Item: Used Nissan Primera Saloon 2002 - 2006
Author: What Car? Team

What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

Saloon

Nissan turned up early to the SUV party, with its Qashqai paving the way for the countless models we see today. The Qashqai continues to sell in big numbers in the UK, too, and was also our overall Car of the Year in 2014.

Don’t think Nissan is just about SUVs, though. As well as the Qashqai, the smaller Juke and the larger X-Trail, the Japanese brand has the Micra hatchback, GT-R sports car and Navara pick-up truck.

Nissan was also one of the first big car makers to launch a fully electric car, with its latest Leaf being one of the best on the market.

Despite being based in Japan, Nissan has long committed to building cars in the UK, making several of its best-selling models at a huge factory in Sunderland.

NISSAN

PRIMERA

The Nissan Primera is a reliable and roomy family car, that's also good value and enjoyable to drive

Used Nissan Primera Saloon 2002 - 2006

You'll be able to snap up a Primera for surprisingly little dosh.

The diesel engines are the best for fuel economy - you can reckon on getting more than 45mpg - but they're more expensive to buy, so you'll have to rack up a fair few miles before the better fuel economy claws back the higher asking price.

Over lower mileages, the 1.8 petrol makes the most sense. It's cheapest to buy, but still good for mid-30s to the gallon, whereas the 2.0 will return about 5mpg fewer.

Servicing isn't quite such a bargain. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/mondeo/hatchback/review/n15">Ford Mondeo</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/6/saloon/review/n17216">Mazda 6</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/407/saloon/used-review/n550">Peugeot 407</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/avensis/saloon/review/n17160">Toyota Avensis</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/vectra/hatchback/used-review/n700">Vauxhall Vectra</a> are all cheaper to service.

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The Nissan Primera is a reliable and roomy family car, that's also good value and enjoyable to drive

If you want a saloon, the newest will be a mid-2004 car, as that's when Nissan ditched it from the line-up. We prefer the handier five-door overall, but at least there's no difference in how the two cars drive.

You won't go wrong with any of the engines: a 114bhp 1.8 petrol, 138bhp 2.0 petrol and 2.2 turbodiesel (124bhp from 2002, then 136bhp from March 2003). We like the diesel's pull and economy, but it's more pricey than the petrols. Of those, the 2.0 is refined and strong, but the 1.8 is keen, more frugal and cheaper, which makes it our favourite.

Basic S trim means climate control, six airbags and electric front windows. SE adds alloys, electric rear windows and a better CD, which makes it the best trim to buy, and we'd ignore SVE, even with standard sat-nav. A display screen controls the stereo, climate control and, where fitted, sat-nav and rear parking camera.

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of practical space </li> <li>Low running costs </li> <li>A comfortable ride </li> <li>A healthy equipment list </li> <li>Quality materials and thoughtful touches inside </li> <li>Rock-solid reliability</li></ul>

Family cars arguably have the toughest brief of all: they have to be good at pretty much everything. They’re used as the daily drive, on the school run or work commute (often both), and have to be able to cope with a family’s clutter on weekends and holidays.

The Skoda Scala is a relative newcomer, but it's&nbsp;already carved out a name for itself in this segment.&nbsp;If you're looking for a moderately priced car that combines a supple ride, neat handling, a spacious interior and a capacious boot&nbsp;it's well worth a look.&nbsp;Alternatively, if you're looking for entertaining handling then the&nbsp;BMW 1 Series may well be for you. It's great to drive, rides well&nbsp;and also comes with a top-notch interior, featuring one of our very favourite infotainment systems.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Toyota Corolla&nbsp;is another great choice. This latest version of one of the world's best-selling cars of all time can be had with a choice of two different petrol-electric hybrid engines, both of which should mean&nbsp;potentially lower fuel bills. It's comfortable, well equipped and should be very reliable, too.&nbsp;

Family

The Primera is extremely well screwed together, and has proved robust and reliable.

A small number have had minor electrical faults, and a limited run was recalled to have tyres replaced for potential damage caused on the production line. Other than that, it's a squeaky-clean motor.

Little wonder, then, that the Primera figured right near the top of our reliability survey and that owners praised its trouble-free running in the JD Power customer satisfaction survey.

However, the rear parking camera can take some getting used to, so inspect the rear bodywork for knocks that may have happened while the previous owner was getting used to it. Likewise, there are no protective rubbing strips on the side of the car, which makes it vulnerable to dings.

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The Primera may not be quite as sharp to drive as a Ford Mondeo, but it isn't far off. It handles nicely through the bends, with plenty of grip and taut body control. Yet it also smooths out bumps at higher speeds.

The steering is overly light, though, and the ride is firm around town. However, all the engines are crisp, rev cleanly and work well with the standard manual gearbox.

On the motorway, it's a generally refined cruiser. However, there is a bit of wind rustle and the CVT auto (continuously variable transmission) can make the engine sound rowdy under hard acceleration.

The well-built, quirky cabin is a roomy five-seater, with the rear bench slightly higher than the front seats for an airier feel. The driving position is comfortable and, while the big boot is a useful size, it has an irritating narrow opening.

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Used Nissan Primera Saloon 2002 - 2006 review

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Alternatives

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