Nissan Elgrand E51

The Nissan Elgrand is a car that makes absolutely no sense in Australia – it’s big, it’s heavy, it has the aerodynamics of a brick, and it was designed primarily to transport Japanese families around Tokyo in complete comfort. Yet somehow, that’s exactly what makes it so interesting.

Back in the early 2000s, while Australians were buying Commodores, Falcons and basic people movers, Nissan was building a luxury van with a V6 engine, automatic sliding doors, reclining seats, climate control for every row and more gadgets than some luxury cars of the era.

I’d been looking for a family car that was a little different. Sure, I could have bought a Kia Carnival like everyone else, and it probably would have been the sensible choice. But sensible has never really been what MotoringBox is about.

After months of watching Facebook Marketplace and Carsales, I found this 2006 E51 Highway Star with just 137,000km on the clock. It was clean, unmodified and had clearly been looked after in Japan. The moment I drove it, I understood why these things have such a cult following.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a MotoringBox car without a few jobs to tackle. Maintenance, upgrades, accessories and a few little improvements are all part of the plan.