1994 Nissan Primera Sedan Photos, engines & full specs

In 1994, Nissan slightly refreshed the Primera’s first generation, trying to keep its sales up until its replacement came two years later, in 1996.

Nissan launched the first generation of the Primera in 1990, and customers were pleased with it. Its new platform and fuel-efficient engines made it a darling for everyone who bought it. Moreover, its slightly upscale interior was pleasant. But soon, other automakers caught up with it. In 1993, Ford introduced the Mondeo, and Opel/Vauxhall was also ready to take big parts of the mid-size segment with its Vectra/Cavalier lineups. In addition, Renault charged with the Laguna, so the competition was stiff. But Nissan didn’t fear. It just refreshed its well-known contender and made it ready for the battle. The automaker made slight modifications to the car’s overall appearance and altered the trim levels as well compared to the 1990 model year.

It was the mid-90s, and the whole automotive industry started to switch towards the bio-design era. As a result, Nissan refreshed the Primera’s front fascia. It introduced rounded corners for the inner sides of the headlights. In addition, the corner-mounted turn signals were covered by clear lenses instead of amber ones for the entire range. Depending on the trim level, the upper grille had a chromed trim and sloped-down inner sides. Lower, on the bumper, the automaker installed a shorter air intake into the apron than on the non-facelifted version.

From its profile, the 1994 Primera featured a black rubber stripe that ran from the front bumper to the rear, over the fenders and the door panels. It was their idea of protecting the car against shopping carts. Furthermore, to keep production costs low, the automaker installed black, unpainted door handles across the range, and only the upper grades got body-colored door mirrors. Finally, at the back, Nissan installed larger taillights angled down in their inner sides. These emerged from the quarter panels to the trunk lid, making the car look more elegant, while the Primera sedan was mainly perceived as a sporty four-door vehicle for a family.

Inside, customers could find low-mounted seats with multiple adjustments, including height. The velour-wrapped interior wasn’t available in too many colors, and there was no option for leather seats. Still, the automaker improved the instrument cluster by adding a second LCD that showed the odometer to the existing one for the clock. In the back, the long wheelbase of the Primera made the sedan a family-friendly vehicle, although for adult-sized passengers, legroom was nothing to write home about. Children, on the other hand, could enjoy it. Behind the cabin, the automaker installed a generous trunk. Unfortunately, that couldn’t be opened from the outside, just from the inside from a lever placed next to the driver’s seat.

Under the hood, Nissan installed a choice of inline-four gasoline engines ranging from a 1.6-liter to a 2.0-liter. Those looking for better fuel efficiency could opt for the 2.0-liter diesel. All versions were paired with five-speed manual transmissions, while selected versions were available with a four-speed automatic.