carburetor. The 120 hp 2.4 is +7 hp (+6%) over 113 hp on the same displacement — 50.0 vs 47.1 hp/l. Diesel arrives: 2.8 MT and 2.8 AT 84 hp, 2825 cm³ Inline 6, compression 22, 85 × 83. That 84 hp diesel is 13 hp below the 97 hp gasoline 2.0 and 36 hp below the 120 hp 2.4. The 2.8 AT is the only Automatic 3 diesel in the whole model; later diesels use 4-speed Automatic. Weight, tank, 0–100, top speed, fuel (gasoline): not measured.

5 generation (1984-10-01–1988-12-31, Sedan) is where a buyer first sees a 1.8 AT 90 hp / 149 Nm / 1809 cm³ Inline 4 Carburetor, Automatic 5, fuel 92, 83 × 83.6, 165 mm clearance — 49.8 hp/l. Gasoline sixes: 2.0 MT / 2.0 AT 115 hp / 167 Nm / 1998 cm³ Inline 6, Distributed injection (multi-point), compression 9.5, 78 × 69.7, Front, longitudinal, fuel 92, 150 mm clearance, kerb 1240 kg (MT) and 1260 kg (AT). Versus 4 generation 2.0 97 hp, that is +18 hp (+19%) and 57.6 hp/l. 2.4 MT / 2.4 AT 128 hp, 2400 cm³ — +8 hp over 4 generation’s 120 hp 2.4. Diesels split 84 hp and 90 hp on 2.8 MT / 2.8 AT (compression 22): the 90 hp diesel matches the 1.8 AT gasoline on power and is +6 hp over the 84 hp diesel, still 38 hp below the 128 hp 2.4. Kerb, tank, torque (2.4 and diesel), 0–100, top speed: not measured except the two 2.0 kerb figures.

6 generation (1989-01-01–1992-12-31, Sedan) is the first generation with a measured sprint and the first turbo. Lightest Laurel in the file: 1.8 AT 90 hp / 142 Nm / 1809 cm³, 1180 kg, 150 mm, tank 65 l, 13.1 kg/hp, 49.8 hp/l. 2.0 MT 125 hp / 171 Nm, 1280 kg, Manual 5; 2.0 AT 125 hp, 1300 kg, Automatic 4 — AT costs 20 kg. Then three stronger 2.0s: 2.0 AT 150 hp / 183 Nm, Automatic 5, 1400 kg, 145 mm, gross 1675 kg; 2.0 MT 155 hp / 184 Nm, 1340 kg; 2.0 AT 155 hp / 184 Nm, 1360 kg. The 155 hp pair is +5 hp over 150 hp and +30 hp over 125 hp on 1998 cm³ (77.6 vs 75.1 vs 62.6 hp/l). Turbo 2.0 AT 205 hp / 264 Nm at 3200 rpm, compression 8.5, 1390 kg, 7.8 s, 225 km/h, rear Disc ventilated — 102.6 hp/l, 6.8 kg/hp. Naturally aspirated 2.5 AT 200 hp / 230 Nm, 1420 kg, 145 mm, gross 1695 kg, engine position not measured. Turbo 2.5 AT 235 hp / 275 Nm / 2495 cm³, Front, transverse, Automatic 5, clearance 145 mm, gross 1695 kg, kerb not measured. Diesels: 2.8 MT / 2.8 AT 94 hp / 176 Nm, compression 21.2, 1310 / 1330 kg, 160 mm, rear Drum — +10 hp over 5 generation 84 hp diesel, +4 hp over 5 generation 90 hp diesel.

7 generation (1993-01-01–1997-05-31, Sedan) drops the 1.8 and the 205 hp 2.0 turbo. 2.0 AT 125 hp / 171 Nm, 1330 kg (+30 kg vs 6 generation 2.0 AT 125 hp). 2.0 AT 150 hp / 182 Nm, Automatic 5, 1400 kg. 2.5 AT 190 hp / 230 Nm, Automatic 5, 1440 kg, 145 mm. 2.5 AT 190 hp / 231 Nm, Automatic 4, AWD, 1490 kg, 150 mm, fuel 98 — +50 kg and +5 mm vs the RWD 190. 2.5 AT 200 hp / 230 Nm, 1420 kg, 155 mm, gross 1695 kg, engine position not measured. Turbo 2.5 AT 235 hp / 275 Nm / 2495 cm³, Front, transverse, Automatic 5, 155 mm, gross 1695 kg, kerb not measured. Diesels: 2.8 AT 100 hp and 2.8 MT 100 hp / 178 Nm, compression 22.4, 1430 / 1410 kg, 145 mm. 0–100 and top speed: not measured for the whole generation.

8 generation (1997-06-01–2002-12-31, Sedan) is the only generation where every version has 0–100 and top speed. Fuel is 95 on gasoline, Diesel on 2.8 AT. Tank 65 l, clearance 145 mm, independent spring suspension, ventilated discs all around (rear label Disc ventilated). Manual gearboxes disappear.

Engines and specs

Same catalogue names; distinguish duplicates by hp, drive, boost, layout.

Feed on gasoline sixes from 5 generation 2.0 onward is Distributed injection (multi-point) unless listed as Carburetor. Diesel feed is not measured. 8 generation 2.5 AT 200 AWD is the only Laurel with engine Front, transverse and AWD; 6 and 7 generation 2.5 AT 235 are Front, transverse but RWD.

Performance and economy

Measured 0–100 / top speed exist only on 6 generation 2.0 AT 205 hp (7.8 s / 225 km/h) and all six 8 generation versions:

• 2.8 AT 101 hp: 15.4 s / 172 km/h
• 2.0 AT 155 hp: 10.7 s / 198 km/h — 4.7 s quicker, +26 km/h, −54 hp wait: actually +54 hp vs diesel
• 2.5 AT 200 AWD: 8.7 s / 226 km/h
• 2.5 AT 200 RWD: 8.5 s / 223 km/h — 0.2 s quicker than AWD, 3 km/h lower Vmax, 110 kg lighter (1420 vs 1530)
• 2.5 AT 235 Turbo: 7.5 s / 236 km/h — 1.0 s quicker than 200 RWD, +13 km/h, +35 hp, +30 kg
• 2.5 AT 280 Turbo: 6.4 s / 253 km/h — 1.1 s quicker than 235, +17 km/h, +45 hp, +10 kg; 2.1 s quicker than 200 RWD; 1.4 s quicker than 6 generation 205 hp turbo despite +70 kg (1460 vs 1390)

Specific output on 8 generation 2498 cm³: 200 hp = 80.1 hp/l, 235 = 94.1 hp/l, 280 = 112.1 hp/l. Diesel 101 hp / 2825 cm³ = 35.8 hp/l. 6 generation 205 hp / 1998 cm³ = 102.6 hp/l — denser than 8 generation 235 Turbo, less dense than 280 Turbo.

Fuel use (city / highway / mixed): not measured on all 50 versions. Economy cannot be used as a buying filter in this catalogue.

Dimensions and weight

Ground clearance by generation: 1–2 not measured; 3 170 mm; 4 165 mm; 5 165 mm (1.8 and 2.4/diesel) or 150 mm (2.0); 6 150 / 145 / 160 mm (diesel 160); 7 145 / 150 / 155 mm; 8 145 mm on every version. The lowest catalogue cars are 8 generation and several 6–7 cars at 145 mm; the highest measured are 3 generation at 170 mm.

Tank 65 l from 6 generation onward; not measured on 1–5 generation.

Kerb (kg) where measured: 6 generation 1.8 AT 1180 is the floor. 5 generation 2.0 MT 1240. 8 generation cluster: 1400 (2.0), 1420 (2.5 200 RWD), 1450 (235), 1460 (280), 1430 (diesel), 1530 (2.5 200 AWD — heaviest Laurel in the file). 7 generation AWD 1490. Gross 1675 kg (6 generation 2.0 AT 150 hp) and 1695 kg (6/7 generation 2.5 AT 200 and 235). All other gross weights not measured. Wheels not measured.

kg/hp (kerb where known): 8 generation 280 Turbo 5.2; 8 generation 235 6.2; 6 generation 205 Turbo 6.8; 8 generation 200 RWD 7.1; 8 generation 200 AWD 7.7; 7 generation 190 RWD 7.6; 8 generation 2.0 9.0; 6 generation 1.8 13.1; 8 generation diesel 14.2.

Which version to choose

Daily 8 generation sedan, one number to remember: 2.5 AT 200 hp RWD. It is 2.2 s quicker than 2.0 AT 155 hp, +45 hp, +20 kg, same 65 l tank, same 145 mm, same Automatic 4. AWD 2.5 AT 200 hp costs 110 kg and 0.2 s for AWD and a Front, transverse layout; Vmax is 3 km/h higher (226 vs 223). Buy AWD only for the drive type; the RWD 200 is the better kg/hp car.

If you want the fastest Laurel in the file: 8 generation 2.5 AT 280 hp Turbo. Versus 200 RWD: +80 hp, +78 Nm (333 vs 255), torque peak 3200 vs 4000 rpm, +40 kg, −2.1 s, +30 km/h. Versus 235 Turbo: +45 hp, +59 Nm, +10 kg, −1.1 s, +17 km/h. Compression is 9.0 on both turbos vs 10.0 on the 200 hp NA 2.5.

If you want turbo without the 280 step: 8 generation 2.5 AT 235 hp is 7.5 s / 236 km/h. 6 generation 2.0 AT 205 hp is 7.8 s / 225 km/h on 1998 cm³ and 1390 kg — 0.3 s slower, 11 km/h slower, 60 kg lighter, 70 hp less than the 280. 6/7 generation 2.5 AT 235 hp match 235 hp / 275 Nm but 0–100 and kerb are not measured; they use Automatic 5 and Front, transverse.

If you want a six without 2.5 litres: 8 generation 2.0 AT 155 hp (10.7 s / 198 km/h, 1400 kg) or 6 generation 2.0 MT 155 hp (1340 kg, Manual 5) / 2.0 AT 155 hp (1360 kg). 7 generation 2.0 AT 150 hp is 5 hp down and 0–100 not measured. 7/6 generation 2.0 AT 125 hp is 30 hp down from 155; 6 generation AT 125 is 1300 kg vs 1400 kg for 150 hp — 100 kg for +25 hp.

If you want the lightest car: 6 generation 1.8 AT 90 hp, 1180 kg, Inline 4. 5 generation 1.8 AT is the same 90 hp with 149 Nm vs 142 Nm, kerb not measured, Automatic 5 vs 4, 165 vs 150 mm.

Diesel: do not buy it for speed. 8 generation 2.8 AT 101 hp is 15.4 s / 172 km/h. 7 generation 2.8 MT saves 20 kg vs 2.8 AT (1410 vs 1430) at the same 100 hp; 6 generation diesels are 94 hp and 1310 / 1330 kg with 160 mm clearance. 4–5 generation diesels are 84 or 90 hp, weight not measured. Compression 21.2–22.4 vs ~9–10 on gasoline.

AWD only twice: 8 generation 2.5 AT 200 hp (1530 kg, 8.7 s, fuel 95) and 7 generation 2.5 AT 190 hp (1490 kg, 0–100 not measured, fuel 98). The 8 generation AWD is +10 hp and +40 kg versus 7 generation AWD.

Manual: last gasoline manuals are 6 generation 2.0 MT 125 and 155 hp. Last diesel manual is 7 generation 2.8 MT. 8 generation is Automatic-only.

Coupe vs Sedan: 1–3 generation are Coupe; 4–8 are Sedan. Early 2.0 MT 110 hp (1–2) vs 3 generation 2.0 97 hp is −13 hp. There is no 2.5, no turbo, no diesel, and no measured 0–100 in the coupe years.

Reliability / problems: this file has no failure rates. What it does show is mechanical spread: Carburetor (1–5 generation 1.8/2.0/2.4) versus Distributed injection (multi-point); Turbo only on 6 generation 2.0 AT 205 and the 235/280 2.5 AT cars; drum rear brakes on 6 generation diesel and 5 generation 2.0; Automatic 3 on early AT and 4 generation diesel AT.

Bottom line in one line: buy 8 generation 2.5 AT 200 hp RWD for the measured 8.5 s / 223 km/h at 7.1 kg/hp; step to 2.5 AT 280 hp if you want 6.4 s; take 2.5 AT 200 hp AWD only for AWD; skip 2.8 AT Diesel if the sprint number matters.