Nissan Stagea

Nissan Stagea

What the generation change buys in numbers: Inline 6 becomes V-shaped 6; peak Automatic gears rise from 4 to 5; a 6-speed Manual appears; the 2.0-litre cars disappear; a 2987 cc 3.0 AT and 3498 cc 3.5 AT / 3.5 MT appear; Turbo peak torque rises from 333 Nm (1 generation 2.5 AT / 2.5 MT 280 hp) or 353 Nm (1 generation 2.6 MT) to 407 Nm (2 generation 2.5 AT 280 hp).

1 generation (September 1996 – September 30, 2001) is an Estate 5-door with 11 versions. Every listed modification in the data runs August 1, 1998 – September 30, 2001. Engines are Gasoline 6 Inline; layouts include Front, longitudinal and Front, transverse where measured. Automatic versions use 4 gears; Manual versions use 5. Displacement spans 1998–2568 cc. Power spans 130–280 hp. Kerb weight, where measured, spans 1430–1720 kg. Ground clearance is 145 mm or 155 mm. Fuel is 92, 95, or 98. Boost is No on the lower outputs and Turbo on the 235 hp and 280 hp cars.

2 generation (October 1, 2001 – June 30, 2007) is also an Estate 5-door, with 7 versions. Every listed modification runs August 1, 2004 – June 30, 2007. Engines are Gasoline 6 V-shaped. Automatic is 4 or 5 gears; one Manual is 6 gears. Displacement spans 2495–3498 cc. Power spans 215–280 hp. Kerb weight spans 1550–1680 kg. Ground clearance is 135 mm, 140 mm, or 150 mm. Fuel is 95 on all seven. Boost is No except the 280 hp 2.5 AT Turbo.

What the generation change buys in numbers: Inline 6 becomes V-shaped 6; peak Automatic gears rise from 4 to 5; a 6-speed Manual appears; the 2.0-litre cars disappear; a 2987 cc 3.0 AT and 3498 cc 3.5 AT / 3.5 MT appear; Turbo peak torque rises from 333 Nm (1 generation 2.5 AT / 2.5 MT 280 hp) or 353 Nm (1 generation 2.6 MT) to 407 Nm (2 generation 2.5 AT 280 hp). The 1 generation Turbo 2.5 AT 280 hp RWD at 1540 kg is 140 kg lighter than the 2 generation Turbo 2.5 AT 280 hp AWD at 1680 kg. The 1 generation 2.6 MT at 1720 kg is the heaviest measured Stagea in the data.

Engines and specs

Version names below are exactly as in the catalogue. Same names are split by power, drive, gears, and boost.

Power per litre (hp / litres): 2.0 AT 130 hp = 65.1; 2.0 AT 155 hp = 77.6; 2.5 AT 190 hp = 76.1; 2.5 AT 200 hp = 80.1; 2.5 AT 235 hp Turbo = 94.1; 1 generation 280 hp on 2498 cc = 112.1; 2.6 MT = 109.0; 2 generation 2.5 AT 215 hp = 86.2; 2.5 AT 280 hp Turbo = 112.2; 3.0 AT = 87.0; 3.5 AT 272 hp = 77.8; 3.5 MT = 80.0. The 3498 cc cars make more torque than the 215 hp 2495 cc cars (353–363 Nm vs 270 Nm) but less power per litre.

Compression: 11 on 2 generation 2.5 AT 215 hp and 3.0 AT; 10 on 3.5 AT / 3.5 MT; 8.5 on 2 generation Turbo 2.5 AT. 1 generation NA cars sit at 9.5 or 10; Turbo cars at 9. Injection on every version is Distributed injection (multi-point). Valves per cylinder: 4. Rear brakes in the English labels are Disc ventilated; fronts are Ventilated disc. Suspension, all listed versions: Independent, spring front and rear.

Performance and economy

0–100 km/h: not measured on all 18 versions. Top speed: not measured on all 18 versions. City / highway / mixed consumption: not measured on all 18 versions. CO2: not measured. Eco class: not measured.

Without timed acceleration, the usable ranking is mass per horsepower and torque. Measured kg/hp (kerb / hp):

• 1 generation 2.5 AT 280 hp Turbo RWD: 5.50 (1540 / 280)
• 2 generation 3.5 MT: 5.64 (1580 / 280)
• 2 generation 3.5 AT RWD: 5.81 (1580 / 272)
• 1 generation 2.5 MT 280 hp: 5.89 (1650 / 280)
• 2 generation 2.5 AT 280 hp Turbo: 6.00 (1680 / 280)
• 1 generation 2.6 MT: 6.14 (1720 / 280)
• 2 generation 3.5 AT AWD: 6.14 (1670 / 272)
• 2 generation 3.0 AT: 6.19 (1610 / 260)
• 1 generation 2.5 AT 235 hp: 6.89 (1620 / 235)
• 2 generation 2.5 AT 215 hp RWD: 7.21 (1550 / 215)
• 1 generation 2.5 AT 200 hp RWD: 7.40 (1480 / 200)
• 2 generation 2.5 AT 215 hp AWD: 7.67 (1650 / 215)
• 1 generation 2.5 AT 190 hp RWD: 7.74 (1470 / 190)
• 1 generation 2.5 AT 200 hp AWD: 8.00 (1600 / 200)
• 1 generation 2.5 AT 190 hp AWD: 8.37 (1590 / 190)
• 1 generation 2.0 AT 155 hp: 9.42 (1460 / 155)
• 1 generation 2.0 AT 130 hp: 11.00 (1430 / 130)

1 generation 2.5 AT 280 hp Turbo AWD kerb: not measured, so kg/hp for that Automatic AWD 280 hp car is not measured.

Torque gap that defines the Turbo 2.5 AT of 2 generation: 407 − 270 = 137 Nm over the 215 hp 2.5 AT, and 407 − 363 = 44 Nm over the 3.5 MT. Peak torque rpm on that Turbo is 3200, versus 4400–4800 on the naturally aspirated 2 generation cars.

Dimensions and weight

Wheel sizes: not measured on all versions. Fuel tank: 68 litres on all 18.

Ground clearance:

• 155 mm: 1 generation RWD cars and the 280 hp Turbo 2.5 AT AWD / 2.5 MT (where listed at 155)
• 145 mm: 1 generation AWD 2.5 AT 190/200/235 hp and 2.6 MT
• 150 mm: 2 generation RWD 2.5 AT 215 hp, 3.0 AT, 3.5 AT
• 140 mm: 2 generation AWD 2.5 AT 215 hp, 2.5 AT 280 hp Turbo, 3.5 AT
• 135 mm: 2 generation 3.5 MT only

AWD vs RWD on otherwise matched 2 generation 2.5 AT 215 hp: +100 kg (1650 − 1550) and −10 mm clearance (140 vs 150). Same generation 3.5 AT: AWD 1670 kg vs RWD 1580 kg = +90 kg, clearance 140 vs 150. 1 generation 2.5 AT 190 hp: AWD 1590 vs RWD 1470 = +120 kg, clearance 145 vs 155. 1 generation 2.5 AT 200 hp: AWD 1600 vs RWD 1480 = +120 kg.

Gross weight is measured only on two cars: 2 generation 2.5 AT 215 hp AWD 1925 kg (payload 1925 − 1650 = 275 kg); 2 generation 2.5 AT 280 hp Turbo 1955 kg (payload 1955 − 1680 = 275 kg). Gross weight on the other 16 versions: not measured.

Engine position: Front, longitudinal on 1 generation 2.0 AT 130 hp and 2.5 AT 190 hp RWD; Front, transverse on 1 generation 2.5 AT 190 hp AWD and 2.5 AT 235 hp Turbo. All other versions: engine position not measured.

Bore × stroke (catalogue strings): 1 generation 2.0 78 × 69.7; 2.5 86 × 71.7; 2.6 86 × 73.7. 2 generation 2.5 NA 85 × 73; 2.5 Turbo 85 × 73.3; 3.0 93 × 73.3; 3.5 95.5 × 81.4.

Which version to choose

Need AWD and the highest torque. 2 generation 2.5 AT 280 hp Turbo: 280 hp, 407 Nm, 1680 kg, Automatic 5, AWD, clearance 140 mm, compression 8.5. Versus the same-generation 2.5 AT 215 hp AWD: +65 hp, +137 Nm, +30 kg. Versus 1 generation 2.5 AT 280 hp Turbo AWD: same 280 hp, +74 Nm (407 − 333), five gears instead of four, V-shaped instead of Inline; 1 generation kerb for that Automatic AWD 280 hp car is not measured, so a weight comparison is not measured.

Need the lightest 280 hp car. 1 generation 2.5 AT 280 hp Turbo RWD: 1540 kg, 5.50 kg/hp, Automatic 4, RWD, clearance 155 mm, 333 Nm. That is 140 kg lighter than 2 generation Turbo 2.5 AT AWD and 110 kg lighter than 1 generation 2.5 MT (1650 kg).

Need a Manual. Two 1 generation cars: 2.5 MT (280 hp, 333 Nm, 5 gears, AWD, 1650 kg, 155 mm) and 2.6 MT (280 hp, 353 Nm, 5 gears, AWD, 1720 kg, 145 mm, fuel 98, peak power at 6800 rpm). One 2 generation car: 3.5 MT (280 hp, 363 Nm, 6 gears, RWD, 1580 kg, 135 mm, boost No). 2.6 MT is 70 kg heavier than 2.5 MT for the same 280 hp and +20 Nm. 3.5 MT is 70 kg lighter than 2.5 MT and 140 kg lighter than 2.6 MT, with one extra gear and no Turbo.

Need naturally aspirated 2 generation RWD with more than 215 hp. 3.0 AT (260 hp, 324 Nm, 1610 kg, 150 mm) versus 3.5 AT RWD (272 hp, 353 Nm, 1580 kg, 150 mm): the 3498 cc car is 12 hp and 29 Nm up and 30 kg down. Versus 3.5 MT: the Manual adds 8 hp and 10 Nm at the same 1580 kg, drops clearance 15 mm (150 → 135), and swaps Automatic 5 for Manual 6.

Need AWD without Turbo on 2 generation. 2.5 AT 215 hp AWD (1650 kg, 270 Nm, Automatic 5) versus 3.5 AT AWD (1670 kg, 353 Nm, 272 hp): +57 hp, +83 Nm, +20 kg. The 3.5-litre AWD is 90 kg heavier than 3.5 AT RWD.

Need the cheapest-running fuel spec in the table. Only 1 generation 2.0 AT 130 hp lists fuel 92. It is also the weakest (130 hp, 171 Nm) and the heaviest per horsepower (11.00 kg/hp). Stepping to 2.0 AT 155 hp keeps 1998 cc and RWD Automatic 4, adds 25 hp and 13 Nm, +30 kg, and moves fuel to 95.

Need 1 generation 2.5 without Turbo. Four 2.5 AT cars: 190 hp RWD 1470 kg; 190 hp AWD 1590 kg; 200 hp RWD 1480 kg; 200 hp AWD 1600 kg. The 200 hp pair matches the 190 hp pair on 230 Nm and 2498 cc; the extra 10 hp costs 10 kg on RWD and 10 kg on AWD. AWD still costs 120 kg and 10 mm of clearance.

Need 1 generation Turbo without 280 hp. 2.5 AT 235 hp Turbo AWD: 235 hp, 274 Nm, 1620 kg, 6.89 kg/hp. Versus 200 hp AWD: +35 hp, +44 Nm, +20 kg. Versus 280 hp Turbo 2.5 MT: −45 hp, −59 Nm, −30 kg.

Need 2 generation entry Automatic. 2.5 AT 215 hp RWD: 1550 kg, Automatic 4 (the only 4-speed Automatic in 2 generation), clearance 150 mm, 86.2 hp/l. It is 60 kg lighter than 3.0 AT and 30 kg lighter than 3.5 AT RWD, but 45 hp and 54 Nm down versus 3.0 AT, and 57 hp / 83 Nm down versus 3.5 AT RWD.

Problems and reliability are not measured in this dataset: no failure rates, no service intervals, no prices. The version choice above is only the arithmetic of hp, Nm, kg, gears, drive, clearance, fuel grade, and boost as listed.