Nissan Caravan
Encyclopedia
- Not to be confused with Dodge CaravanDodge CaravanThe Dodge Caravan is a family minivan manufactured by Chrysler Group LLC and sold under its Dodge brand. Along with its nameplate variant, the Plymouth Voyager, the Caravan was introduced for the 1984 model year. In 1987, the Dodge Grand Caravan long-wheelbase model was introduced and sold...
.
The Nissan Caravan is a van designed by Nissan for use as a fleet vehicle or cargo van. Outside Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
the car was sold as either Nissan Urvan, King Van, or Homy
Nissan Homy
The Nissan Homy was built and sold by the Prince Motor Company before the merger of Nissan in 1965 and the Homy was the first vehicle to be acquired by Nissan. After the merger in August 1966, the Prince Homy name was changed to Nissan. The merger was complete by 1970...
. Several configurations of this van are available, including the GX (flat roof) and DX (high roof) models, and
several models with multiple engine configurations including the KA24DE, the KA20DE I4
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
, a 2.7 liter TD27 I4
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
diesel
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
, and a 3 liter diesel, the ZD30DD
Nissan ZD engine
The Nissan ZD30 engine family is a 3 litre , inline four cylinder, diesel engine that replaced the Nissan QD engine. Available in both traditional turbo, variable geomtery turbo, and non turbo versions...
inline four, as well as the ZD30DDTi I4
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
. The E25 chassis is also used in connection with the Isuzu Como with same engines offered by Nissan.
E20 (1973 - 1980)
E20 / E21 / E22The Caravan/Urvan is a van and minibus manufactured from February 1973 by Nissan with 3, 5, 7, and up to 10 seats. It was especially popular in Europe, and was again very popular in Fire Departments and as ambulances in certain countries. It had a somewhat difficult handling, as it was heavy to steer, and was not available with power steering. Also, the gear shifter was located at the floor and went all the way up to the height of the hand, and had a slight curve. The gear shifter was nearly 80 centimetres long, so it was somewhat clumsy to shift, but it came with five gears, unusual in Europe at that time. It was delivered with a 1.6 litre (1,596 cc) engine, a 1.8 litre (1,798 cc) engine, and a 2.0 litre (1,998 cc) engine. It was produced until replaced by the E23 Caravan in late summer 1980.
In export markets the first and second generations were called Datsun Urvan, until the Nissan brand replaced it worldwide in 1983-1984.This generation is becoming rare and suffers from rust problems.
E23 (1980 - 1986)
The second generation Nissan Urvan/Caravan (E23) was introduced in August 1980. As before, the HomyNissan Homy
The Nissan Homy was built and sold by the Prince Motor Company before the merger of Nissan in 1965 and the Homy was the first vehicle to be acquired by Nissan. After the merger in August 1966, the Prince Homy name was changed to Nissan. The merger was complete by 1970...
, sold through Prince dealerships, was its sister model, set apart by a different grille. The Cabstar and Homer shared much of the bodywork, with the main differences being the frontal treatment and a small sidewindow mounted in the front doors of the Caravan/Homy. Engines were all carryover four-cylinders, ranging from the J16
Nissan J engine
The Nissan J engine was a straight-4 gasoline internal combustion engine produced by Nissan in the 1960s through the 1980s.-J13:The J13 was used in the 1965 to 1967 Datsun 411 sedan and wagon. This OHV engine was also produced for the Nissan 520 and 521 trucks from 1967 to 1969 when replaced by the...
and H20
Nissan H engine
The Nissan H series of automobile engines is an evolution of the Nissan "R" engine which was based on the 1.5L 3 main "G" used in the 1960s. Both straight-4 and straight-6 versions were produced, it is a pushrod OHV design with iron block, early models with an iron head, later models with aluminum...
pushrod items, via the overhead cam Z20S, and an upgraded SD22 diesel. The van versions were now designed to allow access to the loading area from the passenger compartment. Radial tires were optional. The diesel also benefitted from a new five-speed manual gearbox, while the new luxury GL version offered an optional "Nissanmatic" automatic transmission as well as power steering, comfortable rotating rear seats and air conditioning. In July 1981, a luxurious SGL "Silk Road" version was added.
At the 1981 Tokyo Motor Show
Tokyo Motor Show
The is a biennial auto show held in October-November at the Makuhari Messe, Chiba City, Japan for cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles. Hosted by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association , it is a recognized international show by the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs...
, two concept Caravans designed to provide limousine-like accommodation for businessmen were shown, the Royal and Elgrand Royal Line. The Elgrand
Nissan Elgrand
The Nissan Elgrand is a luxury MPV manufactured by Nissan since 1997, available in three model developments, the E50, the E51 and as of 2010 the E52.-E50 "First Generation":...
name was to be adopted for a series of luxurious minivans, beginning in 1997. In May 1982 the Caravan underwent a minor facelift, losing the ventilation window in the front doors, receiving a new dashboard and a new five-bearing SD23 diesel engine replacing the previous SD22. Radial tires became standard for all but the cheapest versions. For more power, coach versions also became available with the turbocharged LD20T
Nissan L engine
The Nissan L series of automobile engines ranged from 1.3 L to 2.8 L in both straight-4 and straight-6 configurations and were produced from 1967 through 1986. This was the engine of the Datsun 240Z sports car as well as the Datsun 510 and the first Nissan Maxima. These engines are known for their...
diesel. The luxurious "Silk Road" version, with seven captain seats, was only available with the LD20T. This engine passed the 1982 emissions standards for diesel cars. To meet the 1981 emissions standards for petrol cars, coach versions replaced the H20 engine with the new carburetted Z18S and 105 PS Z20S.
In April 1983 there was another light facelift, with SGL and GL versions receiving a new look with four square headlights. An LWB DX ten-seater version was also added. In January 1985 six and nine-passenger van versions were added. Diesel versions received improved pre-heating systems and safety equipment was improved. Manual petrol versions were now all five-speed manuals. An eight-seater "SGL Silk Road Limited" also joined the lineup in May. In September 1986 the E23 was replaced by the third generation E24. This generation like the generation before suffers from rust problems.
E24 (1986 - 2001)
The E24 version was built from 1986 until 2001 and underwent two major facelifts. In some Scandinavian markets, the E24 series was marketed as the "King Van", to tie it in with the popular "King Cab" version of Nissan's D21Nissan Hardbody Truck
-Nissan Hardbody:The D21 generation was the successor to the Datsun "720". The company used the name "Datsun" from 1980 to 1983 then renamed itself "Nissan" beginning with the 1983.5 model year line of trucks and cars alike. The D21 series were unofficially called Nissan Hardbody in the United...
pickup truck. The large QD32 four-cylinder diesel was added in 1996 and produced 100 PS from 3,153 cc.
In Kenya, the Nissan E24 is still manufactured by the Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers in Thika
Thika
Thika is an industrial town in Central Province, Kenya, lying on the A2 road 40 km north east of Nairobi, near the confluence of Thika River & Chania River. Thika has a population of 200,000and is growing rapidly, as is the entire greater Nairobi area...
.
E25
Produced from April 2001 to present. For MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, the only North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n country for full-size Nissan vans, 2010 will be the last year for this generation, as the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-built Nissan NV
Nissan NV
The Nissan NV is the first full-size van built by a Japanese automaker for the United States and Canada, and sold by Nissan. Until the introduction of the Nissan NV, Mexico was the only country in North America selling a full-size Nissan Van, as the Nissan Urvan is sold there...
replaces it. It is unknown if the Mexican version will continue the Urvan name or use the NV name as in the United States and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The Urvan received a one-star rating on the Australian ANCAP
Australasian New Car Assessment Program
The Australasian New Car Assessment Program is an automobile organisation operated by the governments and motoring organisations of Australia and New Zealand to give consumers coherent results on the protection given by vehicles in front and side impact collisions...
crash test.
Top Speed for the turbodiesel
Turbodiesel
Turbodiesel refers to any diesel engine with a turbocharger. Turbocharging is the norm rather than the exception in modern car and truck diesel engines...
is about 160 km/h (Nissan), to as much as 190 km/h.
External links
- Safety Recalls - Japanese Imports