2002 Nissan Primera Wagon P12 Photos, engines & full specs

After successfully introducing the third generation of the Primera in 2001, Nissan also completed the lineup in 2002 with the hatchback and the station wagon.

With more and more customers switching from minivans to station wagons, this market segment became more appealing to automakers. Nissan tried to provide them with a vehicle capable of moving not just five people in comfort but also with a trunk big enough to carry furniture. In addition, the car's high-tech features for those years and the innovative design should've made it a winner. Unfortunately, the car was too bold-looking, and many customers preferred something more conservative.

The third generation of the Primera, also known as the P12, featured a bold-looking front fascia. Its Flying-wing design of the grille was envisioned by the automaker ever since the nameplate's first generation in 1990, but on the P12, it was more pronounced. It was flanked by the big, rhomboidal, and swept-back headlights covered with clear lenses. On the lower side of the bumper, Nissan installed a second air intake to complement the cooling area.

From its profile, the 2002 Primera Wagon revealed a mixed styling between the bio-design and the new-edge theme. Its windshield was followed by a long roof that ended into a raked-forward, sporty-looking tailgate. It was also the first generation of this nameplate that sported body-colored grab handles for the doors. Depending on the trim level, the car rolled on steel or alloy wheels. As a result, the station wagon looked more conservative than the hatchback, and that's one of the reasons why it had a longer lifespan.

Inside, the bold interior provided ample room for five passengers. At the front, the mild-bolstered bucket seats were separated by a narrow center console where Nissan installed the handbrake, the gear stick, a pair of cup holders, and a storage compartment under the center armrest. But the most representative design theme was the dashboard. It featured a center-mounted instrument cluster filled with four main dials: the coolant temperature and the fuel level gauges, and two large dials for the speedometer and the tachometer. Lower, on the center stack, customers could get the car fitted with an infotainment system featuring an LCD that was used for the DVD-based navigation system, the rearview camera, the stereo, and the HVAC system. Behind, on the split-folding bench, the Primera P12 provided plenty of room for three passengers. Behind them, the trunk could hold up to 465 liters (16.4 cu-ft), but it could reach up to 1,670 liters (58.9 cu-ft) with the rear seats completely folded down.

Under the hood, the automaker offered the Primera with a choice of gasoline and turbo-diesel engines. The base models were paired with five-speed gearboxes, while the upper ones sent their torque to the front wheels via a six-speed transmission. As an option, depending on the grade and engine, the 2002 Primera Wagon was available with a CVT.