SA Roadtests
South Africa
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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. I drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under real-world South African conditions. Many of the vehicles driven are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you get where you live.
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Originally Posted: March 5, 2008
Described by Nissan as a hatchback, the Livina is a five-seat people mover marketed in the “B” segment, but with claimed “C” segment performance, ride and handling characteristics.
Not quite a “multiple baby mover” in the mould of the Toyota Avanza (that job is left to bigger sister Grand Livina), the regular version is nevertheless a capable carrier of four to five, with ample leg- and head room in the back for six-footers, and luggage space representative of its class.
Fitted with the same 1600cc engine found in some Qashqais, but with slightly longer gearing, the Livina takes advantage of its lighter mass to propel itself to 100 km/h just over a second quicker than its larger sibling and with a small gain in fuel economy.
This is not to suggest that Livina is a lower priced substitute for Qashqai – they are two very different vehicles with different purposes. The bigger car comes with a noticeably higher specification level, for one thing.
On the road, controls are light and easy to use, the engine is willing and the suspension is well up to what could reasonably be demanded of it.
At this price level, one does not get electronic stability control as part of the package, but what is included works very well indeed. If you saw my report on a certain luxury Teuton with all the handling kit and lowered suspension, let me say simply that this plain looking little bus is not far behind.
Cruising on the freeway, the car feels solid and stable, engine speed at 120 km/h is about 3400 rpm and the top gear roll-on from that speed is quite good but not breathtaking. In other words, if in trouble, drop down a gear.
On a short stretch of roughish dirt road near Curry’s Post, the Livina behaved well – not skittish - but its relative lightness in comparison with big pickups or heavyweight SUVs was noticeable. Its 177 mm ground clearance (the average SUV only has about an inch more, at 200 mm) would make this a capable occasional visitor to Grandma’s farm or to neighbours with steep driveways.
For a young family with biggish children or a couple with one baby and all the paraphernalia, the Livina is worth a second look, while Nissan’s claim of offering “C” segment performance and road behaviour at “B” segment price levels appears to be justified.
Test unit from Nissan SA press fleet
Nissan Livinas were priced, at time of writing, between R115 550 and R136 950. That included a 3 year/60 000 km service plan on Acenta models.
Engine: 1598 cc, four-cylinder
Power: 80 kW @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 153 Nm @ 4400 rpm
0-100 km/h: 11.0 seconds
Top speed: 165 km/h
Fuel consumption index: 8.8 l/100 km
Warranty: 3 years/100 000 km
Service intervals: 15 000 km
This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.
Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads or goat tracks as well. As a result, my test cars do occasionally get dirty. It's all part of the reviewing process.
I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material.
If ever I place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with a very similar vehicle already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.
Hope you like what you see, because there are no commercial interests at work here. There are no advertisers and no “editorial policy” rules. I add bylines to acknowledge sponsored launch functions and the manufacturers or dealerships that provide the test vehicles. And, as quite a few readers have found, I answer every serious enquiry from my home email address, with my phone numbers attached, so you can see I do actually exist.
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SA Roadtests
South Africa
ctjag8