1996 Nissan Primera Hatchback P11 Photos, engines & full specs

Nissan launched the second generation of the Primera in 1996 and offered it in a few shapes, including the popular Hatchback, which stood between the best-selling Sedan and the spacious Wagon.

The Japanese automaker tried to keep up with its main rivals in the European market. Despite the Primera’s abilities as a driver’s car, it lacked behind the newly introduced and refreshed Ford Mondeo or the Peugeot 406. Even though the Primera P10 (the first generation of this moniker) was praised for its reliability, its sales were less than what the automaker expected. So, with the second generation of the Primera, the car became even more attractive in terms of engineering and safety. Unfortunately, Nissan didn’t pay enough attention to the design trends of the market, and as a result, the P11 looked outdated from the moment it reached the showrooms.

When the bio-design trend, with its curved lines inspired by organic elements such as eyes, leaves, or water surfaces, appeared on cars, the wedged shapes suddenly looked outdated. The P11 Primera featured a front fascia that resembled its predecessor, with its horizontal headlights, almost rectangular, but with angled-down inner sides. Between them, the flying-wing grille imagined as a design language by Nissan’s styling department didn’t look that much different from the one mounted on the P10. As a result, even if the car was completely new, it looked more like a refresh rather than a new generation. Still, the lower bumper said something different thanks to its new wider grille and the curved outer lines of the fog lamps.

From its profile, the 1996 Primera Hatchback had a sporty-looking ascending beltline. Up to the B-posts, it shared the same panels as the Primera Sedan, while the C-pillars were wider and supported a sloped down rear window. Nissan also penned the car with a short deck integrated into the tailgate that could be adorned with a wing. Finally, the rear fascia sported broad taillights with clear lenses on the upper area for the reversing lights and the turn signals.

Inside, the automaker installed a new dashboard that matched the mid-90s design trends. Fronting the driver was an instrument cluster fitted with large dials for the speedometer and tachometer flanked on the outer sides by the fuel level gauge on the left and the coolant temperature on the right. The center stack housed the HVAC control panel and an integrated stereo that was paired to the car’s ECU as a theft-deterring device. In the back, the automaker installed a split-folding bench seat that could expand the trunk space from 505 liters (17.8 cu-ft) to 1,357 liters (47.9 cu-ft), making it more appealing than the sedan version.

Under its skin, the Primera P11 had a new platform. Even if some of its engines were carried over from its predecessor, those were highly appreciated by customers. Nissan said that the Primera was a driver’s car, and it was. Unfortunately, its exterior design was outdated.