The Grand Livina, launched not too long ago by Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd, is built on the same platform as the Nissan Latio. Mechanically, it is much the same, sharing the same engine and transmission type. ... [+ click to enlarge] A little Latio, a little Murano; that's the Grand Livina It's more like a station wagon with an attitude, i.e. 7 seats. The side profile is quite nice and smooth flowing. Just the right size; big enough to carry more, but small enough to be economical to run.

The Grand Livina, launched not too long ago by Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd, is built on the same platform as the Nissan Latio. Mechanically, it is much the same, sharing the same engine and transmission type.

To check it out, we took a one thousand kilometre ride in it, which was in the form of a trip to Penang and back.

Our test car came with a 1.6-litre engine and a 5-speed manual transmission. It took a few minutes to get used to the very light clutch mechanism, as it only bites after you have released it about two-thirds from the bottom, but there was no problem after a few gear changes. The light feel is something many drivers would appreciate, especially in a traffic jam. We did get stuck in a jam not long after leaving the Edaran Tan Chong premises, so we got some first hand experience with the Grand Livina in bumper to bumper traffic. No issues there, although you can always opt for an automatic transmission if you don’t like changing gears. For the automatics, there is an alternative of a 1.8 litre engine that gives a little more horsepower.

The manual model comes only in 1.6 litre form, a 4-cylinder DOHC job that produces 105 PS at 5,200 RPM and 150Nm of torque at 4,400 RPM. The 5-speed gearbox has ratios that are very similar, except that the fourth and fifth gears are slightly shorter, at least upon my checking the specification sheets. The engine power is 4 PS lower than the Latio, but I suspect that this is due to the exhaust pipe length and configuration. At the highway regulation speed of 110 km/h, the engine is running at around 3,300 RPM, which is about the same overall gearing as the Protons.

The engine power is adequate to carry the Grand Livina loaded with either five people with luggage, or seven people with minimal luggage, (the rear-most seats take up most of the rear space when they are used). One interesting thing I noticed is that the engine seems most happy when it is driven hard. At engine speeds below 4,000 RPM, it seems reluctant to go, but once you get above that point, it seems to come alive. Thus the Grand Livina, at least in my view, is a vehicle that thrives on high revs, and is most enjoyed when the throttle is opened wide. Top speed, as tested, was an indicated 195 km/h, which I deem quite respectable for an MPV, albeit an MPV that really is a car with a big rear end.

Believe it or not, the Grand Livina came with full leather upholstery, and it was quite comfortable for all during the entire journey. Bearing in mind that this is a car built to sell at a very competitive price of RM85k, there isn’t much to fuss about when it comes to the quality of materials. That said, I would say that they have done a good job in the interior fittings. Instrumentation is basic, but functional, as all the important gauges and meters are there. The air-conditioner works well, and the rear passengers get an additional air vent. The audio is basic, with a CD player.

Cabin noise is a little on the high side, considering the relatively low gearing, and the sound proofing is quite basic. At speed of between 80 to 90 km/hr, it is still decent, but you will start to hear engine roar and road noise as you speed up. Having said that, it is still no worse than most of the 1.6 litre vehicles around, so most people won’t even know the difference.

The most important feature is the fact that it can seat seven, and that would be the prime motivating factor for the purchase of such a vehicle, plus the fact that Edaran Tan Chong and the Nissan brand have been together for so long that the two names are synonymous with each other; the extremely large network and long history of good parts and service back-up is a given.

The Grand Livina rides well at regulation speeds; the suspension set-up is on the comfortable side of firm, so it does not take too kindly to drivers who want a little bit more, and rightly so, as the target market is not a person like me, but someone who needs to ferry people and wants one that can also serve as a daily driver. The front is made up of Macpherson struts, and carries a stabilizer bar, while the rear is a torsion beam arrangement, a legacy from Renault, perhaps. The suspension bushes are made to ‘give’, so there is some body twitchiness at speeds after 120 km/h, especially in crosswind situations. However, it seems to tighten up at higher speed, which I suspect is the result of the bushes being put under tension. Personally I enjoyed the Grand Livina more at high speed than at low. The engine revs very freely, and it will happily go all the way up to 6,500 RPM without any protest.

One of the concerns that a buyer of the Grand Livina would have is fuel consumption figures. Well, with heavy-footed driving, we managed to get 400 km from a full tank until the reserve light came on. With a tank capacity of 52 litres, which is a relatively small tank, this is a respectable figure; driving it normally would easily yield another 80 or so kilometres. This engine is well known for its economy, as proven in the Latio Search for Lightfoot, an economy contest organized by ETCM last year; I expect the Grand Livina to consume a little more than the Latio on account of its shorter gearing and the aerodynamics, but not much more.

Finally, the Grand Livina will have its place in the market. It is one of the very few vehicles that are built in this configuration, the other being the newly re-launched Chevrolet Optra Station wagon, with the exception being, of course, the Chevy does not have seven seats. Anyway, the Grand Livina price is hard to beat.