2006 Nissan Elgrand XL E51 3.5 V6

Welcome to our auction for the most fabulous MPV you’ve probably never heard of.

Built in 2006 and brought over to the UK in 2017, ‘A13 LGP’ is a 2006 Nissan Elgrand XL. Fitted with a 240bhp V6 under the bonnet allied to an automatic gearbox and a selectable four-wheel-drive system, this is a fast and luxurious people carrier that’ll sweep you and six others from home to your skiing chalet in Switzerland without breaking sweat.

Fully loaded, everything works and it drives like a dream - and we bet that after reading this you, like us, won’t be able to imagine a life without it.

The simple white coachwork suits the Nissan’s unassuming lines perfectly; this is not an attention-grabbing sportscar or bloated SUV, it’s a family-oriented people carrier and just wants to get on with the business of moving you and your loved ones around as unobtrusively as possible.

That’s not to say it’s a disappointment because nothing could be further from the truth. The Japanese have a well-deserved reputation for looking after their cars with an uncommon diligence and this conscientiousness seems to have been maintained here in the United Kingdom.

As you can see it all hangs together with good shutlines and panel alignment, no major dents, dings or other damage, and a decent shine to that white paintwork.

The side doors open via a remote control too, which is something we can’t ever getting tired of.

Its extras are modest but include air deflectors on the front windows, fog lamps in the front air dam, and front and rear parking sensors.

The alloy wheels themselves are very good, with only some slight brake dust staining and the odd spot of peeling lacquer.

Even better, it had a set of 215/65R16 Avon ZX7s fitted on all four corners tyres in December 2020.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

The door shuts and under the fuel filler flap are all clean, and even the four corners and the door mirrors, usually the first places to betray a careless driver, are unmarked.

If we are being picky – and we do try to be because we know so many of you rely on the photos and writing to base your bids on rather than viewing in person – the headlamps look like they might have yellowed just a little and the wiper arms are scruffy, and although the O/S sliding door opens and closes at it should, it will not operate with the remote control. 

The cream leather captain’s chairs are glorious, aren’t they - and those in the middle row have armrests and even hefty leg rests that rise to form what is effectively a single bed. 

The rest of the seats are pillowy soft too, and the four back seats can swivel around to face each other, something that turns the cabin into a great place to share a picnic or play games while it’s lashing down outside.

As for the front seats, they’re some of the most comfortable and supportive we’ve ever seen and give the driver and front passenger a commanding view. These swivel around, too.

As for everything else, the cabin is swathed in some of the most extensive hide trim we’ve ever seen, which lends it an upmarket ambience that’s at variance with its utilitarian role.

But then it’s got a remote-control DVD player in there complete with a drop-down screen in the back, we do note that we could not get this to work with the remote controls, although the vendor assures us that it does. There’s a screen in the dashboard, too plus electrically operated curtains (using no fewer than three separate switches, so you can tailor them to suit your needs) and a separate remote-control heating system for the rear occupants that even allows you to dim the rear lights remotely.

Yup, you can convert the Elgrand into your own private cinema without lifting more than a finger.

The rear sunroof can also be opened using the remote control, and all of the remotes have their own dedicated storage space, although we do note, we could not get them to open the sunroofs.

It’s utterly magical in there and a far cry from the bleak utilitarianism of the VW Transporter everyone’s running now, isn’t it?

The seller bought it to convert into a day van for him and his wife. Sadly, his wife passed away recently and never got to use the custom wooden benches and table he had made for it. 

These aren’t pictured but he doesn’t live far from us, and he’d be very happy to pass them on to the winning bidder should they want them.   

The seller tells us that everything works in the cabin bar the  navigation system and radio, which hasn’t been modified to work correctly in the UK and still shows the time in Japan

As for flaws, the outer edge of the driver’s seat has softened just a little over the years, the steering wheel has lost some colour, some of the seatbelts are grubby, and the carpets have the odd stain.

As you can see, it starts promptly and idles perfectly. It revs well, drives as it should, and, of course, does it all without any strange noises or lights on the dashboard.

The selectable four-wheel-drive system allows you to cope with muddy or snowy terrain, and there’s even a ‘Snow’ mode to help ease you along in even the foulest weather.

He drove it to us and the only issue for the new owner to sort out are the rear brake pads, which are low and could do with changing.

Oh, and the side-view camera doesn’t work. But, the reversing camera does, as does the one that’s built into the nearside door mirror.

The engine bay is compact, something the mighty V6 engine stuffed in there does nothing to ameliorate. However, while space might be tight it’s still very nicely presented and decently clean. 

The underside looks good and strong. Sure, there’s a little light rust on the suspension components but that’s par for the course here in the UK and no MoT tester has ever had cause to mention structural corrosion.

The Nissan’s MoT certificate is valid until September 2024 and the recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar the marker for being an imported vehicle. It also has the export certificate and the UK importation paperwork.

It also comes with three key fobs and the JDM book pack.

The history file has one invoice from 2020 for a service here in the UK at 89,674 miles plus a few more for parts, which were presumably fitted on a DIY basis.

However, like so many imported vehicles, there is no previous paperwork.

With a guide price of between £7,000 and £10,000, we can’t think of a vehicle that’ll do so much for so little money. Whether you’re conquering the Sahara in four-wheel-drive or sweeping through Germany on the Autobahns wringing out every last one of the 240 horses on offer, this little van is going to do it all.

And it’s going to do it all in considerable luxury.

Unless, of course, you rip the interior out and fit it out as a day van, like the seller intended. Or even convert it into a full-blown campervan.

Mind you, given the versatility of the seating, you could take the easy option and invest another few hundred pounds in buying a rooftop tent after which you could sleep four – two inside and two on top – without any further investment of time or money. 

And given it’s being offered with no reserve, you might be able to take off in your own apocalypse vehicle for less than you think.

Who thought surviving Armageddon could be so fast, cheap, or civilized?

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.