Nissan Skyline Crossover Review: Generations, Specs, and Which One to Buy
Overview of the Nissan Skyline Crossover (2009–2016): one generation, 330 hp, automatic transmission, RWD or 4x4, and which version to pick on the used market.
The Nissan Skyline Crossover is a five-door SUV produced from 2009 to 2016 with a single power output of 330 hp across the range. It pairs a large 3.7-liter engine with an automatic transmission and a choice of rear-wheel drive or 4x4, which places it among performance-oriented crossovers rather than utilitarian family SUVs. It suits drivers who want SUV seating and practicality without giving up strong acceleration and a powerful six-cylinder engine.
Nissan Skyline Crossover generations
1 generation (2009–2016)
The first and only generation of the Nissan Skyline Crossover was built from 2009 to 2016 exclusively as a five-door SUV. The lineup is unusually simple: just 2 modifications, both producing 330 hp, both fitted with an automatic transmission. The difference between them comes down to the drivetrain — buyers could choose rear-wheel drive (RWD) or 4x4. The core version is the 3.7 AT with a 3696 cc engine, offered throughout the entire 2009–2016 production run. Because the model was never redesigned and never received alternative engines or gearboxes, every Nissan Skyline Crossover on the market shares the same mechanical formula: 3.7 liters, 330 hp, automatic.
Which Nissan Skyline Crossover to buy
- 3.7 AT (330 hp) (1 generation): the mass-market version of the lineup, with a 3696 cc engine and 330 hp, available with either 4x4 or RWD across the full 2009–2016 run.
On the used market, the choice is straightforward: with only one generation and two modifications differing solely in drivetrain, there is no risk of picking a weak engine or an unwanted gearbox. Later cars from the 2009–2016 window are simply newer examples of the same specification, so condition and drivetrain preference (4x4 versus RWD) are the only real decisions.
Which Nissan Skyline Crossover to avoid
There is no version to avoid on the numbers: both modifications deliver the same 330 hp with the same automatic transmission, and neither is dominated by the other. The 4x4 and RWD variants of the 3.7 AT differ only in drive layout, so the choice depends on whether all-wheel traction matters to you, not on any spec disadvantage.