Nissan Prairie

Nissan Prairie

Manufacturer	Nissan
Also called	Nissan Multi Nissan Stanza Wagon Nissan Liberty Nissan Axxess
Production	1982–2004
Predecessor	none
Successor	Nissan Lafesta
Class	compact MPV

The Nissan Prairie, introduced in Japan in 1981 and Europe in 1982, was a car from Japanese manufacturer Nissan. It was also known as the Multi in Canada and the Stanza Wagon in the United States. The second generation was renamed the Nissan Axxess in North America , but due to disappointing sales, was no longer offered and replaced by the larger Nissan/Ford joint venture called the Nissan Quest, and in Europe it was replaced by the Nissan Serena. When the third generation of this vehicle was introduced in Japan, it was renamed initially Prairie Liberty, with the "Prairie" name eventually dropped in November 1998. This vehicle was discontinued and replaced with the Nissan Lafesta December 2004 in Japan.

First generation (series M10 1982–1988)

Nissan Prairie

Manufacturer	Nissan
Also called	Nissan Multi Nissan Stanza Wagon
Production	1982–1988
Assembly	Shonan, Japan
Class	Compact MPV
Body style	5-door minivan
Layout	Front engine/front wheel drive, AWD
Engine	2.0 L CA20E I4 2.0 L CA20S I4 1.8 L CA18S I4 1.6 L E16 I4 1.5 L E15S I4
Transmission	3-speed Automatic 4-speed automatic 5-speed manual
Wheelbase	2WD: 99.0 in (2,515 mm) 4WD: 99.4 in (2,525 mm)
Length	2WD: 170.3 in (4,326 mm) 4WD: 166.5 in (4,229 mm)
Width	65.6 in (1,666 mm)
Height	2WD: 62.0 in (1,575 mm) 4WD: 63.6 in (1,615 mm)
Curb weight	1,020 kg (2,249 lb)
Related	Nissan Stanza Nissan Violet Nissan Auster

Nissan Stanza wagon (USA-spec)

The Nissan Prairie, known in Canada as the Multi and the United States as the Stanza Wagon, was equipped with a choice of 5 in-line 4 cylinder engines, with either a manual or automatic transmission. Available with front wheel drive or optional four wheel drive, the vehicle had rear passenger sliding doors on both sides of the vehicle, and a folding rear seat, designed to increase the carrying capacity of the passenger compartment. The rear tailgate opened upwards as one complete unit, in a similar fashion to a hatchback or station wagon. The Prairie competed with the Toyota Sprinter Carib with a similar wagon approach, and the Honda Shuttle.

1987 Nissan Multi (Canada-spec)

The Prairie resembled a tall station wagon / estate with the addition of sliding side doors. It was available with five seats, though seven were available. The size of one of today's compact SUVs. A contemporary competitor was the Mitsubishi Chariot — other options for cars (as opposed to minibuses / minivans) with more than five seats were large estates such as the Citroën CX family model, off-road vehicles such as the Land Rover Defender, and others such as the Talbot Matra Rancho which had extra rear-facing child seats.

The concept was inspired by the Lancia Megagamma show car from Giorgetto Giugiaro and ItalDesign, shown in 1979.

It was originally launched with a 1.5 L I4 engine and a 1.8 L engine followed later in the car's life, as did a four wheel drive version.

The first generation Prairies, while innovative, had undesirable body characteristics when driven hard, due to the missing B-pillar. The front doors and the rear sliding doors interlocked together and at the top and bottom of the respective door openings.

Second generation (series M11 1988–1998)

Nissan Prairie

Manufacturer	Nissan
Also called	Nissan Axxess
Production	1988–1998
Assembly	Shonan, Japan
Successor	Nissan Quest (North America) Nissan Serena (Europe)
Class	Compact MPV
Body style	5-door minivan
Layout	Front engine/front wheel drive, AWD
Engine	2.4 L KA24E I4 2.0 L CA20S I4 2.0 L SR20DE I4
Transmission	4-speed automatic 5-speed manual
Wheelbase	102.8 in (2,611 mm)
Length	4.37 m (171.9 in)
Width	1.69 m (66.5 in)
Height	1.64 m (64.6 in)
Curb weight	1,320 kg (2,910 lb)
Related	Nissan Stanza Nissan Avenir Nissan Bluebird series U14

Nissan Prairie Joy (Japan-spec)

1992 Nissan Prairie (European-spec)

The second generation of the Prairie was introduced September 1988, and it was renamed the Nissan Axxess when sold in North America. The vehicle sold for six years (1990–95) in Canada, and in 1990 only in the United States.

The Prairie came with optional AWD but because it came with a 2.0 litre engine, it wasn't designed or equipped for vigorous off road driving. In North America, that market segment was offered an all new vehicle, called the Nissan Pathfinder. Because of the Pathfinders similar cargo carrying capacity added to an increased ground clearance and a larger 4- and V6 engine, the utility that the Prairie(Axxess) offered was seen as a lesser vehicle.

Nissan didn't retreat from the family oriented minivan market, and introduced the Nissan Quest in 1993, sharing production facilities with Ford North America, with Ford selling the Quest as the Mercury Villager. In Europe, the Prairie was replaced with the larger Nissan Serena, also originally sold in Japan in 1991.

Nissan refocused their efforts provided by the Prairie on the Japanese market, and offered additional room by stretching the back end to better accommodate third seat passengers and load carrying, calling the vehicle the Prairie Joy, which was offered August 1995. The Prairie continued to see competition from the Toyota Sprinter Carib, the Mitsubishi Chariot, and the Civic based Honda Shuttle.

Styling of the Prairie was never its strong suit, and the second generation didn't show an improvement, which hampered sales. It was popular with families who needed utility above other considerations. It was also a popular vehicle in the UK for rear-access wheelchair passenger conversions, due to long length allowing loading of a wheeled seat and stowage of folded wheelchair behind, the chassis's ability accept a lowered floor (removing the fuel tank and fitting a 30 litre tank instead), and the ability fit a rear access drop down ramp (cutting through the rear bumper and extending the hatch downwards). Some conversions also added a raised roof over the passenger space up to the rear hatch. Brotherwood made such conversions (unknown if others did so) and imported the Prairie M11 with the larger 2.4 litre KA24E engine in later years to the UK especially for conversions.

May 1997, anti-lock brakes and driver and front passenger airbags were offered, along with ultraviolet restricting tinted glass.

Third generation (series M12 1998–2004)

Nissan Prairie

Manufacturer	Nissan
Also called	Nissan Prairie Liberty
Production	1998–2004
Assembly	Shonan, Japan
Successor	Nissan Lafesta
Class	Compact MPV
Body style	5-door minivan
Layout	Front engine/front wheel drive, AWD
Engine	2.0 L SR20DE I4 2.0 L SR20DET I4 turbo 2.0 L QR20DE I4
Transmission	4-speed automatic CVT
Wheelbase	2,690 mm (106 in)
Length	4,575 mm (180.1 in)
Width	1,695 mm (66.7 in)
Height	1,690 mm (67 in)
Curb weight	1,630 kg (3,600 lb)
Related	Nissan Altima Nissan Avenir

The Nissan Liberty is the new name for the Nissan Prairie minivan in 1999. It has rear sliding doors and is available with either front wheel drive or all wheel drive. It is equipped with either the SR20DE or the SR20DET engine, both of which are mated to either a 4-speed automatic or a CVT transmission.

Nissan Liberty (Japan-spec)

The third generation Prairie now shared a platform with the compact station wagon Nissan Avenir with the Prairie/Liberty focused more on flexible seating and cargo carrying duties.

Some of the issues buyers had with the Prairie was its appearance and performance, so the styling was given more attention, and Nissan's Autech division punched up its performance image, by offering the Liberty Rider that replaced the Axis trim package. The turbocharged engine was offered in the "Highway Star 4WD" package October 12, 1999, as well as the "Highway Star GT4", also enhanced by Autech. Front wheel drive vehicles were only available with the CVT transmission. Styling and luxury items offered on the larger Nissan Elgrand were also offered on the Liberty.

The Liberty saw competition from Toyota and Honda during this generation from the Toyota Ipsum, Mitsubishi Chariot, and the Honda Stream, and a related siblings called the Nissan Bassara and the Nissan R'nessa.

June 19, 2001 Nissan offered a rear door that swung up electrically, with a platform that extended out for passengers that used a wheelchair, and by remote control. The sliding doors were offered with an electrically opening feature on both sides May 7, 2001. Various appearance packages were offered to update the appearance until the vehicle was cancelled December 2004, and replaced by the all new Nissan Lafesta.

References

• Archives Catalog WEB Liberty (M12-period)
• WEB Liberty Archives Catalog (M12-medium term)
• Archives Catalog WEB Liberty (M12-late)
• Liberty / CM PRAIRIELIBERTY information