Nissan India updates top-spec Evalia range with new features

Nissan India has announced the launch of a new flagship variant of the Evalia. The brand calls it a ‘Special variant’ which gets a heavily revised front-end design for sportier appearance. Priced at Rs 11.62 lakh, ex-showroom New Delhi, this new new top-spec model is positioned above the XV (O), which was the top end variant until now.  

At the front, the vehicle gets a new chrome front grille, a redesigned front bumper which manages to look sportier than the one found in the existing Evalia and fog lamps with chrome surrounds. Other distinctive design cues include a rear roof spoiler, generous chrome trimming at the rear and 10-spoke alloy wheels.

This new top-spec variant retains Evalia’s highlighting features like the roof-mounted AC vents in both second and third row, 2-din audio system with USB connectivity, rear wiper, rear defogger and anti-glare internal rear view mirror. 

Mechanically, the new top-spec variant remains the same as the rest of the line-up. It is powered by the same 1.5-litre K9K diesel engine from Renault Nissan’s engine family which is already offered in a variety of other cars including the Terrano, Verito, Micra and the Fluence. Producing 85bhp of power and 200Nm of torque, the engine is paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox which helps the MPV deliver a class-leading fuel efficiency figure of 19.3kmpl. This is partly due to the Evalia’s weight which being less, automatically contributes to higher fuel efficiency.

It is an open secret that the Nissan Evalia has had a tough time finding buyers in the popular MPV segment of India. Often criticised for being too utilitarian for personal usage, the highly practical Evalia has severely struggled to sell in respectable numbers. The addition of this new range-topping variant, then, looks like a fitting attempt from Nissan India to enhance the Evalia’s appeal at the upper end of the MPV segment where one can find entry-level variants of the popular Toyota Innova and high-end variants of the Honda Mobilio.